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Test Code AGDD Alpha Globin Cluster Locus Deletion/Duplication, Varies


Ordering Guidance


Sequence variants, other than the alpha T-Saudi and hemoglobin constant spring alterations, are not detected by this assay. For detection of single point and other nondeletion variants, order WASEQ / Alpha Globin Gene Sequencing, Varies, if clinically indicated.



Additional Testing Requirements


All prenatal specimens must be accompanied by a maternal blood specimen. Order MATCC / Maternal Cell Contamination, Molecular Analysis, Varies on the maternal specimen. This must be a different order number than the prenatal specimen.



Specimen Required


Patient Preparation: A previous bone marrow transplant from an allogenic donor will interfere with testing. For instructions for testing patients who have received a bone marrow transplant, call 800-533-1710.

 

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

 

Specimen Type: Whole blood

Container/Tube:

Preferred: Lavender top (EDTA) or yellow top (ACD)

Acceptable: Green top (Sodium heparin)

Specimen Volume: 3 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Invert several times to mix blood.

2. Send whole blood specimen in original tube. Do not aliquot.

Specimen Stability Information: Ambient (preferred) 4 days/Refrigerated 4 days/Frozen 4 days

Additional Information:

1. Specimens are preferred to be received within 4 days of collection. Extraction will be attempted for specimens received after 4 days, and DNA yield will be evaluated to determine if testing may proceed.

2. To ensure minimum volume and concentration of DNA is met, the preferred volume of blood must be submitted. Testing may be canceled if DNA requirements are inadequate.

 

Specimen Type: Cord blood

Container/Tube:

Preferred: Lavender top (EDTA) or yellow top (ACD)

Acceptable: Green top (Sodium heparin)

Specimen Volume: 3 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Invert several times to mix blood.

2. Send specimen in original tube. Do not aliquot.

Specimen Stability Information: Ambient (preferred) 4 days/Refrigerated 4 days/Frozen 4 days

Additional Information:

1. Specimens are preferred to be received within 4 days of collection. Extraction will be attempted for specimens received after 4 days, and DNA yield will be evaluated to determine if testing may proceed.

2. To ensure minimum volume and concentration of DNA is met, the preferred volume of blood must be submitted. Testing may be canceled if DNA requirements are inadequate.

3. While a properly collected cord blood sample may not be at risk for maternal cell contamination, unanticipated complications may occur during collection. Therefore, maternal cell contamination studies are recommended to ensure the test results reflect that of the patient tested and are available at an additional charge. Order MATCC / Maternal Cell Contamination, Molecular Analysis, Varies on the maternal specimen.

 

Specimen Type: Saliva

Patient Preparation: Patient should not eat, drink, smoke, or chew gum 30 minutes prior to collection.

Supplies: Saliva Swab Collection Kit (T786)

Specimen Volume: 1 Swab

Collection Instructions: Collect and send specimen per kit instructions.

Specimen Stability Information: Ambient (preferred) 30 days/Refrigerated 30 days

Additional Information: Saliva specimens are acceptable but not recommended. Due to lower quantity/quality of DNA yielded from saliva, some aspects of the test may not perform as well as DNA extracted from a whole blood sample. When applicable, specific gene regions that were unable to be interrogated will be noted in the report. Alternatively, additional specimen may be required to complete testing.

 

Specimen Type: Extracted DNA

Container/Tube:

Preferred: Screw Cap Micro Tube, 2 mL with skirted conical base

Acceptable: Matrix tube, 1 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. The preferred volume is at least 100 mcL at a concentration of 75 ng/mcL.

2. Include concentration and volume on tube.

Specimen Stability Information: Frozen (preferred) 1 year/Ambient/Refrigerated

Additional Information: DNA must be extracted in a CLIA-certified laboratory or equivalent and must be extracted from a specimen type listed as acceptable for this test (including applicable anticoagulants). Our laboratory has experience with Chemagic, Puregene, Autopure, MagnaPure, and EZ1 extraction platforms and cannot guarantee that all extraction methods are compatible with this test. If testing fails, one repeat will be attempted, and if unsuccessful, the test will be reported as failed and a charge will be applied. If applicable, specific gene regions that were unable to be interrogated due to DNA quality will be noted in the report.

 

Prenatal Specimens

Due to its complexity, consultation with the laboratory is required for all prenatal testing; call 800-533-1710 to speak to a genetic counselor.

