Ordering Guidance

Body fluids are not acceptable specimens for this test.

For testing urine specimens, order AAPD / Amino Acids, Quantitative, Random, Urine.

For testing spinal fluid specimens, order AACSF / Amino Acids, Quantitative, Spinal Fluid.

Additional Testing Requirements

Not all patients with homocystinuria/homocystinemia will be detected by this assay. For quantitation of total homocysteine, order CMMPP / Cobalamin, Methionine, and Methylmalonic Acid Pathways, Plasma or HCYSP / Homocysteine, Total, Plasma in conjunction with this amino acids profile.

Shipping Instructions

Necessary Information

1. Patient's age is required.

2. Include family history, clinical condition (asymptomatic or acute episode), diet, and drug therapy information.

Specimen Required

Patient Preparation: Patient should fast overnight (4 hours minimum); infants should have specimen collected before next feeding (2-3 hours without total parenteral nutrition if possible).

Supplies: Sarstedt Aliquot Tube, 5 mL (T914)

Collection Container/Tube: Green top (sodium heparin)

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Collect specimen and place on wet ice. Note: Thrombin-activated tubes should not be used for collection.

2. Centrifuge immediately or within 4 hours of collection if the specimen is kept at refrigerated temperature.

3. Being careful to ensure that no buffy coat is transferred, aliquot plasma into a plastic vial and freeze.