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Test Code HOMOCY Homocysteine, LAB93

Performing Laboratory

St. Luke's Hospital Cedar Rapids

Specimen Requirements

Container/Tube:

Preferred: Green-top (lithium heparin) tube

Acceptable: Serum, K2-EDTA and K3-EDTA

Specimen Volume: minimum volume of 10.5 µL plus a dead volume

Stability: Stable for 4 weeks at 2-8 ⁰C or 10 months at -15 to -25 ⁰C.

Transport Temperature: Refrigerate, recommended to send aliquot on wet ice.
Collection Instructions: Fasting (4 hour preferred). Immediately place specimen on wet ice.

                                         If there is a delay in transport of >1 hour, spin down, separate plasma

                                         from cells, and send minimum volume of 10.5 µL plus a dead volume is                                                 required

 

Reference Values

<15 µmol/L

 

Reference values apply to fasting specimens only.

Day(s) Test Set Up

Monday through Sunday

Useful For

Homocysteine levels are useful in the diagnosis of homocysteinuria which can be caused by decreased levels of Folic acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12.

Hyperhomocysteinemia was found to be associated with an increased risk for ischemic heart disease, stroke, peripheral arterial disease and deep venous thrombosis, as well as for neural tube defects and preeclampsia in pregnancy.

Methodology

Enzymatic

Test Classification and CPT Coding

83090

Report Available

STAT within 1 hour of receipt. Routine within 2 hours of receipt.