Additional Info:
This test is designed to assess nutritional and congenital disorders.
Useful For:
NUTRITIONAL HOMOCYSTEINE:
Homocysteine levels are increased in both Folate and Vitamin B12 deficiency. A methylmalonic acid level can differentiate the two disorders since it is increased in Vitamin B12 deficiency but not in folate deficiency.
CARDIAC HOMOCYSTEINE:
Elevation in plasma homocysteine may be a risk factor for atherosclerotic disease in coronary, cerebral, renal, and peripheral vessels and for arterial and venous thrombosis. Falsely elevated levels of tHCY may occur in patients taking methotrexate, nicotinic acid, theophylline, nitrous oxide, L-dopa, or S-adenosyl-methionine.
Methodology: Electrochemiluminescence
Specimen Requirements:
1 red-top tube (minimum: 1.0 mL) storing on ice until centrifuging. ASAP centrifuge green-top, separate serum, and pour into plastic vial. Refrigerate specimen after collection. Deliver promptly to lab.
EDTA (LAV-top) tubes: Place the specimen in the refrigerator or ice bath after collection. Centrifuge the specimen as soon as possible. Transfer the plasma to a specimen transport container. Mark the specimen type as plasma on the transport tube.
NOTE: Separate serum and freeze if over 48 hours.
Analytical Time: 1 day
Days Set Up: Monday through Sunday
CPT Information:
83090 –