Specimen Collection

Sample stability:

• 3 months at 15-25 ^o C
• 8 months at 2-8 ^o C

4.5 mL PST Blood (Preferred)

0.5 mL Paediatric Micro-PST Blood (Preferred)

5 mL Heparin Blood

4 mL Plain Blood

3.5 mL SST Blood
Reference Intervals

Units: g/L

newborns (less than 3 months)	0 - 0.5	ref. 2
adults	0.3 - 2.0	ref. 3

Low haptoglobin levels, even ahaptoglobinemia, are common in newborns, due to haemolysis of foetal red cells and immaturity of the liver.

Reference intervals in infancy are not well-defined.

Uncertainty of Measurement: 4%.

Turnaround Time: Within 3 hours
Assay Method

Principle: Immunoturbidometric assay

Reagents: Roche Tina-quant HAPT 2

Analyser: Cobas c502

Diagnostic Use and Interpretation

Haptoglobin is decreased in haemolysis from any cause.

Haptoglobin binds circulating haemoglobin and the complex is cleared from the plasma by the liver.

Low levels of haptoglobin are common in newborns (less than 3 months).

References

1. Dobryszycka W. Biological functions of haptoglobin--new pieces to an old puzzle. Eur J Clin Chem Clin Biochem. 1997;35:647-654

2. Tietz Clinical Guide to Laboratory Tests 4th ed.(2006). Saunders-Elsevier.

3. Dati F, Schumann G, Thomas L et al. Consensus of a group of professional societies and diagnostic companies on guidelines for interim reference ranges for 14 proteins in serum based on the standardization against the IFCC/BCR/CAP Reference Material (CRM 470). International Federation of Clinical Chemistry. Community Bureau of Reference of the Commission of the European Communities. College of American Pathologists. Eur J Clin Chem Clin Biochem. 1996;34:517-520

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