Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)
Order Code: AST
Epic Lab Code: LAB131
Order Form: A-1a General Lab or Epic Req
Chemistry
6240 RCP
356-3527
Specimen:
Plasma
Collection Medium:
Plasma Separator Tube
Alternate Collection Media:
Call laboratory for additional acceptable specimen collection containers.
Minimum:
3 mL light green top tube or 1 light green top microtainer for pediatric patients
Testing Schedule:
24 hrs/day, 7 days a week, including holidays.
Analytic Time:
1 hour (upon receipt in laboratory)
Reference Range:
Males; 0-37 u/l Females; 0-31 u/l Pediatric Ranges: Age Male/Female U/L 1-3 years 10-50 4-6 years 10-45 7-12 years 10-40 13-18 years 10-35
Comments:
Avoid hemolysis.
Test Limitations:
Criterion: Recovery within plus or minus 10% of initial value. Hemolysis interferes due to AST activity from erythrocytes. Icterus: No significant interference up to an I index of 60 (approximate conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin concentration: 60 mg/dl). Lipemia (Intralipid): No significant interference up to an L index of 500 (approximate triglycerides concentration: 1000 mg/dl). There is poor correlation between turbidity and triglycerides concentration. Lipemia may cause absorbance flagging as a result of an absorbance increase. Reference Glick MR, Ryder KW, Jackson SA. Graphical Comparisons of Interferences in Clinical Chemistry Instrumentation. Clin Chem 1986;32:470-474.
Methodology:
Spectrophotometric
CPT Code:
84450
 
See also:
Aspartate Aminotransferase-Other, Body Fluid (e.g., surgical drain, pericardial, peritoneal, peritoneal dialysis, pleural, or synovial)