Click here for more information about laboratory operations and procedures
PML-RARA PCR, Qualitative
| Item | Value | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Available Stat? | No | ||||
| Utilization Guidelines | Tests with long turn-around times (ie. Molecular based tests and Microarrays) should only be requested on an inpatient if the result is going to affect the inpatient management. If the patient will likely be discharged before the result will be available, the test should be requested after discharge. (NOTE: UCSF Medical Center is not reimbursed for inpatient testing). An exception to the above may be appropriate if there is a possibility the patient will not survive to be discharged and the information is important for diagnosis and/or family decisions/management (ie. recurrence risk). |
||||
| Test code | PMLR | ||||
| Performed by | Molecular Diagnostics | ||||
| In House Availability | Run 1x per week as needed, Monday or Wednesday, day shift only. | ||||
| Method | PCR | ||||
| Collection Instructions | Do not collect sample in heparin. Keep sample refrigerated for overnight or longer storage. For UCSF Samples (from remote sites) Click here for sample collection instructions For NON-UCSF Samples Click here for Requisition form & Account set-up instructions. Note we only do institutional billing. |
||||
| Container type | Lavender top | ||||
| Amount to Collect |
|
||||
| Sample type | EDTA Whole blood, bone marrow | ||||
| Preferred volume |
|
||||
| Min. Volume |
|
||||
| Normal range | No PML-RARA bcr1 or bcr3 fusion transcripts | ||||
| Synonyms | Acute Promyelocytic leukemia; APL; AML-M3; t(15;17); Retinoic acid receptor alpha | ||||
| Stability | Refrigerated 3 days. | ||||
| Turn around times | 7-10 days | ||||
| Reflex? | If a transloaction is detected the quantitative assay (PMLQ) will be performed at an additional charge. | ||||
| Additional information | Two translocations, termed bcr1 (long form) and bcr3 (short form), account for 95% of APL cases and are detected by the UCSF molecular diagnostic assay. In addition, this assay will quantitate relative mRNA levels of PML-RARA fusion transcripts for the purpose of monitoring therapeutic response in minimal residual disease. A qualitative test is performed on all PML-RARA requests. If the qualitative assay is positive, then the laboratory will order and perform the quantitative assay. The qualitative assay has a sensitivity of 1 in 100,000 cells and an analytical detection sensitivity of 10 PML-RARA copies. Qualitative results are reported either as negative or positive. Quantitative results are reported with a percent ratio consisting of PML-RARA transcripts normalized to the internal control ABL. Samples that fall outside the standard curve range, but are clearly positive will be reported as weak positive, without a PML-RARA ratio. NOTE: The quantitative PML-RARA assay is best interpreted by periodic evaluations of PML-RARA transcript levels in the same laboratory. Quantitative values among different laboratories do not necessarily correlate together. More than 98% of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cases are caused by 3 different types of chromosomal translocations that fuse the promyelocytic leukemia (PML) gene on chromosome 15q22 to the retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARA) gene on chromosome 17q21. This translocation results in the expression of a chimeric PML-RARA protein that suppresses the maturation of myeloid cells at the promyelocytic stage. This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by the Clinical Laboratories at the Medical Center at UC San Francisco. It has not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. |
||||
| CPT coding | 81315 | ||||
| LOINC code | 21551-7 | ||||
| LDT or Mod FDA? | Yes | ||||
| Last Updated | 3/13/2013 8:57:45 AM | ||||
| Entry Number | 1182 |
If you have additional questions regarding this test, please call: 415-353-1667