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Test Code LAB429 Acylcarnitines, Quantitative, Plasma

Performing Laboratory

St. Louis Children's Hospital - Metabolic Genetics

Reference Values

Reference Range: See Acylcarnitine Reference Values
Critical Values: None established

Last Reviewed

November 2024

Specimen Requirements

Patient Preparation: None

Container/Tube  
Preferred: Mint green-top Lithium heparin (MNTGRN LiHep) tube
Acceptable: Green-top (Lithium Heparin) microtainer, Gold SST gel tube, Plain red-top tube, or DARK green-top (sodium heparin) tube

Collection Volume: 3.0 mL (minimum 0.6 mL) whole blood

If collected in microtainer, container MUST be full.

Submission container/tube: If specimen is coming from an outside facility, process specimen within 1 hour. Aliquot plasma/serum into a screw cap plastic vial and label with specimen type. Freeze aliquot and send on dry ice to keep frozen.

Special Instructions: Send to lab promptly.

Barnes-Jewish Hospital Note:

For non hospital patients, call Barnes Jewish Hospital Laboratory Customer Service at 314-362-1470 for STAT pick-up.

 

Send unsupn, 10-mL, green-top (sodium heparin) tube on wet ice.

Logistics

Day(s) Test Set Up: Monday-Friday

Cut-off time: 0430
Turnaround Time: 3-5 days

Methodology

Electrospray Tandem Mass Spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS)

Additional Information

For SLCH Laboratory use only

Lab Processing instructions: Centrifuge specimen to separate, aliquot sample into a plastic aliquot tube and freeze. Label aliquot with specimen type.
Processed Volume: 1.0 mL (minimum 0.3 mL) plasma/serum
Analyte Stability:

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Whole Blood (unprocessed)     Ambient 1 hour
Plasma/Serum (processed) Refrigerated  NA
  Ambient  1 hour
  Frozen (preferred)    Indefinitely    

NOTES: None

Limitations

  • NA

Sample Rejection

Mislabeled or unlabeled specimens received

Test Classification and CPT Coding

82017

LOINC

NA

Barnes-Jewish Hospital Additional Information:

For BJH Laboratory Use Only
Alternate Tube(s):

1 mint green-top (lithium heparin) tube

1 plain, red-top tube

Analyte Stability:

Specimen must be frozen within 4 hours; frozen specimen stable for 1 month.

Laboratory Processing Instructions:
BJH Chemistry will forward to the performing laboratory. Refrigeration of specimen during transport will slow the metabolism process, however, do not reject if specimen is not received on ice. Spin, separate, and freeze 1 mL (minimum volume: 0.2 mL) of heparinized plasma or serum in a plastic aliquot vial.