ARUP's Laboratory Test Directory

Natural Killer Cell Panel : 2004360
[ image for: Time Sensitive]
Time Sensitive
  


Mnemonic: NK PAN

Methodology: Semi-Quantitative Flow Cytometry
Performed: Sun-Sat
Reported: 1-3 days
Specimen Required: Collect: Green (sodium or lithium heparin), lavender (EDTA), or pink (K2EDTA).

Specimen Preparation: Transport 5 mL whole blood. (Min: 1 mL)

Storage/Transport Temperature: CRITICAL ROOM TEMPERATURE.

Remarks: Specimens must be analyzed within 48 hours of collection.
New York State Clients: EDTA specimens must be analyzed within 30 hours of collection. Heparin specimens must be analyzed within 48 hours of collection.

Unacceptable Conditions: Frozen or refrigerated specimens. Specimens older than 48 hours. Clotted or hemolyzed specimens.
New York State Clients: Frozen or refrigerated specimens. EDTA specimens older than 30 hours or heparin specimens older than 48 hours. Clotted or hemolyzed specimens.

Stability (collection to initiation of testing): Ambient: 48 hours; Refrigerated: Unacceptable; Frozen: Unacceptable
New York State Clients: Ambient: EDTA specimens: 30 hours, Heparin specimens: 48 hours; Refrigerated: Unacceptable; Frozen: Unacceptable
Reference Interval:
Available Separately Component Reference Interval
No % CD2 By report
No % CD3 By report
No % CD5 By report
No % CD7 By report
No % CD8 By report
No % CD2+/CD16+ By report
No % CD3-/CD56+ By report
No % CD3-/CD57+ By report
No % CD3+/CD56+ By report
No % CD3+/CD57+ By report

Interpretive Data: Natural killer (NK) cells typically express CD2, CD7, CD16, CD56, CD57, and sometimes CD8 but lack expression of CD3 and CD5. NK cells act against virally-infected cells and tumor cells and may be increased or decreased in various immunologic abnormalities. NK-like T-cells have properties of both T-cells and NK-cells, expressing both CD3 and NK-associated antigens. This test reports both NK cell and NK-like T-cell subgroups. The overlapping NK cell subgroup populations reported are CD2+/CD16+, CD3-/CD56+, and CD3-/CD57+. The overlapping NK-like T-cell subgroup populations reported are CD3+/CD56+ and CD3+/CD57+.

See Compliance Statement A: www.aruplab.com/CS
CPT Code(s): 86356 x8
Cross References: Natural Killer Cell Surface Markers, Percentiles Only (Natural Killer Cell Panel)