Initial testing as a part of evaluating suspected interference from heterophile antibodies causing a falsely elevated thyroglobulin result
Only orderable as part of profile. For more information see IETG / Interference Evaluation Heterophile, Thyroglobulin Tumor Marker, Serum.
Immunoenzymatic Assay
TG Heterophile
HTG
TG (Thyroglobulin)
Thyroglobulin Assay for Thyroid Cancer
Serum Red
Only orderable as part of profile. For more information see IETG / Interference Evaluation Heterophile, Thyroglobulin Tumor Marker, Serum.
Patient Preparation: For 12 hours before specimen collection do not take multivitamins or dietary supplements containing biotin (vitamin B7), which is commonly found in hair, skin, and nail supplements and multivitamins.
Collection Container/Tube: Red top (serum gel/SST are not acceptable)
Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial
Specimen Volume: 2.5 mL
Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial.
2 mL
Gross hemolysis | Reject |
Gross lipemia | OK |
Gross icterus | Reject |
Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
---|---|---|---|
Serum Red | Refrigerated (preferred) | 7 days | |
Frozen | 30 days | ||
Ambient | 7 days |
Initial testing as a part of evaluating suspected interference from heterophile antibodies causing a falsely elevated thyroglobulin result
Serum thyroglobulin (Tg) measurements are used in the follow-up of differentiated follicular cell-derived thyroid carcinoma. Because Tg is thyroid specific, serum Tg concentrations should be undetectable or very low after the thyroid gland is removed during treatment for thyroid cancer.
Most often Tg is measured by immunometric assays, as they are widely available in automated high-throughput instruments, have shorter turnaround times, and have functional sensitivities of 0.1 mcg/L or less. However, these immunoassays may be affected by the presence of both anti-thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) and heterophile antibody interferences. The presence of TgAb might cause falsely low/undetectable Tg that can mask disease; whereas heterophile antibodies might cause falsely high Tg that can be mistaken for residual or recurrent disease.
Some patients, due to exposure to animal antigens, have developed heterophile antibodies, such as human anti-mouse antibodies (HAMA), that can interfere with immunoassay testing by binding to the animal antibodies used in immunoassays. In some sandwich immunoassays, including those for Tg, the presence of heterophile antibodies in the patient's sample might lead to a false-positive result.
Although rare, false-negative results due to heterophile interference have also been reported in the literature. Manufacturers often add blocking agents to their reagents, but occasionally, patient samples containing heterophile antibodies are incompletely blocked and exhibit heterophile antibody interference. Subsequent reporting of erroneous results can have adverse effects on patient management, especially with tumor marker assays.
Dilution of the specimen prior to assay performance often yields unexpected nonlinear results in the presence of interfering substances, such as heterophile antibodies or TgAb. Heterophile blocking tube treatment is also utilized for troubleshooting samples that exhibit potential heterophile interference. Finally, assessment of an analyte such as Tg with an alternative assay will often lead to apparent discrepant results in the presence of heterophile antibodies or TgAb interference.
Measurement of Tg by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (Tg-MS) has been introduced as a method for accurate Tg quantitation in the presence of TgAb and heterophile antibodies. Tg-MS assays are based on peptide quantitation after tryptic digestion and immunocapture of Tg-specific peptides. The advantage of trypsin digestion is that all proteins are cleaved, including both TgAb and heterophile antibodies, thus eliminating them as interferences.
Only orderable as part of profile. For more information see IETG / Interference Evaluation Heterophile, Thyroglobulin Tumor Marker, Serum.
<1.8 IU/mL
Reference values apply to all ages.
Anti-thyroglobulin (Tg) antibodies (Ab) may interfere with the measurement of Tg. TgAb should be measured in conjunction with every measurement of serum Tg to rule out potential interference. Anti-TgAb greater or equal to 1.8 IU/mL are likely to cause interference in the Tg immunoassay.
In the Beckman Access Tg immunoassay utilized in this interference evaluation, the presence of TgAb is most likely to cause a reduction in measured Tg concentrations. Measurement of Tg by mass spectrometry is not affected by the presence of TgAb.
This heterophile antibody interference evaluation does not rule out the presence of other types interfering substances, such as biotin.
There may be some samples with extremely strong heterophile interference. In such cases heterophile blocking reagents may not be able to block all the assay interference.
Thyroglobulin (Tg) and anti-thyroglobulin (TgAb) values determined by different methodologies might vary significantly and cannot be directly compared with one another. Some patients might have antibody-positive results by some methods and antibody-negative results by others. Comparing values from different methods might lead to erroneous clinical interpretation.
1. Barbesino G, Algeciras-Schimnich A, Bornhorst JA: False positives in thyroglobulin determinations due to the presence of heterophile antibodies: an underrecognized and consequential clinical problem. Endocr Pract. 2021 May;27(5):396-400. doi: 10.1016/j.eprac.2020.10.011
2. American Thyroid Association (ATA) Guidelines Taskforce on Thyroid Nodules and Differentiated Thyroid Cancer, Cooper DS, Doherty GM, et al: Revised American Thyroid Association management guidelines for patients with thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancer. Thyroid. 2009 Nov;19(11):1167-1214
3. Netzel BC, Grebe SKG, Algeciras-Schimnich A: Usefulness of a thyroglobulin liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assay for evaluation of suspected heterophile interference. Clin Chem. 2014 Jul;60(7):1016-1018
4. Algeciras-Schimnich A: Thyroglobulin measurement in the management of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci. 2018 May;55(3):205-218
5. Ward G, Simpson A, Boscato L, Hickman PE: The investigation of interferences in immunoassay. Clin Biochem. 2017 Dec;50(18):1306-1311
The Access Thyroglobulin Antibody II assay (TgAb) is a sequential 2-step immunoenzymatic ("sandwich") assay. The sample is added to a reaction vessel with paramagnetic particles coated with thyroglobulin protein. The serum TgAb binds to the thyroglobulin. After incubation in a reaction vessel, materials bound to the solid phase are held in place by a magnetic field, while unbound materials are washed away. The thyroglobulin-alkaline phosphatase conjugate is added and binds to the TgAb. After the second incubation, materials bound to the solid phase are held in place by a magnetic field, while unbound materials are washed away. Then, the chemiluminescent substrate is added to the reaction vessel, and light generated by the reaction is measured with a luminometer. The light production is directly proportional to the concentration of thyroglobulin antibody in the sample. The amount of analyte in the sample is calculated by means of a stored, multi-point calibration curve.(Package insert: Access Thyroglobulin Antibody II. Beckman Coulter Inc; 04/2020)
Monday through Saturday
This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.
86800
Test Id | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
---|---|---|
TGABI | Thyroglobulin Antibody, S | 56536-6 |
Result Id | Test Result Name |
Result LOINC Value
Applies only to results expressed in units of measure originally reported by the performing laboratory. These values do not apply to results that are converted to other units of measure.
|
---|---|---|
TGABI | Thyroglobulin Antibody, S | 56536-6 |