Test Overview
Immunoturbidimetric
Indicator of hemolysis. Decreased levels occur with intravascular and extravascular hemolysis. Increased levels occur with both acute and chronic inflammatory responses, tissue destruction, and malignant neoplasms (an acute phase reactant).
22-239 mg/dL
* Reference ranges may change over time. Please refer to the original patient report when evaluating results.
During inflammation or steroid therapy, normal concentration does not rule out hemolysis. Decreased in patients on oral contraceptives.
Test Details
2 hours
Specimen Requirements
Collect specimen in an SST tube. Centrifuge, aliquot serum into a plastic vial and refrigerate up to 1 week or freeze for longer storage. Grossly lipemic and hemolyzed specimens are unacceptable.
Additional Information
Clinically, haptoglobin measurement can be a sensitive indicator of acute phase reactions and hemolytic disorders. A decreased level is indicative of intravascular hemolysis. Haptoglobin forms a complex with free hemoglobin released from damaged erythrocytes. DECREASES in haptoglobin are seen most frequently in the following conditions: hemolytic anemias (secondary to autoantibodies), alloantibodies, RBC membrane or enzyme defects, hemoglobinopathies (mechanical, parasitic or bacterially induced), acute hepatitis (poor prognosis), severe liver damage, cirrhosis, cholestasis, hepatitis, subacute bacterial endocarditis, renal infarction, blood transfusion, infectious mononucleosis, and congenital ahaptoglobinemia. INCREASES in haptoglobin may be seen in any acute phase response to necrotic inflammatory disease or during steroid therapy.