Use

The Cold Agglutinins test is used to diagnose conditions associated with elevated titers of cold agglutinins, primarily in cases of primary atypical pneumonia and certain hemolytic anemias. Elevated titers are rarely seen except in these conditions. Primary atypical pneumonia can be caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, influenza A, influenza B, parainfluenza, and adenoviruses. The test is important because a fourfold rise in cold agglutinins usually begins to appear late in the first week or during the second week of the disease and begins to decrease between the fourth and sixth weeks. Low titers of cold agglutinins can also be present in malaria, peripheral vascular disease, and common respiratory disease.