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Formic Acid

Formate

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB6027, Beaker: XFRMA, NMS: 2134SP

Department

Send Outs

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: One Dark Green Heparin tube.
Also acceptable: One plain Red-top tube.

Do not use Serum Separator Tubes.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Centrifuge to separate serum or plasma from cells. Transfer serum or plasma to a plastic transport tube and refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F).

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 2.0 mL serum or plasma, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 0.7 mL)

Rejection Criteria

Serum Separator (SST) tubes.

Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

In-Lab Processing

Centrifuge to separate serum or plasma from cells. Transfer serum or plasma to a plastic transport tube and refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F).

Transport: 2.0 mL serum or plasma, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 0.7 mL)

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 7 days
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 30 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 15 months

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Specimen retention time is determined by the policy of the reference laboratory. Contact the Send Outs Laboratory with any questions.

Laboratory

Sent to ARUP Laboratories, Salt Lake City, UT, forwarded to National Medical Services (NMS), Willow Grove, PA.

Performed

Varies.
Results available in 6 days.

Reference Range

By report.

Test Methodology

Gas Chromatography / Mass Spectrometry.

Clinical Utility

Formic acid is formed in the body when methanol is metabolized by alcohol dehydrogenase. In methanol intoxication it is usually more useful to follow the patient with methanol level, rather than attempting to measure formic acid.

CPT Codes

83921

Contacts

Last Updated

9/11/2023