Erythropoietin test

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This is a test to measure the amount of erythropoietin in blood. See also reticulocyte count.

Serum erythropoietin; EPO

Blood is drawn from a vein, usually on inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The puncture site is cleaned with antiseptic, and an elastic band is placed around the upper arm to cause the veins below the band to swell with blood.

A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. During the procedure, the band is removed to restore circulation. Once the blood has been collected, the needle is removed, and the puncture site is covered to stop any bleeding.

For an infant or young child:

The area is cleansed with antiseptic and punctured with a sharp needle or a lancet. The blood may be collected in a pipette (small glass tube), on a slide, onto a test strip, or into a small container. Cotton or a bandage may be applied to the puncture site if there is any continued bleeding.

No special preparation is necessary.

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain, while others feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.

This test may be used to help determine the cause of anemia, polycythemia (high red blood cells) or other bone marrow disorders.

EPO (erythropoietin) is a hormone (a type of protein) produced by specialized cells in the kidneys. These cells are sensitive to the oxygen concentration in the blood, and increase the release of EPO when the oxygen concentration is low.

Since oxygen is carried by red blood cells, too few red blood cells (anemia) will result in erythropoietin release. EPO acts on stem cells in the bone marrow to increase the production of red blood cells.

Review Date: 10/31/2005
Reviewed By: William Matsui, M.D., Assistant Professor of Oncology, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.