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Test Code HMCY Homocysteine

Specimen Type

Whole Blood

Preferred Collection Container

PST-ICE

Collection Volume

2 mL

Minimum Collection Volume

1 mL

Collection Instructions

Place specimen on ice immediately after collection and prior to and after centrifugation. Serum may clot more slowly. Specimens not placed on ice immediately may exhibit a 10-20% increase in homocystein concentrations. Specimens maybe kept on ice up to 6 hours prior to centrifugation. After centrifugation, the original sample must stay on ice until arrival in testing department or sent in an aliquot container. Store and transport non centrifuged specimens on ice and centrifuged specimens at 2-8° C.

Rejection Criteria

Specimen not immediately placed on ice and maintained on ice, specimens not centrifuged within 6 hours of collection; Lipemic specimens, Improperly labeled specimens

Specimen Storage and Stability

Place specimen on ice immediately after collection and prior to centrifugation. Separate red cells from plasma or serum by centrifugation within 6 hours. Specimen must remain on ice until aliquoted for testing. Specimens are stable stored at 2-8 C for up to 1 week.

Turn Around Time

3 Days

Lab Department

Chemistry

Alias

Homocysteine;

EPIC Code

LAB93

Acceptable Collection Container

LAV-ICE (EDTA); PST-ICE; SST-ICE

Testing Volume

0.3 mL (300 ul)

Additional Information

It is not recommended to use individual patient results from serum, heparinzed plasma and EDTA plasma interchangably. Varying amounts of Bilirubin,
Hemoglobin, Red Blood Cells, Triglycerides, Glutathione, Methionine, L-Cysteine, Pyruvate can interfere with the result <±10%.

Day(s) and Time(s) Performed

Monday through Sunday, 24 hours