Test ID: GCLIP
Phospholipid (Cardiolipin) Antibodies, IgG, Serum
Secondary ID 
A test code used for billing and in test definitions created prior to November 2011
NY State Approved Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.
Useful For Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful
Evaluation of suspected cases of antiphospholipid syndrome
Method Name A short description of the method used to perform the test
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)
Reporting Name A shorter/abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test; an abbreviated test name
Aliases Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching
Antiphospholipid Antibodies
Cardiolip
Cardiolipin Antibodies, IgG, Serum
Phospholip
Specimen Type Describes the specimen type needed for testing
Specimen Required Defines the optimal specimen. This field describes the type of specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing. The volume allows automated processing, fastest throughput and, when indicated, repeat or reflex testing.
Container/Tube:
Preferred: Red top
Acceptable: Serum gel
Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL
Specimen Minimum Volume Defines the amount of specimen required to perform an assay once, including instrument and container dead space. Submitting the minimum specimen volume makes it impossible to repeat the test or perform confirmatory or perform reflex testing. In some situations, a minimum specimen volume may result in a QNS (quantity not sufficient) result, requiring a second specimen to be collected.
Reject Due To Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected
| Hemolysis | Mild OK; Gross reject |
| Lipemia | Mild OK; Gross reject |
| Icterus | Mild OK; Gross OK |
| Other | NA |
Specimen Stability Information Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the laboratory. Alternate acceptable temperature(s) are also included.
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Serum | Refrigerated (preferred) | 21 days |
| Frozen | 21 days |
Clinical Information Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test
The plasma membranes of mammalian cells are formed from phospholipids. Anionic phospholipids (eg, phosphatidylserine) are found on the cytoplasmic surface and neutral phospholipids (eg, phosphatidylcholine) predominate on the external surface. Membrane phospholipids participate in several important cellular functions including exchanging metabolites across membranes, transferring molecular signals and serving as a platform for the assembly of protein-lipid complexes.(1) Cellular activation is often accompanied by the translocation of anionic phospholipids to the external membrane surface. For example, during platelet-mediated blood coagulation phosphatidylserine is translocated from the inner platelet membrane and provides a surface for the assembly of the prothrombinase enzyme complex that catalyzes the formation of thrombin.
Complexes of negatively charged (anionic) phospholipids and endogenous plasma proteins provide epitopes recognized by natural autoantibodies.(2) Plasma from normal individuals contains low concentrations of natural IgG autoantibodies of moderate affinity. Pathologic levels of autoantibodies reflect loss of tolerance and increased production of antibodies. These autoantibodies are called phospholipid or cardiolipin antibodies when they are detected by immunoassays that employ anionic phospholipids as substrates. The most commonly used phospholipid substrate is cardiolipin. The term phospholipid antibody is actually a misnomer. The autoantibodies react with epitopes of protein molecules that associate noncovalently with reagent phospholipids. The best characterized phospholipid-binding protein is beta 2 glycoprotein 1 (beta 2 GP1) and most immunoassays for phospholipid antibodies employ a composite substrate consisting of cardiolipin plus beta 2 GP1. Beta 2 GP1 is a 326 amino acid polypeptide that contains 5 homologous domains of approximately 60 amino acids each. Most phospholipid antibodies bind to an epitope associated with domain 1 near the N-terminus. Autoantibodies can also be detected by the use of functional, phospholipid-dependent coagulation assays. Phospholipid antibodies detected by functional assays are often called lupus anticoagulants because they produce prolongation of phospholipid-dependent clotting in vitro and are found in some patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Not all phospholipid antibodies possess lupus anticoagulant activity.(3) Only those phospholipid antibodies that are capable of cross-linking beta 2 GP1 molecules can interact efficiently with phospholipid surfaces in functional coagulation assays. It is hypothesized that complexes formed in vivo between bivalent, natural autoantibodies and beta 2 GP1 bind to translocated, anionic phospholipid on activated platelets at sites of endothelial injury. This binding is believed to promote further platelet activation that may lead to thrombosis.
Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by thromboses, complications of pregnancy, and certain laboratory abnormalities. The diagnosis of APS requires at least 1 clinical criteria and 1 laboratory criteria be met.(4) The clinical criteria include vascular thrombosis (arterial or venous in any organ or tissue) and pregnancy morbidity (unexplained fetal death, premature birth, severe preeclampsia, or placental insufficiency). Other clinical manifestations, including heart valve disease, livedo reticularis, thrombocytopenia, nephropathy and neurological symptoms, are often associated with APS but are not included in the diagnostic criteria. The laboratory criteria for diagnosis of APS are presence of lupus anticoagulant, presence of IgG and/or IgM anticardiolipin antibody (>40 GPL, >40 MPL, or >99th percentile), and/or presence of IgG and/or IgM anti-beta 2 GP1 antibody (>99th percentile). All antibodies must be demonstrated on 2 or more occasions separated by at least 12 weeks. Anti-cardiolipin and beta GP1 antibodies of the IgA isotype are not part of the laboratory criteria for APS due to lack of specificity.(4)
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.
