Specimen

Urine More information

Collection Medium:

Minimum:

Preferred minimum: 2 mL aliquot from 24 hr urine or urine with no 
preservative.
Absolute minimum: 0.6 mL aliquot from 24 hr urine or urine with no 
preservative.

Rejection Criteria:

Specimens received room temperature or not protected from light.

Delivery Instructions:

Wrap specimen in aluminum foil to protect from light.

Analytic Time:

1 week

Reference Range:

Adults: 6.4 or less

INTERPRETIVE GUIDE:

Elevated Urine
Delta-aminolevulinic
Disorder Acid Expected**

Acute intermittent porphyria +
ALA dehydratase deficiency +
porphyria
Congenital erythropoietic -
coproporphyia
Erythropoietic protoporphyria -
Hepatoerythropoietic -
porphyria
Hereditary coproporphyria +/-
Porphyria cutanea tarda -
Variegate porphyria +/-

** Patients with hereditary forms of porphyria usually will
present with profound elevations of this analyte (>5-fold)
during acute episodes. Moderate elevations (<3-fold) are
more often due to medications or environmental factors.

Creatinine, 24-Hour Urine g/24 hr
AGE (YEARS) g/24 hours
3-8         0.11-0.68
9-12        0.17-1.41
13-17       0.29-1.87
Adults      0.63-2.50

Comments:

Submit collection dates and times on requisition; use dark brown 
collection container or protect from light; refrigerate during and 
after collection; OK to add preservative after collection.
24 hour total volume must be provided on the test request form.

ALA is a precursor to uroporphyrin, coproporphyrin, and protoporphyrin.  
Concentrations of ALA are greatly increased in many patients with acute 
neurological forms of porphyrias and in some patients with chronic 
alcohol abuse.

Methodology:

Colorimetric

CPT Code:

82135

See Additional Information:
Collection and Preservation of 24-Hour Urine Specimens
Urine Tests Requiring Preservatives, Refrigeration or Special Containers
Urine Tests Requiring no Preservatives