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Beta-Hydroxybutyrate
Test CodeAlias/See Also
CPT Codes
82010
Preferred Specimen
Serum (gold top) tube
Minimum Volume
Other Acceptable Specimens
Instructions
Do not remove cap or transfer specimen. This test cannot be added to blood already in lab if specimen has been uncapped due to the risk of evaporation of B-hydroxybuterate.
Transport Container
Serum (gold top) tube or Lithium Heparin Plasma (green top) tube (Do not uncap tube)
Transport Temperature
Specimen Stability
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Methodology
Photometric
Setup Schedule
Daily upon receipt
Report Available
Reference Range
0 Days - 5 Years: 0.00 - 0.40 mmol/L
5 Years - 19 Years: 0.00 - 0.30 mmol/L
19 Years - Adult: 0.00 - 0.20 mmol/L
Clinical Significance
Metabolism of free fatty acids results in the formation of acetacetic acid, most of which (about 78%) is converted to Beta-hydroxybuterate. Unchanged acetoacetic acid and small amounts of acetone are found in the circulation. All three are referred to as ketone bodies. When carbohydrates are unavailable for metabolism, fat metabolism is greatly increased, resulting in elevated serum ketones. Conditions in which this occurs include uncontrolled diabetes, starvation or fasting, glycogen storage disorders, and a ketogenic diet which is used to prevent seizures in children who are poorly controlled with drug therapy alone. Traditional measurement of serum ketones detects only acetoacetic acid and acetone, making it a relatively insensitive measurement of total ketones.