ARUP's Laboratory Test Directory

Natural Killer Cell Enumeration : 0092404
[ image for: Time Sensitive]
Time Sensitive
  


Mnemonic: NK CELLS

Methodology: Quantitative Flow Cytometry
Performed: Sun-Sat
Reported: 1-3 days
Specimen Required: Collect: Lavender Hemogard (EDTA), pink Hemogard (K2EDTA), or green Hemogard (sodium or lithium heparin). Hemogard tubes are preferred for laboratory safety.

Specimen Preparation: Transport 4 mL whole blood. (Min: 0.5 mL)

Storage/Transport Temperature: CRITICAL ROOM TEMPERATURE.

Remarks: Specimens must be analyzed within 72 hours of collection in EDTA or within 48 hours of collection in heparin. Some medication may affect immunophenotyping results and should be provided on the patient test request form.
New York State Clients: Only EDTA specimens may be submitted and must be analyzed within 30 hours of collection.

Unacceptable Conditions: Frozen or refrigerated specimens. Specimens older than 72 hours in EDTA or 48 hours in heparin. Clotted or hemolyzed specimens.
New York State Clients: Specimens collected in heparin. Frozen or refrigerated specimens. EDTA specimens older than 30 hours. Clotted or hemolyzed specimens.

Stability (collection to initiation of testing): Ambient: 72 hours in EDTA, 48 hours in heparin; Refrigerated: Unacceptable; Frozen: Unacceptable
New York State Clients: EDTA: Ambient: 30 hours; Refrigerated: Unacceptable; Frozen: Unacceptable
Reference Interval:
 
Test Number Components Reference Interval
 % NK-Cells By report
 Absolute NK-Cells By report
 NK Interpretation By report

Interpretive Data: The results reported are the percentage of lymphocytes that are Natural killer (NK) cells and the absolute count of NK cells per uL of blood.  Only those cells that express CD45 and either CD16 or CD56 (or both) but not CD3 or CD19 are reported.

The performance characteristics of this test were determined by ARUP Laboratories, Inc.
CPT Code(s): 86357 NK cells, Total count
Cross References: Natural Killer Cell CD56/CD16, Percent and Absolute (Natural Killer Cell Enumeration)
 
 

 

 

 
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