Specimen Collection

Sample stability:

• 6 days at 20-25 ^o C
• 4 weeks at 4-8 ^o C
• 1 year at -20 ^o C

4.5 mL PST Blood (Preferred)

0.5 mg/L Paediatric Micro-PST Blood (Preferred)

5 mL Heparin Blood

4 mL Plain Blood

3.5 mL SST Blood

0.5 mL Paediatric Microsample Blood
Reference Intervals

Units: g/L

Reference range:

0-30 days 30 - 60 days	45 - 75 45 -65
60 days - 6 months 6 - 12 months	50 - 75 55 - 80
1 - 70 years	66 - 84
>70 years	64 - 82

Uncertainty of Measurement: 5%

Turnaround Time: Within 3 hours
Assay Method

Principle: Colorimetric

Reagents: Roche Total Protein kit

Analyser: Cobas c702

Diagnostic Use and Interpretation

Causes of an increased total protein:

• myeloma
• polyclonal hyprgammaglobulinemia ( infections, autoimmune diseases, HIV)
• dehydration

Causes of decreased total protein:

• protein losing states: nephrotic syndrome, burns, protein-losing enteropathy
• decreased synthesis ( liver disease, malabsorption, starvation, protein malnutrition).

Contact Information

Emails to chemicalpathologist@adhb.govt.nz will receive priority attention from the on-call chemical pathologist.

If the query concerns a specific patient please include the NHI number in your email.

If email is not a suitable option, please contact the on-call chemical pathologist via Lablink (Auckland City Hospital ext. 22000 or 09-3078995).

Individual chemical pathologists may be contacted but will not be available at all times.

After-hours : contact Lablink (Auckland City Hospital ext. 22000 or 09-3078995) or hospital operator for on duty staff after hours.

Dr Samarina Musaad (Clinical Lead) : SamarinaM@adhb.govt.nz ext. 22402

Dr Cam Kyle: CampbellK@adhb.govt.nz ext 22052

Dr Weldon Chiu: WeldonC@adhb.govt.nz ext. 23427

Dr Campbell Heron: CHeron@adhb.govt.nz ext. 23427

Dr Sakunthala Jayasinghe: Sakunthala@adhb.govt.nz ext. 23427

Last updated at 15:26:00 06/01/2025