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Vitamin E (Tocopherol)
Test Code931
CPT Codes
84446
Includes
Vitamin E, Alpha-Tocopherol and Vitamin E, Beta-Gamma-Tocopherol
Preferred Specimen
2 mL serum - protected from light
Patient Preparation
Overnight fasting is required
Minimum Volume
0.7 mL
Instructions
Allow blood to clot at room temperature for 30 minutes. Centrifuge to separate serum from the cells within 24 hours of collection and immediately pour serum into a plastic transport tube.
Send serum in an amber tube. If amber tube is not available, wrap tube in aluminum foil to protect from light.
Send serum in an amber tube. If amber tube is not available, wrap tube in aluminum foil to protect from light.
Transport Temperature
Refrigerated (cold packs)
Specimen Stability
Room temperature: 24 hours
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: 28 days
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: 28 days
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Gross hemolysis • Grossly lipemic sera • Received room temperature • Not light protected • Plasma • Serum unseparated from the clot • Serum in serum separator tube not separated from the gel
Methodology
Chromatography
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-Sat; Report Available: 3 days
Clinical Significance
Deficiency of vitamin E may cause extensive neuropathy in young children and, in addition, is suspect as a possible cause of motor and sensory neuropathy in older children and in adults. One likely cause of vitamin E deficiency is intestinal malabsorption, resulting from bowel disease, pancreatic disease, or chronic cholestasis. Other causes of malabsorption of vitamin E include celiac disease, cystic fibrosis, and intestinal lymphangiectasia.