Nonesterified Fatty Acids (Free Fatty Acids)

Test Code

449

Alias/See Also

Plasma Free Fatty Acid
FFA
Free Fatty Acid, Total Serum

CPT Codes
82725

Preferred Specimen

1 mL frozen serum

Patient Preparation
Overnight fasting is preferred

Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Other Acceptable Specimens

Serum collected in: no additive (royal blue-top) tube • Plasma collected in: an EDTA (lavender or royal blue-top), 3.2% sodium citrate (light blue-top), sodium fluoride or potassium oxalate (gray-top), or PTH-related protein (special collection tube), ACTH (lavender-top), or PPT potassium EDTA (white-top) tube

Instructions

Serum or plasma should be removed from cells immediately after collection.

Transport Temperature

Frozen

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 2 hours
Frozen: 30 days

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

Received room temperature • Received refrigerated • Heparin Plasma and patients on heparin therapy

Methodology
Spectrophotometry (SP) • Enzymatic

Setup Schedule

Set up: Tues, Thurs; Report available: 4-9 days

Reference Range

Newborns	<2.3 mmol/L
1-12 Months	0.50-1.60 mmol/L
1-7 Years	0.60-1.50 mmol/L
8-17 Years	0.20-1.10 mmol/L
Adults	0.07-0.88 mmol/L

Clinical Significance

The Nonesterified Fatty Acids (Free Fatty Acids) assay is useful in evaluating lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation. Nonesterified Fatty Acids may be useful in evaluating patients with hypoglycemia and for nutritional assessment.

Performing Laboratory

Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute-San Juan Capistrano, CA

33608 Ortega Highway

San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675-2042

Last Updated: November 20, 2023

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.