Apolipoprotein B, Serum

Test Code

APOBP

Alias/See Also

Epic: LAB3430
Mayo: APOLB

Apo B
APO-B
APOB
APOB-100
Apolipoprotein B-100
Apolipoprotein B+A1

CPT Codes
82172

Preferred Specimen

Specimen Type: Serum
Collection Container: Serum gel
Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Other Acceptable Specimens

Collection Container: Red top

Instructions

Centrifuge and aliquot serum into plastic vial. Send refrigerated.

Transport Container

Plastic vial

Specimen Stability

Specimen Type	Temperature	Time
Serum	Refrigerated (preferred)	8 days
	Frozen	60 days
	Ambient	24 hours

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Gross hemolysis	Reject
Gross lipemia	OK
Gross icterus	Reject

Methodology
Automated Turbidimetric Immunoassay

Setup Schedule

Monday through Sunday

Report Available

1 to 3 days

Limitations

CAUTIONS
In very rare cases, gammopathy, type IgM (Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia) in particular, may cause unreliable results.

Reference Range

REFERENCE VALUES
Less than 2 years: Not established

2-17 years:
Acceptable: <90 mg/dL
Borderline high: 90-109 mg/dL
High: > or =110 mg/dL

Greater than 18 years:
Desirable: <90 mg/dL
Above Desirable: 90-99 mg/dL
Borderline high: 100-119 mg/dL
High: 120-139 mg/dL
Very high: > or =140 mg/dL

INTERPRETATION
Elevated apolipoprotein B (ApoB) confers increased risk of coronary artery disease. ApoB can be used as a therapeutic target analogous to non-HDL-C and LDL-C.

Extremely low values of ApoB (<48 mg/dL) are related to malabsorption of food lipids and can lead to polyneuropathy.

Clinical Significance

USEFUL FOR
Assessment of cardiovascular risk

Follow-up studies in individuals with basic lipid measures inconsistent with risk factors or clinical presentation

Definitive studies of cardiac risk factors in individuals with significant family histories of coronary artery disease or other increased risk factors

Confirmation of suspected abetalipoproteinemia or hypobetalipoproteinemia

CLINICAL INFORMATION
Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) is the primary protein component of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). LDL contains a variable amount of cholesterol, but each LDL contains exactly one ApoB protein. Therefore, ApoB is a more reliable indicator of circulating LDL compared to LDL cholesterol (LDL-C). ApoB has been demonstrated to perform equally with LDL particles measured by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.(1)

ApoB is strongly associated with increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) and often outperforms LDL-C at predicting risk of coronary heart disease.(2-4) Patients with acceptable non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) or LDL-C but elevated ApoB remain at higher risk of developing CVD; conversely, patients with acceptably low ApoB but moderate non-HDL-C or LDL-C elevations are at a reduced risk for CVD.(5,6)

Finally, in 7 different placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials, on-statin reduction of ApoB was more closely related to CVD risk reduction than non-HDL-C or LDL-C.(7)

Performing Laboratory
Mayo Clinic Laboratories - Rochester
3050 Superior Drive NW
Rochester, MN 55901

Additional Information
Apolipoprotein B, Serum

Last Updated: December 18, 2023
Last Review: N. Wolford, December 18, 2023

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.