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Homocysteine : 31789
Test CodeHMCYC or 31789
CPT Codes
83090
Instructions
Barrier gel separator tubes: Place the specimen in a refrigerator for 30 minutes after collection. Centrifuge the specimen as soon as possible after complete clot formation has taken place. Do not place barrier tubes in an ice bath as freezing may prevent the barrier gel from adequately separating serum from cells.
EDTA or heparin tubes: Place the specimen in a refrigerator or ice bath until the specimen can be centrifuged. Centrifuge the specimen as soon as possible and transfer the plasma to a plastic screw-cap vial.
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.
EDTA or heparin tubes: Place the specimen in a refrigerator or ice bath until the specimen can be centrifuged. Centrifuge the specimen as soon as possible and transfer the plasma to a plastic screw-cap vial.
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
Preferred Specimen
1 mL serum
Alternative Specimen(s)
Plasma collected in: Sodium heparin (green-top) tube or EDTA (lavender-top) tube
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
1 mL serum
Alternative Specimen(s)
Plasma collected in: Sodium heparin (green-top) tube or EDTA (lavender-top) tube
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Transport Temperature
Room temperature.
Specimen Stability
Room temperature: 4 days; 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
Immunoassay
Setup Schedule
Sunday - Saturday
Report Available
1 day
Reference Range
Male <11.4 umol/L
Female <10.4 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
med fusion
