Vitamin K

Test Code

VITK

Quest Code

36585

CPT Codes
84597

Preferred Specimen

1 mL frozen plasma collected in an EDTA (lavender-top) tube - protected from light

Patient Preparation
Fasting for a minimum of 8 hours required.
Patient should refrain from eating liver and taking multivitamins or vitamin K at least 24 hours before sample collection.

Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Other Acceptable Specimens

Frozen plasma collected in: sodium heparin (green-top) tube - protected from light or lithium heparin (green-top) tube - protected from light • Frozen serum - protected from light

Instructions

Centrifuge within 1 hour of collection. Immediately separate plasma or serum from the cells into an amber transport tube to protect from light. Freeze. Do not thaw. Samples received frozen but not protected from light are acceptable.
If unable to centrifuge immediately, sample should be covered with aluminum foil immediately and placed on ice until plasma or serum can be separated from cells. Transport plasma or serum to the laboratory frozen.

Transport Container

Amber transport tube

Transport Temperature

Frozen

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: 24 hours
Refrigerated: 24 hours
Frozen: 90 days

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

Gross hemolysis • Grossly lipemic • Received room temperature • Received refrigerated

Methodology
Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

FDA Status
This test was developed and its analytical performance characteristics have been determined by Quest Diagnostics. It has not been cleared or approved by FDA. This assay has been validated pursuant to the CLIA regulations and is used for clinical purposes.

Setup Schedule

Set up: Mon-Thurs, Sat; Report available: 3-4 days

Reference Range

130-1500 pg/mL

Clinical Significance

Vitamin K is a required co-factor for the synthesis of factors 2, 7, 9, and 10 and proteins C and S. Deficiencies of vitamin K lead to bleeding. Coumadin® (warfarin) acts as an anticoagulant because it is a vitamin K antagonist.

Performing Laboratory
Quest Diagnostics/Nichols Chantilly
14225 Newbrook Dr
Chantilly, VA 20151-2228

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.