 

Specimen Type: Amniotic fluid

Container/Tube: Amniotic fluid container

Specimen Volume: 20 mL

Specimen Stability Information: Ambient (preferred) <24 hours/Refrigerated <24 hours

Additional Information: Specimen can be tested only after culture.

1. Specimens are preferred to be received within 24 hours of collection. Culture and/or extraction will be attempted for specimens received after 24 hours and will be evaluated to determine if testing may proceed.

2. A separate culture charge will be assessed under CULAF / Culture for Genetic Testing, Amniotic Fluid. An additional 2 to 3 weeks are required to culture amniotic fluid before genetic testing can occur.

3. All prenatal specimens must be accompanied by a maternal blood specimen; order MATCC / Maternal Cell Contamination, Molecular Analysis, Varies on the maternal specimen.

 

Specimen Type: Prenatal cultured amniocytes. This does not include cultured chorionic villi.

Container/Tube: T-25 flask

Specimen Volume: 2 Flasks

Collection Instructions: Submit confluent cultured cells from another laboratory.

Specimen Stability Information: Ambient (preferred) <24 hours/Refrigerated <24 hours

Additional Information:

1. Specimens are preferred to be received within 24 hours of collection. Culture and/or extraction will be attempted for specimens received after 24 hours and will be evaluated to determine if testing may proceed.

2. A separate culture charge will be assessed under CULFB / Fibroblast Culture for Biochemical or Molecular Testing.

3. All prenatal specimens must be accompanied by a maternal blood specimen; order MATCC / Maternal Cell Contamination, Molecular Analysis, Varies on the maternal specimen

 

Specimen Type: Chorionic villi

Container/Tube: 15-mL tube containing 15 mL of transport media

Specimen Volume: 20 mg

Specimen Stability Information: Ambient (preferred) <24 hours/Refrigerated <24 hours

Additional Information: Specimen can be tested only after culture.

1. Specimens are preferred to be received within 24 hours of collection. Culture and/or extraction will be attempted for specimens received after 24 hours and will be evaluated to determine if testing may proceed.

2. A separate culture charge will be assessed under CULFB / Fibroblast Culture for Biochemical or Molecular Testing. An additional 3 to 4 weeks are required to culture fibroblasts before genetic testing can occur.

3. All prenatal specimens must be accompanied by a maternal blood specimen; order MATCC / Maternal Cell Contamination, Molecular Analysis, Varies on the maternal specimen.

 

Specimen Type: Cultured chorionic villi (cultured)

Container/Tube: T-25 flasks

Specimen Volume: 2 Full flasks

Collection Instructions: Submit confluent cultured cells from another laboratory.

Specimen Stability Information: Ambient (preferred) <24 hours/Refrigerated <24 hours

Additional Information:

1. Specimens are preferred to be received within 24 hours of collection. Culture and/or extraction will be attempted for specimens received after 24 hours and will be evaluated to determine if testing may proceed.

2. A separate culture charge will be assessed under CULFB / Fibroblast Culture for Biochemical or Molecular Testing.

3. All prenatal specimens must be accompanied by a maternal blood specimen; order MATCC / Maternal Cell Contamination, Molecular Analysis, Varies on the maternal specimen.


Forms

1. New York Clients-Informed consent is required. Document on the request form or electronic order that a copy is on file. The following documents are available:

-Informed Consent for Genetic Testing (T576)

-Informed Consent for Genetic Testing-Spanish (T826)

2. Molecular Genetics: Congenital Inherited Diseases Patient Information (T521)

3. If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Benign Hematology Test Request Form (T755) with the specimen.

Secondary ID

620985

Useful For

Diagnosis of alpha-thalassemia

 

Carrier screening for individuals from high-risk populations for alpha-thalassemia

 

This test is not useful for diagnosis or confirmation of beta-thalassemia or hemoglobinopathies.

Genetics Test Information

This test is for genetic deletions and duplications only.

Reflex Tests

Test ID Reporting Name Available Separately Always Performed
CULAF Amniotic Fluid Culture/Genetic Test Yes No
CULFB Fibroblast Culture for Genetic Test Yes No
MATCC Maternal Cell Contamination, B Yes No

Testing Algorithm

For prenatal specimens only:

If an amniotic fluid (nonconfluent cultured cells) is received, amniotic fluid culture will be added and performed at an additional charge.

