Homocysteine, Blood - Saskatoon
Discipline
Biochemistry
Overview
Description
- Not to be confused with Homocystine (Metabolic Diseases)
Specimen Information
Specimen types accepted
- Plasma
Specimen collection container
- Preferred collection container: Blood – Lavender
- Alternative collection container: Blood – Dark Green (Lithium Heparin no gel)
Collection procedure
- Blood collection tube shall be placed on ice and immediately transported to laboratory
Required volume
- Optimal volume: full collection tube
- Minimum volume: 1.0 mL
(Submitting the minimum volume makes it impossible to repeat the test or perform confirmatory/reflex testing. In some situations, a minimum volume may require a second collection. Chemistry may be able to do up to 10 tests with 0.75 mL blood.)
Transport and stability
- 4 weeks at 2 - 8º C
Rejection criteria
- Specimens received where the proper collection protocols were not followed
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Acceptance and Rejection Criteria
Performance
Methodology
- Enzyme Cycling assay that assesses the co-substrate conversion product
Days/times performed
| Availability |
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Maximum laboratory time
- In Hospital reported within 2 hours
- Community urgent and inter-hospital reported within 4 hours
- Community routine reported within 24 hours
Specimen retention time
- 3 days
Last Updated: October 8, 2024