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Vitamin K
Test CodeVITK
Alias/See Also
36585
CPT Codes
84597
Preferred Specimen
1 mL plasma collected in an EDTA (lavender-top) tube - protect 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
Plasma collected in a sodium heparin or lithium heparin (green-top) tube, protected from light • 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, light protected
Transport Temperature
Frozen
Specimen Stability
Room temperature: 24 hours
Refrigerated: 24 hours
Frozen: 90 days
Refrigerated: 24 hours
Frozen: 90 days
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Grossly lipemic • Gross hemolysis
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 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 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 after receipt at the performing laboratory. Add two (2) days for transport.
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 Institute
14225 Newbrook Drive
Chantilly, VA 20153
Last Updated: June 22, 2023