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Test Code RO3 Beta-2 Microglobulin

Specimen and Container/Tube

Specimen Type: Plasma

Preferred Specimen: Li-Heparin Mint Green Top

Other Acceptable specimens: Serum/Gold Top, Serum/Red Top

Specimen Stability

Storage Temperature

Stability

Room temperature

3 days 

Refrigerated

3 days

Frozen

6 months

Collection Instructions

Collect specimen per standard laboratory collection procedures. 

 

Specimen Handling and Transport Instructions

UCMC Onsite Instructions: 

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

 

UCMC Offsite and UC MedLab Outreach Instructions: 

  • Samples should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection.
  • Centrifuge specimens at >2500 x g for 10 minutes at room temperature.
  • Aliquot sample into plastic transport tube containing a minimum of 0.2 mL of specimen.
  • Samples must be sent room temperature at 15-25oC.

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 are clotted or grossly hemolyzed.
  • Specimens that were transported unspun/whole blood and draw time is greater than 6 hours.

Reference Values

 

Test

Age

Sex

Reference Range

Beta-2 Microglobulin

All

All

0.8 - 2.3 mg/L

Turnaround Time

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

 

STAT Turnaround Time: 1 hour 

Routine Turnaround Time: 4 hours

Testing Schedule: 24/7

Clinical Indications

To be used as an aid in the diagnosis of active rheumatoid factor arthritis and kidney disease.

Methodology

Immunoturbidimetric Assay (Roche Diagnostics)

CPT Codes

82232

LOINC Codes

1952-1

Synonyms/Keyword Search

B2MG, RO3, BETA-2

Last Review Date

4/18/2025

Critical Values

Not applicable

Volume

Preferred Volume: 0.5 mL

Minimum Volume: 0.2 mL

Test Components

Beta-2 microglobulin

Additional Information

Elevated levels of >2,000,000 mg/L occur in renal diseases such as glomerulopathies, tubulopathies, renal failure and amyloidosis. In addition, it has been reported that other increased levels are found in rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune diseases.