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| A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z # |
Homocysteine
MessageLavender EDTA or plain RED TOP tube should be drawn and placed on ice ASAP
Test Code
HOMO
Quest Code
31789
CPT Codes
83090
Preferred Specimen
1.0 mL serum from RED TOP or plasma from LAV top placed on ice immediately after drawing
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Other Acceptable Specimens
Plasma collected in: EDTA (lavender-top) or heparin (green-top) tube
Instructions
Red-top tubes (no gel): Place the specimen in the refrigerator or ice bath for 30 minutes after collection. Centrifuge the specimen as soon as possible after complete clot formation. Transfer the serum to a plastic specimen transport tube. Mark the specimen type as serum on the transport tube.
Barrier gel separator tubes: Place the specimen in a refrigerator for 30 minutes after collection. Do not place barrier tubes in an ice bath as freezing may prevent the barrier gel from adequately separating from cells. Centrifuge specimen as soon as possible after complete clot formation, ensuring that the barrier gel completely separates serum from cells.
EDTA or heparin tubes: Place the specimen in the refrigerator or ice bath after collection. Centrifuge the specimen as soon as possible. Transfer the plasma to a plastic specimen transport container. Mark the specimen type as plasma on the transport tube. Do not submit whole blood.
Note: It is very important to centrifuge and separate serum or plasma from red blood cells as soon as possible to avoid falsely elevated results.
Barrier gel separator tubes: Place the specimen in a refrigerator for 30 minutes after collection. Do not place barrier tubes in an ice bath as freezing may prevent the barrier gel from adequately separating from cells. Centrifuge specimen as soon as possible after complete clot formation, ensuring that the barrier gel completely separates serum from cells.
EDTA or heparin tubes: Place the specimen in the refrigerator or ice bath after collection. Centrifuge the specimen as soon as possible. Transfer the plasma to a plastic specimen transport container. Mark the specimen type as plasma on the transport tube. Do not submit whole blood.
Note: It is very important to centrifuge and separate serum or plasma from red blood cells as soon as possible to avoid falsely elevated results.
Transport Container
Transport tube
Transport Temperature
Room temperature
Specimen Stability
Room temperature: 4 days
Refrigerated: 14 days
Frozen: 6 months
Refrigerated: 14 days
Frozen: 6 months
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Gross hemolysis • Grossly lipemic • Unseparated serum or plasma • Whole blood specimens
Methodology
Enzymatic
Setup Schedule
Day shift Mon-fri
Report Available
2 days
Reference Range
| Male | <11.4 umol/L |
| Female | <10.4 umol/L |
Clinical Significance
An elevated concentration of homocysteine is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. When used in conjunction with methylmalonic acid (MMA), these tests are useful to diagnose and monitor vitamin B12 (cobalamin) and folic acid deficiency and are often useful in evaluating macrocytosis (an elevated MCV, an erythrocytic index).
Performing Laboratory
| Quest Diagnostics LLC |
| 200 Forest Street, 3rd Floor, Suite B |
| Marlborough, MA 01752-3023 |
