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Vitamin A, Serum (Retinol)

Retinols, Vita A

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB6178, Beaker: XVITA, CHW: LAB580

Department

Send Outs

Instructions

The patient must be fasting 12-14 hours prior to specimen collection (for infants, collect specimen just prior to next schedule feeding).

Patient must be fasting 12-14 hours prior to specimen collection (infants, collect specimen is drawn.

If Vitamin A and Vitamin E are ordered together, only one tube is required.

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: One plain Red-top tube.

• Protect specimen from light.
  • Wrap tube lightly in paper towel or foil
  • Plastic amber pour over tubes acceptable to protect from light.
• Send specimen for processing immediately after collection.

NOTE: Due to no weekend delivery. Specimens received in lab between Friday and Sunday will not be sent out until Monday.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes and immediately centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Transfer serum to an amber plastic transport tube and refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F).

Preparation for Courier Transport

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

Rejection Criteria

Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

In-Lab Processing

Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes and immediately centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Transfer serum to an amber plastic transport tube and refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F).

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

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): Unacceptable
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 14 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 14 days

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal: 7 days

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

Laboratory

Sent to Corewell Health Reference Laboratory, Grand Rapids, MI.

Performed

Tuesday and Thursday
Results available in 1-5 days.

Reference Range

By report.

Test Methodology

Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

Interpretation

The World Health Organization recommendations supplementation when vitamin A levels fall below 20.0 mcg/dL.

Severe deficiency is indicated at levels less than 10.0 mcg/dL.

Vitamin A values greater than 120.0 mcg/dL suggest hypervitaminosis A and associated toxicity.

Vitamin A toxicity occurs when retinol exceeds the capacity of retinol binding protein (RBP). Individuals with compromised renal function can retain RBP and may, therefore, have moderate retinol elevations.

Decreased levels may be seen in dietary deficiency or fat malabsorption syndromes such as liver, GI or pancreatic diseases, cystic fibrosis, xerosis, chronic infections, pyrexia, protein malnutrition and zinc deficiency with associated decreased retinol-binding protein; night or infantile blindness and hypothyroidism.

Increased levels may be due to hypervitaminosis, toxicity, chronic kidney disease, glucocorticoids, oral contraceptives or idiopathic hypercalcemia in infants.

Clinical Utility

This assay aids in the assessment of vitamin A deficiency and elevated vitamin A levels.

CPT Codes

84590
LOINC:  17527-3

Contacts

Last Updated

6/27/2023