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Test Code LAB5462 MMP-7 (Matrix Metalloproteinase 7)

Performing Laboratory

St. Louis Children's Hospital Sendout to Children's Medical Center-Dallas

Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type: Blood

Patient Preparation: None

Container/Tube 

Preferred:  Plain, red-top Vacutainer®.
Acceptable: Gold/Red SST Vacutainer®
Collection Volume: minimum 2.0 mL

Special Instructions: Place specimen on wet ice after collection and deliver to lab immediately*

Include a completed Children's Medical Center Metabolics Laboratory "MMP7 Test Requisition" with specimen. For test inquiries or questions about test, please call CMC Dallas at 214-456-2320

Sample Rejection

Mislabeled or unlabeled specimen

Thawed samples, plasma samples

Logistics

Test Availability: Daily
Cut-off time: None

Days set up by performing lab: 

Monday, Wednesday, & Friday

(Testing not performed on Holidays or weekends)

Turnaround Time: 5-7 Days

Reference Values

Reference Interval: 3.6-10.5 ng/mL

< 17 ng/mL - 95% sensitivity, 97% negative predictive value.  Below 17 ng/mL, the chance is 95% that biliary atresia will not be present.
17-68 ng/mL - indeterminate.  Differential in this range would include biliary atresia, but also things like indeterminate cholestasis, choledocal cyst, alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency.
>68 ng/mL - 95% specificity, 69% positive predictive value.  Above 68 ng/mL, the likelihood of biliary atresia is 95%

Critical Value: None established

Methodology

ELISA

The performance characteristics of this assay were validated by the Metabolics Laboratory Children's Health. Reagents used in this assay are used in many lab tests necessary for standard medical care and generally do not require U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval. Children's Health is authorized under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988(CLIA-88) to perform high complexity testing. This test should not be regarded as investigational or for research use.

Limitations

Caution should be exercised in the interpretation of any assay for MMP-7, and the results should be considered in conjunction with the patient’s clinical condition. High MMP-7 have been detected in premature babies and young infants with cardiovascular and/ or multi-system disease. The final diagnosis of biliary atresia requires intraoperative cholangiography and the histological presence of obstruction of the extrahepatic bile duct. The normal values of MMP-7 in premature babies have not yet been established. Clinical correlation is particularly important in premature babies.

Additional Information

FOR SLCH CORE LABORATORY USE ONLY

Lab Processing Instructions: Centrifuge to separate within 2 hours of collection. Aliquot sample into a 5-mL screw-cap plastic vial for transport. Place in dry ice to freeze immediately.
Transport Temperature: Frozen
Analyte Stability: NA

Note: 

Ship on dry ice sufficient to maintain temperature, thawed samples will be rejected.

Send completed MMP7 Test Requisition with specimen

DO NOT SHIP ON FRIDAY OR DAY BEFORE HOLIDAY! Store sample in -70 freezer until able to ship Monday (or day after Holiday)

Avoid repeated freeze/thaw cycles

Call CMC lab at 214-456-2320 or go to "Children'sHealth" with any questions.

Shipping address:

Metabolics Laboratory

Children's Medical Center

1935 Medical District Drive

Dallas, TX 75235

Test Classification and CPT Code

Misc Ref SLC

83520

LOINC

in process

Last Reviewed

08/2025