Abstract
Proper sample handling is important for the accurate and prompt diagnosis of cryoglobulinaemia as well as for obtaining correct results of other laboratory tests. In this case report, we present two patients for whom improper sampling delayed the diagnosis of cryoglobulinaemia. The routine sampling procedure was not sufficient for detecting these cryoglobulins and we demonstrated that the temperature dropped below 37 °C at different steps during the sample preparation. Adjusting the pre-analytical procedure revealed that both patients possessed a cryoglobulin with high thermal insolubility. We conclude that in cryoglobulinaemia strict adherence to guidelines to keep the temperature >37 °C is crucial for sample collection and must be strongly recommended.
Copyright © 2003 by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG
