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Asmaa A: The Effect of Icteric (Jaundiced) Samples on Laboratory Test Results
Oct 20, 2025, 06:51

Asmaa A: The Effect of Icteric (Jaundiced) Samples on Laboratory Test Results

Asmaa A, DHA Medical Laboratory Technologis at Al-Ahrar International Hospital, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“The Effect of Icteric (Jaundiced) Samples on Laboratory Test Results

When the serum looks yellow to orange like sunset, it’s called icteric and that beautiful color can seriously interfere with many lab results

Clinical Chemistry:

  • Creatinine (Jaffe method) → may falsely ↓
  • Uric acid, Cholesterol, Triglycerides → may falsely↓
  • AST, ALT, Total Protein → may vary
  • Glucose (oxidase–peroxidase) →may falsely ↓

Hematology:

  • Hb → may be slightly falsely ↑
  • MCHC,MCH→ may mildly ↑ (calculated from Hb)
  • RBC, WBC, PLT → usually not affected

Coagulation:

  • In optical systems, PT, aPTT, Fibrinogen may be falsely increased or decreased.
  • Mechanical systems are less affected.

How to handle Icteric Samples:

  • Try diluting the sample to reduce interference.
  • Use alternative or manual methods to verify results that might be affected by bilirubin interference.
  • Request a new sample if there’s also hemolysis or lipemia not because bilirubin disappears, but to rule out other issues.”

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