| PROTEIN C ACTIVITY | Email this article Printer friendly page |
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| Primary Name | Protein C Functional |
| Synonym | Protein C Activity |
| Synonym | Occasionally confused with C-reactive protein |
| Contraction | PC |
| UAB Procedure Number | 2500375 |
| CPT Code | 85303 |
| Specimen | Collect one (1) blue-stopper tube (3.2% sodium citrate), filled to specified volume. Do not underfill or overfill. |
| Specimen Management | Centrifuge blue-stopper tube within one (1) hour of collection, separate plasma and test or quick-freeze at -70°C. |
| Specimen Accepted | Daily including weekends |
| Test Performed | Two days a week |
| Available Stat? | No |
| Description | When the functional PC level is consistently decreased, the patient may have a congenital deficiency. Chronic PC deficiency confers a 6-fold risk of venous thrombosis. Acquired PC deficiency occurs in disseminated intravascular coagulation, surgery, preeclampsia, liver dysfunction, renal disease, malignancies, and following any thrombotic episode. Protein C production is decreased during Coumadin (warfarin) therapy. The protein C assay should be ordered at least 10 days after a thrombotic event or after termination of Coumadin therapy. When the INR is >1.7 the protein C order is canceled. |
| Reference Interval | 70%-140% |
| Follow-up Test | If the functional PC assay indicates a deficiency, the protein C antigen assay may be used to distinguish qualitative from quantitative disorders. |
| Associated With | Venous thrombosis |
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