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Free Fatty Acids, Total, Serum

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB7141, Beaker: XNEFA, Mayo: NEFA

Department

Send Outs

Instructions

Patients should be fasting (12-14 hours) and must not consume any alcohol for 24 hours prior to specimen collection. Patient should not be receiving therapeutic heparin.

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect (preferred specimen): One Gold-top SST tube.
Also acceptable: One plain Red-top tube.

• Specimen is STAT and requires processing immediately after collection.
• Separate samples must be submitted when multiple tests are ordered.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Critical frozen. Let specimen clot then centrifuge to separate serum from cells with 45 minutes of collection. Transfer serum to a plastic transport tube and freeze (-20°C/-4°F or below) immediately.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 1.0 mL serum, frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below). (Minimum: 0.5 mL)

Rejection Criteria

• Grossly hemolyzed specimens.
• Grossly icteric specimens.
• Grossly lipemic specimens.
• Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

Inpatient Specimen Preparation

Critical frozen. Transport specimen to the Laboratory immediately after collection, on ice, for processing.

In-Lab Processing

Critical frozen. Let specimen clot then centrifuge to separate serum from cells with 45 minutes of collection. Transfer serum to a plastic transport tube and freeze (-20°C/-4°F or below) immediately.

Transport: 1.0 mL serum, frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below). (Minimum: 0.5 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): Unacceptable
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 7 days

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 Mayo Medical Laboratory, Rochester, MN.

Performed

Monday – Friday.
Results available in 2-4 days.

Reference Range

By report.

Test Methodology

Enzymatic Colorimetric.

Interpretation

Abnormally high levels of free fatty acids are associated with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and with conditions that involve excessive release of a lipoactive hormone such as epinephrine, norepinephrine, glucagon, thyrotropin, and adrenocorticotropin.

In prolonged fasting or starvation, fatty acid levels rise as much as threefold.

Clinical Utility

This assay aids in the evaluation of the metabolic status of persons with endocrinopathies. This assay aids in the detection of phenochromocytoma and of glucagon-, thyrotropin-, and adrenocorticotropin-secreting tumors. It also aids in monitoring the control of diabetes mellitus (serum-free glycerol is a very useful companion test in assessing diabetes).

CPT Codes

82725
LOINC:  15066-4

Contacts

Last Updated

10/3/2023