Test Details

• Discipline:

  Transfusion

  Transfusion

• Specimen Container Adult:

  6mL clotted sample (no anticoagulant - red top) and 6mL K2 EDTA (pink top)

  6mL clotted sample (no anticoagulant - red top) and 6mL K2 EDTA (pink top)

• Specimen Container Paediatric:

  6mL clotted sample (no anticoagulant - red top) and 6mL K2 EDTA (pink top)

  6mL clotted sample (no anticoagulant - red top) and 6mL K2 EDTA (pink top)

• Minimum Volume Adult:

  6mL

  6mL

• Minimum Volume Paediatric:

  4mL

  4mL

• Special Requirement:

  The Transfusion Laboratory MUST be contacted in advance of sample being taken. Requests for Donath Landsteiner investigations must be authorised by a Consultant Haematologist.
  Sample MUST be bagged...

  The Transfusion Laboratory MUST be contacted in advance of sample being taken. Requests for Donath Landsteiner investigations must be authorised by a Consultant Haematologist.
  Sample MUST be bagged and transported to the laboratory in a flask warmed to 37oC. This can be provided by the Transfusion laboratory.
  A 6mL clotted sample is needed in addition to a 6mL EDTA.
  The test can be ordered via EPR PowerChart and taken with the BloodTrack bedside sample labelling system.
  The Trust operates a zero tolerance policy. Deviation from Trust Sample Labelling Policy will result in the sample being rejected and a repeat requested.

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• Sample Stability:

  Short term storage: Must be maintained at 37°C

  Short term storage: Must be maintained at 37°C

• Transport Requirements:

  Sample should be hand delivered to Laboratory Medicine Reception to maintain storage conditions. Samples must not be subjected to extreme hot or cold conditions prior to testing.

  Sample should be hand delivered to Laboratory Medicine Reception to maintain storage conditions. Samples must not be subjected to extreme hot or cold conditions prior to testing.

• Add On Test:

  Not available as an add on.  

  Not available as an add on.  

• Interpretation:

  The Donath-Landsteiner assay must only be requested if there is a clinical suspicion of PCH. The test is considered positive when the patient's serum, with or without added complement, causes haemo...

  The Donath-Landsteiner assay must only be requested if there is a clinical suspicion of PCH. The test is considered positive when the patient's serum, with or without added complement, causes haemolysis in the test which was first incubated at 4oC then at 37oC with no haemolysis in the tests maintained at 37oC throughout. A positive test is indicative of Paroxysmal Cold Haemoglobinuria. The autoantibody is transient and can disappear quickly during recovery from the acute illness, rendering a false negative Donath-Landsteiner test. The autoantibody rarely causes RBC agglutination above 4oC, and thus does not interfere with routine pre-transfusion tests. DAT is usually positive for C3, negative for IgG. An eluate is normally negative. The antibody is not detected by routine antibody screen techniques.

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• Factors Affecting Result:

  Incorrect specimen type received. Specimen not received in laboratory within a temperature controlled flask/container. Specimen not maintained at 37oC prior to separation. Too small a serum volume ...

  Incorrect specimen type received. Specimen not received in laboratory within a temperature controlled flask/container. Specimen not maintained at 37oC prior to separation. Too small a serum volume to complete test. Active complement is needed for demonstration of the antibody.

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• Routine Contact Name:

  FH Section Leads
  RVI Section Leads

• Routine Telephone:

  Freeman: 0191 213 7849
  RVI: 0191 282 4335

  Freeman: 0191 213 7849
  RVI: 0191 282 4335

• Specialist Test:

  Yes

  Yes

• Specialist Contact Name:

  Transfusion manager

  Transfusion manager

• Specialist Telephone:

  0192 213 9169

  0192 213 9169