Erythropoietin (EPO) Test
The erythropoietin (EPO) test measures the hormone erythropoietin in a serum sample. EPO levels are associated with certain anemias and polycythemias, and a clinician reads the result alongside other blood findings.
About this test
Erythropoietin is a hormone measured in serum using an immunoassay method. Quest describes elevated erythropoietin levels as associated with anemias caused by increased red cell destruction and with secondary polycythemias linked to reduced oxygen delivery, impaired lung oxygen exchange, abnormal hemoglobins, narrowed kidney blood vessels, or certain tumors.
Because erythropoietin levels vary over the course of the day, Quest recommends collecting the sample between 7:30 am and noon. That timing detail is part of how the test is meant to be collected, and a clinician reads the resulting level together with a person's other blood counts and clinical picture.
Who might consider this test?
- Because timing of collection affects the reading, people who consider this test typically schedule the draw for the morning window Quest recommends.
Test details
| Collection | Quest patient service center |
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Quest resources
Additional details
What this test looks at
The test reports the concentration of erythropoietin in serum. Quest ties higher and lower levels to different categories of anemia and polycythemia, which is why the result is interpreted alongside other blood counts rather than read on its own.
This test isn't part of the Celio Health store at the moment, so it can't be ordered or requested here. The test menu lists everything that can.
Laboratory results should always be interpreted by a licensed clinician who knows your health history. This page is information about a test, not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
What does the erythropoietin test measure?
It measures the concentration of erythropoietin (EPO), a hormone, in a serum sample, using an immunoassay method.
How is the sample collected?
The test uses a serum sample from a routine blood draw.
Do I need to prepare for this test?
Quest recommends collecting the sample between 7:30 am and noon because erythropoietin levels vary over the course of the day.
What can an EPO result relate to?
Quest associates elevated erythropoietin with anemias from increased red cell destruction and with secondary polycythemias linked to factors such as reduced oxygen delivery or certain tumors, and associates normal or lower levels with anemias from increased oxygen delivery, hypophosphatemia, and polycythemia vera.
Does an EPO result diagnose the cause on its own?
No. A clinician reads the erythropoietin level together with other blood counts and a person's clinical picture to work toward a cause.