Cold Agglutinins

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Test Overview

A cold agglutinins blood test is done to check for conditions that cause the body to make certain types of antibodies called cold agglutinins. Cold agglutinins are normally made by the immune system in response to infection. They cause red blood cells to clump together (agglutinate) at low temperatures.

Healthy people generally have low levels of cold agglutinins in their blood. But lymphoma or some infections, such as mycoplasma pneumonia, can cause the level of cold agglutinins to rise.

Higher-than-normal levels of cold agglutinins generally do not cause serious problems. Sometimes, high levels of cold agglutinins can cause blood to clump in blood vessels under the skin when the skin is exposed to the cold. This causes pale skin and numbness in the hands and feet. The symptoms go away when the skin warms up. In some cases, the clumped blood cells can stop the flow of blood to the tips of the fingers, toes, ears, or nose. This is like frostbite and can cause tissue damage. In rare cases, it can cause gangrene.

Sometimes high levels of cold agglutinins can destroy red blood cells throughout the body. This condition is called autoimmune hemolytic anemia.

Why It Is Done

The cold agglutinins test may be done to:

  • See whether high cold agglutinin levels are causing autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
  • Find pneumonia caused by mycoplasma. Over half of people with pneumonia caused by mycoplasma develop an increase in cold agglutinin levels in their blood within a week of being infected. Newer tests for mycoplasma pneumonia have replaced the cold agglutinins blood test.

How To Prepare

You do not need to do anything before you have this test.

How It Is Done

The doctor drawing blood will:

  • Wrap an elastic band around your upper arm to stop the flow of blood. This makes the veins below the band larger so it is easier to put a needle into the vein.
  • Clean the needle site with alcohol.
  • Put the needle into the vein. If the needle is not placed correctly or if the vein collapses, more than one needle stick may be needed.
  • Hook a tube to the needle to fill it with blood.
  • Remove the band from your arm when enough blood is collected.
  • Put a gauze pad or cotton ball over the needle site as the needle is removed.
  • Put pressure on the site and then put on a bandage.

How It Feels

The blood sample is taken from a vein in your arm. An elastic band is wrapped around your upper arm. It may feel tight. You may feel nothing at all from the needle, or you may feel a quick sting or pinch.

Risks

There is very little chance of a problem from having a blood sample taken from a vein.

  • You may get a small bruise at the site. You can lower the chance of bruising by keeping pressure on the site for several minutes.
  • In rare cases, the vein may become swollen after the blood sample is taken. This problem is called phlebitis. A warm compress can be used several times a day to treat this.

Results

A cold agglutinins blood test is done to check for conditions that cause the body to make certain antibodies called cold agglutinins. The results of the cold agglutinins test is usually reported in titers.

Normal

The normal values listed here-called a reference range-are just a guide. These ranges vary from lab to lab, and your lab may have a different range for what's normal. Your lab report should contain the range your lab uses. Also, your doctor will evaluate your results based on your health and other factors. This means that a value that falls outside the normal values listed here may still be normal for you or your lab.

Cold agglutininsfootnote 1
Normal titer

Less than 1 to 16 (1:16) at 4 C

High values

  • High titers of cold agglutinins may be caused by infections, such as pneumonia caused by mycoplasma, mononucleosis, hepatitis C, or other viral infections.
  • High titers of cold agglutinins can cause symptoms when a person is exposed to cold temperatures. These symptoms can include numbness, burning, pain, or pale skin of the fingertips, toes, ears, or nose. Very high titers can mean you have a higher chance of developing blood clots (thromboses) when exposed to cold temperatures.

What Affects the Test

You may not be able to have this test or the results may not be helpful if you are taking antibiotics, especially penicillin and cephalosporins.

What To Think About

  • More than half of people infected with pneumonia caused by mycoplasma develop high levels of cold agglutinins. Newer tests for mycoplasma pneumonia have replaced the cold agglutinins blood test.
  • If clumped red blood cells (called a Rouleaux formation) are seen on a complete blood count (CBC) test, your doctor may order a cold agglutinins test to see whether high cold agglutinin levels are present.
  • A blood type test is done before a blood transfusion or organ transplant to make sure that the donor's and recipient's blood types match. Blood that has high levels of cold agglutinins may be hard to type. To learn more about blood typing, see the topic Blood Type Test.
  • If a person has high levels of cold agglutinins and has symptoms brought on by cold temperatures, it is important for this person to be kept warm. High levels of cold agglutinins in this case could lead to frostbite, anemia, or Raynaud's phenomenon. Medicines to help lower high levels of cold agglutinins may be given when severe symptoms are brought on by cold exposure.
  • Older adults may have high titers of cold agglutinins that last for years.
  • Cold agglutinins in the blood can cause problems with automated machines that measure blood count.

References

Citations

  1. Fischbach FT, Dunning MB III, eds. (2009). Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests, 8th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Other Works Consulted

  • Chernecky CC, Berger BJ (2013). Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures, 6th ed. St. Louis: Saunders.
  • Fischbach FT, Dunning MB III, eds. (2009). Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests, 8th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
  • Pagana KD, Pagana TJ (2010). Mosby's Manual of Diagnostic and Laboratory Tests, 4th ed. St. Louis: Mosby Elsevier.

Credits

ByHealthwise Staff

Primary Medical ReviewerE. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine

Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine

Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine

Specialist Medical ReviewerMartin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine

Current as ofOctober 14, 2016

Current as of: October 14, 2016

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine & Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine