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Porphyrins, Fractionation, Plasma

Plasma Porphyrins Fractionation

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB6597, Beaker: XPOPR, Mayo: PTP

Department

Send Outs

Instructions

Patient should abstain from alcohol for at least 24 hours prior to specimen collection.

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect (preferred specimen): One Green-top Lithium or Sodium Heparin tube.
Also acceptable: One Lavender-top EDTA tube.

• Protect specimen from light.
• Critical frozen. Send specimen for processing immediately after collection.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Critical frozen. Protect specimen from light. Centrifuge to separate plasma from cells. Transfer plasma to an amber transport tube and freeze (-20°C/-4°F or below) immediately.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 3.0 mL light-protected plasma, frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below). (Minimum: 1.0 mL)

Rejection Criteria

• Plasma Separator (PST) tubes.
• Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

Inpatient Specimen Preparation

Critical frozen. Protect specimen from light. Deliver light-protected specimen to the Laboratory immediately from processing.

In-Lab Processing

Critical frozen. Protect specimen from light. Centrifuge to separate plasma from cells. Transfer plasma to an amber transport tube and freeze (-20°C/-4°F or below) immediately.

Transport: 3.0 mL light-protected plasma, frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below). (Minimum: 1.0 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): Unacceptable
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 14 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 Laboratories, Rochester, MN.

Performed

Monday – Friday.
Results available in 3-6 days.

Reference Range

By report.

Test Methodology

High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)/Extraction and Scanning Spectrofluorometry.

Interpretation

If total porphyrins are greater than 1.0 mcg/dL then fractionation will be performed, which includes coproporphyrins, uroporphyrins, and intermediate porphyrins [heptacarboxyl, hexacarboxyl, pentacarboxyl, and tricarboxyl (when detected)].

Clinical Utility

This assay aids in the diagnosis of patients with photosensitivity of the skin and blistering skin lesions especially for cases of suspected variegate porphyria, coproporphyria, porphyria cutanea tarda, and in persons in chronic renal failure who develop blistering skin lesions.

CPT Codes

84311, 82542 (if applicable).

Contacts

Last Updated

10/8/2023