2-7 days after setup at PeaceHealth Laboratories’ reference lab.
CPT Code:
83520-90
Specimen Collection Details
Collection:
One 7.5 mL serum separator tube (SST). Also acceptable: One 4 mL lavender top tube (EDTA) or 10 mL green top tube (sodium heparin).
Handling:
Allow to clot, centrifuge and separate serum into a plastic vial. Freeze.
Stability:
48 hours ambient, 5 days refrigerated, or 2 months frozen.
Standard Volume:
1 mL serum or plasma.
Minimum Volume:
0.5 mL serum or plasma.
Transport:
Frozen on dry ice.
Comments:
Samples should be obtained between 15 minutes and 3 hours after the event suspected of causing mast cell activation. Tryptase, a major constituent of the secretory granules of all human mast cells, is a neutral protease which is released along with histamine from immunologically activated mast cells. Elevated levels of tryptase are found following mast cell activation in anaphylaxis in serum and in allergic rhinitis in nasal fluid. Elevated levels of tryptase are also found in serum in systemic mastocytosis.