If a chorionic villus specimen (nonconfluent cultured cells) is received, fibroblast culture for genetic test will be added and performed at an additional charge.

 

For any prenatal specimen that is received, maternal cell contamination studies will be added and performed at an additional charge. A maternal whole blood specimen is required to perform this test.

Method Name

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)/Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR)/Multiplex Ligation-Dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA)

Reporting Name

Alpha Globin Cluster Locus Del/Dup

Specimen Type

Varies

Specimen Minimum Volume

See Specimen Required

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Varies Varies

Reject Due To

  All specimens will be evaluated at Mayo Clinic Laboratories for test suitability.

Clinical Information

Thalassemias are a group of inherited conditions characterized by decreased synthesis of one or more of the globin chains, resulting in an imbalance in the relative amounts of the alpha and beta chains. The excess normal chains precipitate in the cell, damaging the membrane and leading to premature red blood cell destruction. Additionally, the defect in hemoglobin synthesis produces a hypochromic, microcytic anemia. The frequency of thalassemia is due to the protective advantage against malaria that it gives carriers. Consequently, thalassemias are prevalent in populations from equatorial regions in the world where malaria is endemic.

 

Alpha-thalassemia is caused by decreased synthesis of alpha-globin chains. Four alpha-globin genes are normally present (2 on each chromosome 16). One, 2, 3, or 4 alpha-globin genes may be deleted or, less commonly, contain variants. Deletions account for approximately 90% of disease-causing alleles in alpha thalassemia. Phenotypically, these deletions result in 4 categories of disease expression:

-Deletion of 1 alpha-chain: Silent carrier state, with a normal phenotype

-Deletion of 2 alpha-chains: Alpha-thalassemia trait (alpha-1 thalassemia), with mild hematologic changes but no major clinical difficulties

-Deletion of 3 alpha-chains: Hemoglobin H disease, which is extremely variable but usually includes anemia due to hemolysis, jaundice, and hepatosplenomegaly

-Deletion of all 4 alpha-chains: Hemoglobin Barts hydrops fetalis and, almost invariably, in utero fetal demise or early after birth if left untreated. Samples with protein effects of intrauterine transfusion are increasingly common.

 

Less frequently, alpha-thalassemia results from single point alterations, such as hemoglobin Constant Spring (HBA2: c.427T >C).

 

Alpha-thalassemia occurs in all ancestral groups but is especially common in individuals of Southeast Asian and African ancestry. It is also frequent in individuals of Mediterranean ancestry. The carrier frequency is estimated to be 1 in 20 for Southeast Asians, 1 in 30 for African, and 1 in 30 to 1 in 50 for individuals of Mediterranean ancestry. Both deletional and nondeletional (caused by sequence alterations) forms of alpha-thalassemia are found in individuals with Mediterranean ancestry. Those of Arab ancestry can carry a fairly common sequence alteration, called alpha-T-Saudi. Deletions in cis (two deletions on the same chromosome) are rare in African or Mediterranean populations but are prevalent in Asian populations. Couples in which both partners carry deletions in cis are at risk of having a child with hemoglobin H disease or hemoglobin Bart hydrops fetalis syndrome.

Reference Values

An interpretive report will be provided.

Interpretation

The interpretive report includes an overview of the findings as well as the associated clinical significance.

Day(s) Performed

Varies

Report Available

9 to 13 days

Specimen Retention Time

Whole blood/Saliva: 30 days (if available); Extracted DNA: 3 months

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Test Classification

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

CPT Code Information

81269

88235-Tissue culture for amniotic fluid (if appropriate)

88240-Cryopreservation (if appropriate)

81265-Comparative analysis using Short Tandem Repeat (STR) markers; patient and comparative specimen (eg, pre-transplant recipient and donor germline testing, post-transplant non-hematopoietic recipient germline [eg, buccal swab or other germline tissue sample] and donor testing, twin zygosity testing or maternal cell contamination of fetal cells (if appropriate)

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
AGDD Alpha Globin Cluster Locus Del/Dup 90040-7

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
620986 Result Summary 50397-9
620987 Result 82939-0
620988 Interpretation 69047-9
620989 Additional Information 48767-8
620990 Specimen 31208-2
620991 Source 31208-2
620992 Method 85069-3
621803 Disclaimer 62364-5
620993 Released By 18771-6