Preferred Specimen(s) Serum
Transport Container Red top tube or SST or Plastic screw cap tube
Transport Temperature
- Refrigerated (2-8°C) – 24 hrs;
- Frozen – 20°C – 2 months
Reject Criteria
- EDTA Plasma,
- Hemolyzed,
- Lipemic
- icteric specimens
Methodology Chemiluminescene
Clinical Significance Maternal serum PAPP-A and free beta HCG assessment between 11 and 14 weeks of pregnancy is reported to have significant utility in screening & Down syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities. A combination of maternal age related risk, free beta – HCG & fetal nuchal translucency (NT) measurements might substantially increase the efficiency of prenatal screening.