Immunoglobulins (Blood)

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Auckland Te Toka Tumai

Test Guide

Immunoglobulins (Blood)

Testing Laboratory

Auckland Te Toka Tumai | Auckland Hospital

Department

Immunology

Delphic Registration Code (Alpha Code)

IGS

Test Code (Numeric Code)

7265

Laboratory Handling

Phlebotomy

Serum / Plasma

Transport

Ambient

Laboratory

LabPlus Automation

Sample Stability

4 months at 15-25°C, 8 months at 2-8°C, 8 months at -20°C

Associated Tests

Synonyms

Igs

Turnaround Time

4 hours

Specimen Type

Plasma
Serum

Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

Lithium Heparin PST- Gel (Light Green Cap)

Acceptable

Lithium Heparin - Non-gel (Green Cap)
Plain (Red Top)
SST II (Gold Cap)

Preferred Sample Volume (ml)

Minimum Sample Volume (ml)

No of Samples Required

Paediatric Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

Plain(Microtainer)

Acceptable

Heparin (Microtainer)
SST(Microtainer)

Preferred Sample Volume (ml)

Minimum Sample Volume (ml)

Diagnostic Use

Immunoglobulin requests are routinely tested for IgG, IgA and IgM only. Serial monitoring should ideally be done through the same laboratory as levels may not be directly comparable due to variation in the assays used.

Interpretation

Reduced IgG
Low IgG may be due to primary immunodeficiency or secondary causes (e.g. multiple myeloma, B cell depleting agents such as rituximab).
Adult IgG < 1g/ L	Severe hypogammaglobulinemia, at risk of life threatening or severe infection. Please refer to Clinical Immunology for further advice.
Adult IgG 1 – 3g/ L	If no known cause, investigate for secondary causes and consider a Clinical Immunology referral if no cause is identified.
Adult IgG 3- 5g/ L	If no cause is identified or there is recurrent, particularly sinopulmonary, infections or other features of an immunodeficiency consider referral to Clinical Immunology.
Paediatrics (<12 years) IgG below lower limit for age	If IgG levels are reduced and there is no known cause, consider a paediatric immunology referral.

Reduced or undetectable IgA

Selective IgA deficiency is common, seen in approximately 1:400 people, it is often asymptomatic. Associated with coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, transfusion reactions (when IgA absent) and rarely infection.

Low IgA seen in conjunction with low IgG or IgM: consider primary or secondary immunodeficiency.

Paediatrics: IgA levels may be undetectable < 7 months. IgA deficiency cannot be reliably diagnosed <5 years old.

Elevated IgA, IgM or IgG

May be polyclonal (e.g. infection, autoimmune or liver disease) or monoclonal.

Serum protein electrophoresis should be considered, particularly in patients with evidence of immunoparesis to at least one other immunoglobulin isotype or where IgG >25g/L, IgA>10g/L or IgM >10g/L.

Reference Intervals

IgG	(g/L)
Newborn to <2 weeks	3.0 – 13.7
≥2 weeks to <6 weeks	1.2 – 6.0
≥6 weeks to <6 months	1.2 – 7.0
≥6 months to <12 months	3.0 – 10.5
≥1 year to <4 years	3.0 – 11.2
≥4 years to <10 years	5.0 – 13.3
≥10 years to <19 years	6.0 – 15.0
≥19 years to <70 years	7.0 – 16.0
≥70 years	6.0 – 15.0

IgA	(g/L)
Newborn to <1 year	0.09 – 0.39
≥1 year to <3 years	0.19 – 1.09
≥3 years to <6 years	0.29 – 1.69
≥6 years to <14 years	0.3 – 2.4
≥14 years to <19 years	0.4 – 3.1
≥19 years to <70 years	0.8 – 4.0
≥70 years	0.8 – 4.0

IgM	(g/L)
Newborn to <2 weeks	<0.5
≥2 weeks to <13 weeks	0.1 – 0.7
≥13 weeks to <1 year	0.1 – 0.9
≥1 year to <19 years	0.4 – 1.8
≥19 years to <70 years	0.4 – 2.5
≥70 years	0.4 – 2.4

Test Method

Immunoturbidimetry on Roche Cobas

Uncertainty of Measurement

This information is available upon request.

Last updated: 14/08/2026

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Testing Laboratory

Department

Delphic Registration Code (Alpha Code)

Test Code (Numeric Code)

Laboratory Handling

Phlebotomy

Transport

Laboratory

Sample Stability

Associated Tests

Synonyms

Turnaround Time

Specimen Type

Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

Acceptable

Preferred Sample Volume (ml)

Minimum Sample Volume (ml)

No of Samples Required

Paediatric Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

Acceptable

Preferred Sample Volume (ml)

Minimum Sample Volume (ml)

Aliquot Instructions

Sample Type

Minimum Volume (ml)

Transport to Lab

Diagnostic Use

Interpretation

Reference Intervals

Test Method

Uncertainty of Measurement

Contact Information

Enquiry Form

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Immunoglobulins (Blood)

Overview

Testing Laboratory

Department

Delphic Registration Code (Alpha Code)

Test Code (Numeric Code)

Laboratory Handling

Phlebotomy

Transport

Laboratory

Sample Stability

Associated Tests

Synonyms

Turnaround Time

Specimen

Specimen Type

Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

Acceptable

Preferred Sample Volume (ml)

Minimum Sample Volume (ml)

No of Samples Required

Paediatric Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

Acceptable

Preferred Sample Volume (ml)

Minimum Sample Volume (ml)

Referral

Aliquot Instructions

Sample Type

Minimum Volume (ml)

Transport to Lab

Clinical Information/Test Method

Diagnostic Use

Interpretation

Reference Intervals

Test Method

Uncertainty of Measurement

Contact Information

Contact Information

Enquiry Form

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