Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin, adult
Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin, adult-994
Dcdt
Diasialotransferrin
Transferrin isoforms
An indicator of chronic alcohol abuse
This test is not suitable for the evaluation of patients suspected of having CDG syndrome (congenital disorders of glycosylation), genetic variants of transferrin, some monoclonal component, or high polyclonal increases, liver injuries (cirrhosis due to chronic alcohol abuse, end-stage disease).
Immediately following collection, mix sample by gently inverting 5 times
- Allow sample to clot for a minimum of 30 minutes
- Spin within two (2) hours of sample collection
- Transfer serum to a Screw-cap polypropylene frozen transport vial/tube - 4mL (LabCorp), labelled as serum
- Freeze
- Allow sample to clo
- Spin
- Transfer serum to a Screw-cap polypropylene frozen transport vial/tube - 4mL (LabCorp), labelled as serum, within two (2) hours of sample collection
- Freeze
Frozen (preferred) - 7 days
Freeze/thaw cycles - stable x3
Refrigerated - 2 days
Ambient - 2 days
- Fibrinogen present in sample
- Hemolyzed specimen
- Aged and improperly stored specimen
- Anticoagulated specimen (citrate, EDTA)
- Presence of genetic variants of transferrin
Capillary electrophoresis (CE)
Normal: < 1.4%
Inconclusive: 1.4% - 1.6%
Elevated: > 1.6%
CDT testing can be an effective tool for the early diagnosis of chronic alcohol misuse, for the detection of patients addicted to alcohol, and for the follow-up of treatment and diagnosis of alcohol relapse.
CDT quantitation is useful in detecting abusive alcohol consumption (defined as ethanol consumption >40 mL per day for at least two weeks) and a more specific marker for alcohol exposure than other available markers, such as γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT). It enables early detection of alcohol misuses and follow-up of alcoholic patients.