Test Code LAB6036 Amino Acids, Quantitative, Spinal Fluid (CSF)
Performing Laboratory
St. Louis Children's Hospital - Metabolic Genetics
Reference Values
Reference Range:
Age-dependent
See Amino Acids CSF Reference Values
Critical Values: None established
Last Reviewed
07/2025
Methodology
Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
Specimen Requirements
Patient Preparation: None
Container/Tube
Preferred/Acceptable: 7.0 mL screw-capped, sterile, plastic CSF collection vial.
Collection Volume: 1.0 mL (minimum 0.3 mL)
Submission container/tube: If specimen is coming from an outside facility, process within 1 hour. Aliquot sample into a screw capped sterile vial and freeze. Send specimen in dry ice to keep frozen.
Special Instructions: Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Call Laboratory Medicine resident at digital pager 314-747-1320 for approval before obtaining the specimen.
Note: Laboratory Medicine resident approval is not required for medical genetics patients.
Additional Information
For SLCH Laboratory use only
Lab Processing instructions: Centrifuge specimen to separate and aliquot supernatant into a plastic, conical vial and freeze.
Processed Volume: 1.0 mL (minimum 0.3 mL) CSF
Analyte Stability:
Specimen Type | Temperature | Time |
---|---|---|
CSF (unprocessed) | Ambient | NA |
CSF (processed) | Refrigerated | NA |
Ambient | NA | |
Frozen (preferred) | NA |
Notes: Freeze specimen
Limitations
- NA
Logistics
Day(s) Test Set Up: Monday-Friday
Cut-off time: 0430
Turnaround Time: 5 days
Sample Rejection
Mislabeled or unlabeled specimen received
Test Classification and CPT Coding
82139
This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by St. Louis Children's Hospital Clinical Laboratory. It has not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
LOINC
NA
For BJH Laboratory Use Only
Laboratory Processing Instructions:
BJH Core Lab will forward to the performing laboratory. Send immediately to St. Louis Children’s Hospital Laboratory for testing.