<10.0 GPL (negative)
10.0-14.9 GPL (borderline)
15.0-39.9 GPL (weakly positive)
40.0-79.9 GPL (positive)
> or =80.0 GPL (strongly positive)
GPL refers to IgG Phospholipid Units. One GPL unit is 1 microgram of IgG antibody.
Reference values apply to all ages.
Interpretation Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results
APL, GPL, and MPL units refer to arbitrary units. The abbreviation APL denotes the result is from the IgA isotype, the abbreviation GPL denotes the result is from the IgG isotype and the abbreviation MPL denotes the result is from the IgM isotype. The letters "PL" denote specificity for phospholipid antigens. Positive and strongly-positive results for IgG and IgM phospholipid (cardiolipin) antibodies (>40 GPL and/or >40 MPL) are diagnostic criteria for antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Lesser levels of IgG and IgM phospholipid (cardiolipin) antibodies and antibodies of the IgA isotype may occur in patients with clinical signs of APS but the results are not considered diagnostic. Phospholipid (cardiolipin) antibodies must be detected on 2 or more occasions at least 12 weeks apart to fulfill the laboratory diagnostic criteria for APS.
IgA phospholipids (cardiolipin) antibody result >15 APL with negative IgG and IgM phospholipids (cardiolipin) antibody results are not diagnostic for APS.
Detection of phospholipid (cardiolipin) antibodies is not affected by anticoagulant treatment.
Cautions Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances
The immunoassay for phospholipid (cardiolipin) antibodies does not distinguish between autoantibodies and antibodies produced in response to infectious agents or as epiphenomena following thrombosis. For this reason, a single positive test result is not sufficient to meet accepted serologic criteria for the diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome.
Comparative studies and interlaboratory proficiency surveys indicate that results of phospholipid antibody tests can be highly variable and results obtained with different commercial immunoassays may yield substantially different results.(5,6)
Clinical Reference Provides recommendations for further in-depth reading of a clinical nature
1. Bevers EM, Comfurius P, Dekkers DW, et al: Lipid translocation across the plasma membrane of mammalian cells. Biochim Biophys Acta 1999;1439:317-330
2. Arnout J, Vermylen J: Current status and implications of autoimmune antiphospholipid antibodies in relation to thrombotic disease. J Thromb Haemost 2003;1:931-942
3. Proven A, Bartlett RP, Moder KG, et al: Clinical importance of positive test results for lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibodies. Mayo Clin Proc 2004;79:467-475
4. Miyakis S, Lockshin MD, Atsumi T, et al: International consensus statement on an update of the classification criteria for definite antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). J Thromb Haemost 2006;4:295-306
5. Fontaine MJ, Jacob GL, Nichols WL, et al: Comparative evaluation of three assays for anti-cardiolipin antibodies. J Autoimmun 2000;15(2):A56
6. Favaloro EJ, Wong RC, Silvertrini R, et al: A multilaboratory peer assessment quality assurance program-based evaluation of anticardiolipin antibody, and beta 2 glycoprotein 1 antibody testing. Semin Thromb Hemost 2005;31(1):73-84
Method Description Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference
This test uses microtiter plates coated with bovine cardiolipin and purified bovine beta 2 GP1. IgG phospholipid antibodies bound in the first stage of the assay are detected with antihuman, IgG, horseradish peroxidase antibody conjugate in the second stage of the assay by adding 3,3',5,5' tetramethylbenzidine substrate (10 minute incubation followed by addition of 0.5 M H[2]SO[4]). Results for test sera are expressed in U/mL by comparison with standard curves obtained using calibrators at 0, 4, 8, 20, 40, and 100 units. (Package insert: Varelisa Cardiolipin IgG, Antibodies, Pharmacia Diagnostics, 157-01)
Day(s) and Time(s) Test Performed Outlines the days and times the test is performed. This field reflects the day and time the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time required before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means assays are performed several times during the day.
Monday through Saturday; 4 p.m.
Analytic Time Defines the amount of time it takes the laboratory to setup and perform the test. This is defined in number of days. The shortest interval of time expressed is "same day/1 day," which means the results may be available the same day that the sample is received in the testing laboratory. One day means results are available 1 day after the sample is received in the laboratory.
Maximum Laboratory Time Defines the maximum time from specimen receipt at Mayo Medical Laboratories until the release of the test result
Specimen Retention Time Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded
Performing Laboratory Location The location of the laboratory that performs the test
Test Classification Provides information regarding the medical device classification for laboratory test kits and reagents. Tests may be classified as cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used per manufacturer's instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR), Investigation Use Only (IUO) product, or a Research Use Only (RUO) product.
CPT Code Information Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Medical Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.
86147
LOINC® Code Information Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the result codes returned for this test or profile.
| Result ID | Reporting Name | LOINC Code |
|---|---|---|
| GCLIP | Phospholipid Ab IgG, S | 3286-2 |
External
link
PDF
document
Excel
document
Word
document