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Test Code LMWH Low Molecular Weight Heparin by anti-Xa

Specimen and Container/Tube

Specimen Type: Plasma

Preferred Specimen: Light Blue Top Tube, 3.2% Sodium Citrate

Other Acceptable specimens: N/A

Specimen Handling and Transport Instructions

UCMC Onsite Instructions: 

Collect specimen per standard collection procedure and send to laboratory immediately. 

 

NOTE: Once each blue top tube is completely filled, gently invert the sample tube at least five times to ensure complete mixing of the contents.

 

UCMC Offsite and UC MedLab Outreach Instructions: 

  • Collect specimen per standard collection procedure.
  • Once each blue top tube is completely filled, gently invert the sample tube at least five times to ensure complete mixing of the contents.
  • Centrifuge specimens at >2500 x g for 10 minutes at room temperature.
  • Carefully remove plasma from cells using a plastic transfer pipette avoiding buffy coat.
  • Aliquot removed plasma into 2 plastic tubes containing a minimum of 1.0 mL of specimen in each tube.
  • Plasma samples must then be frozen at -20oC.
  • Once solidly frozen, they must be shipped on dry ice. Samples that have thawed in transit will be rejected.

Rejection Criteria

  • Common specimen rejected situations include: incorrect specimen type, insufficient volume, missing or incomplete specimen identifiers, incorrect specimen transport, or specimens outside stability limits. 
  • Specimens that have wrong ratio of blood to anticoagulant (fill volume), clotted or grossly hemolyzed.

Reference Values

 

Test

Age

Sex

Reference Range

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Critical Values

Analyte

Unit

Low

High

Age

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

CPT Codes

85520 

LOINC Codes

3271-4

Volume

Preferred Volume: 2.0 mL

 

Minimum Volume: 1.0 mL

Specimen Stability

Storage Temperature

Stability

Room temperature

4 hours

Refrigerated

not acceptable

Frozen

30 days

Collection Instructions

  • Collect specimen per standard laboratory collection procedures. 
  • Once each blue top tube is completely filled, gently invert the sample tube at least five times to ensure complete mixing of the contents.
  • The sample should ordinarily be collected 3 to 4 hours after administration of the LMWH.

Clinical Indications

Monitoring of low molecular weight heparin

Methodology

Chromogenic, anti-Xa

Additional Information

LMWH is monitored by a functional Anti-Xa assay.

Routine monitoring of LMWH is not recommended by the American College of Chest Physicians

In those instances where LMWH monitoring is undertaken in patients being treated for venous thromboembolism, the ACCP recommends a target range of 0.6-1.0 anti-Xa U/mL.

 

Testing for LMWH level may be added on to an existing order only up to one hour following the time of blood draw due to technical considerations of this assay.

 

3.2% sodium citrate light blue top tubes must have 9 to 1 ratio of blood to anticoagulant.

Turnaround Time

Turnaround times are relative to the time the specimen is received in the test laboratory. 

STAT Turnaround Time: N/A

 

Routine Turnaround Time: Up to 8 hours

 

Testing Schedule: 7 days a week from 8:00 am to 10:30 pm.

Synonyms/Keyword Search

anti-Xa, Lovenox, Enoxaparin

Last Review Date

05/28/2024