Pyruvate Kinase Enzyme Activity, Blood
Use
The Pyruvate Kinase Enzyme Activity test is crucial for evaluating nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia, neonatal anemia, jaundice, unexplained noninfectious hepatic failure, unexplained iron overload, and unusually severe hemoglobin S trait. It helps investigate pyruvate kinase deficiency in families for genetic counseling and determines inheritance patterns. It is particularly useful for identifying PK deficiency, an erythrocyte enzyme deficiency leading to chronic nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia, which can vary in severity and manifest as neonatal jaundice, gallstones, splenomegaly, and iron overload. Diagnosis is essential for clinical management and understanding the condition's impact on patients.
Special Instructions
This test is not orderable individually and must be part of a profile. Refer to HAEV1 / Hemolytic Anemia Evaluation, Blood and EEEV1 / Red Blood Cell (RBC) Enzyme Evaluation, Blood for ordering. Recent transfusions or high leukocyte counts can affect results, causing potential false negatives, so careful specimen management is essential.
Limitations
Pyruvate kinase activity can vary significantly even among affected individuals due to reticulocyte compensation with enzyme increase. Inaccurate results can occur if specimens are compromised, such as recent transfusion masking intrinsic activity or high WBC impacted results. Elevated PK could be misleading in interpreting recent erythrocyte production. In certain cases, genetic analysis may be necessary for precise diagnosis due to the broad expression of PK deficiency symptoms.
New York Approved
Methodology
Automated Analyzer (Clinical Chemistry)
Biomarkers
LOINC Codes
- 32552-2
- 32552-2
Result Turnaround Time
5 days
Related Documents
For more information, please review the documents below
Specimen
Whole Blood
Volume
Not provided
Minimum Volume
Not provided
Container
ACD-B
Collection Instructions
Only orderable as part of a profile. For more information see: HAEV1 / Hemolytic Anemia Evaluation, Blood EEEV1 / Red Blood Cell (RBC) Enzyme Evaluation, Blood
Causes for Rejection
Gross hemolysis
Stability Requirements
| Temperature | Period |
|---|---|
| Refrigerated | 20 days |