Specimen:

Plasma

Collection Medium:

Alternate
Collection Media:

Call laboratory for additional acceptable specimen collection 
containers.

Minimum:

2 ml whole blood from light green top tube or 1 light green microtube 
for pediatric patients

Testing
Schedule:

24 hrs/day, 7 days a week, including holidays.

Analytic Time:

1 hour (upon receipt in laboratory)

Reference Range:

< 200 mg/dL - desirable
200-240 mg/dL - increase risk
above 240 mg/dL - significant increased risk

Comments:

Please print, complete and submit the Advance Beneficiary Notice 
(ABN) along with the Laboratory Requisition before shipping the 
specimen.

Test
Limitations:

The assay is unaffected by indexes of hemolysis <700 mg/dL, lipemia 
<1250 mg/dL and icterus <25 mg/dL.  For samples with bilirubin of 
greater than or equal to 25.0 mg/dL, the test will not be done and a 
comment will be added:  "Elevated bilirubin interferes with the 
analysis as done by present method."

Methodology:

Enzymatic colorimetric

Sample
Processing:

Centrifuge at 3000 RPM for 10 minutes.
Aliquot plasma into labeled container and cap.

Sample
Storage:

Refrigerate.

Transport
Instructions:

Place specimen into zip-lock type bag, seal bag.
Place requisition into outside pocket of bag.
Transport in cooler with refrigerated coolant packs.

CPT Code:

82465