Cystatin C

CPT: 82610
Updated on 01/8/2025
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Expected Turnaround Time

3 - 5 days


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Specimen Requirements


Specimen

Serum (preferred) or plasma

Serum or plasma

Serum (preferred) or plasma


Volume

1 mL

0.5 mL

1 mL


Minimum Volume

0.5 mL


Container

Gel-barrier tube or green-top (heparin) tube

Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green-top (heparin) tube

Gel-barrier tube or green-top (heparin) tube


Collection

If green-top (heparin) tube is used, separate plasma from red blood cells and transfer plasma to a transfer tube.

Separate serum or plasma from red blood cells.

If green-top (heparin) tube is used, separate plasma from red blood cells and transfer plasma to a transfer tube.


Storage Instructions

Room temperature


Stability Requirements

TemperaturePeriod
Room temperature7 days at 15°C to 25°C (stability provided by manufacturer or literature reference)
Refrigerated7 days at 2°C to 8°C (stability provided by manufacturer or literature reference)
Frozen6 months at -20°C (stability provided by manufacturer or literature reference)
Freeze/thaw cyclesStable x1 (stability provided by manufacturer or literature reference)

Temperature

Period

Room temperature

14 days

Refrigerated

14 days

Frozen

14 days

Freeze/thaw cycles

Stable x3

TemperaturePeriod
Room temperature7 days at 15°C to 25°C (stability provided by manufacturer or literature reference)
Refrigerated7 days at 2°C to 8°C (stability provided by manufacturer or literature reference)
Frozen6 months at -20°C (stability provided by manufacturer or literature reference)
Freeze/thaw cyclesStable x1 (stability provided by manufacturer or literature reference)

Causes for Rejection

Specimen other than serum or heparinized plasma; grossly hemolyzed (>1,000 mg/dL Hgb) samples; excessive turbidity and clots in samples


Test Details


Use

Since it is formed at a constant rate and freely filtered by the healthy kidney, cystatin C is a good marker of renal function. Serum concentrations of cystatin C are almost totally dependent on glomerular filtration rate (GFR).1,2 A reduction in GFR causes a rise in the concentration of cystatin C.


Limitations

Cystatin C has not been shown to be affected by factors such as muscle mass and nutrition, factors which have been demonstrated to affect creatinine values. In addition, a rise in creatinine does not become evident until the GFR has fallen by approximately 50%.


Methodology

Turbidimetric (directly traceable to ERM-DA471/IFCC, the international standard reference material)


Reference Interval

See table.

AgeRange (mg/L)
0 to 1 yNot established
2 to 50 y0.60−1.00
51 to 60 y0.67−1.14
61 to 70 y0.72−1.16
71 to 80 y0.78–1.15
>80 y0.87–1.12

Footnotes

1. Grubb A. Diagnostic value of analysis of cystatin C and protein HC in biological fluids. Clin Nephrol. 1992; 38(Suppl 1):S20-7. 1284235
2. Coll E, Botey A, Alvarez L, et al. Serum cystatin C as a new marker for noninvasive estimation of glomerular filtration rate and as a marker for early renal impairment. Am J Kidney Dis. 2000; 36:29-34.10873868

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