Test ID: CRY_S
Cryoglobulin, Serum
Useful For 
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful
Evaluating patients with vasculitis, glomerulonephritis, and lymphoproliferative diseases
Evaluating patients with macroglobulinemia or myeloma in whom symptoms occur with cold exposure
Clinical Information Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test
Cryoglobulins are immunoglobulins that precipitate when cooled and dissolve when heated. Because these proteins precipitate when cooled, patients may experience symptoms when exposed to the cold. Cryoglobulins may be associated with a variety of diseases including plasma cell disorders, autoimmune diseases, and infections. Cryoglobulins may also cause erroneous results with some automated hematology instruments.
Cryoglobulins are classified as:
-Type I (monoclonal)
-Type II (mixed--2 or more immunoglobulins of which 1 is monoclonal)
-Type III (polyclonal--in which no monoclonal protein is found)
Type I cryoglobulinemia is associated with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, macroglobulinemia, or multiple myeloma.
Type II cryoglobulinemia is associated with autoimmune disorders such as vasculitis, glomerulonephritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjogren's syndrome. It may be seen in infections such as hepatitis, infectious mononucleosis, cytomegalovirus, and toxoplasmosis. Type II cryoglobulinemia may also be essential, ie, occurring in the absence of underlying disease.
Type III cryoglobulinemia usually demonstrates trace levels of cryoprecipitate, may take up to 7 days to appear, and is associated with the same disease spectrum as Type II cryoglobulinemia.
Reference Values Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.
Negative (positives reported as percent)
Interpretation Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results
An interpretive report will be provided.
Cautions Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances
Failure to follow specimen handling instructions may cause false-negative results.
Not useful for general screening of a population without a clinical suspicion of cryoglobulinemia.
Clinical Reference Provides recommendations for further in-depth reading of a clinical nature
Kyle RA, Lust JA: Immunoglobulins and laboratory recognition of monoclonal proteins. Section III. Myeloma and related disorders. In Neoplastic Diseases of the Blood. 3rd edition. Edited by PH Wiernik, GP Canellos, JP Dutcher, RA Kyle. New York, Churchill Livingstone, 1996, pp 453-475
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