Vitamin E (Tocopherol)

Test Code

Quest Code

931

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.

Transport Container

Amber plastic tube, or foil wrapped plastic screw-cap vial - protected from light

Transport Temperature

Refrigerated (cold packs)

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: 24 hours
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: 28 days

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

Gross hemolysis • Grossly lipemic sera • Serum unseparated from the clot • Serum in serum separator tube (SST) not separated from the gel • Received room temperature • Not light protected • Plasma

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 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-Sat; Report available: 3-4 days

Reference Range

See Laboratory Report

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.

Performing Laboratory
Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute
14225 Newbrook Drive
Chantilly, VA 20153

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.