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Test Code LAB5750 Carnitine, Free and Total, Plasma

Performing Laboratory

St. Louis Children's Hospital - Metabolic Genetics

Specimen Requirements

Patient Preparation: None

Container/Tube

Preferred: Mint green-top lithium heparin (MNTGRN LiHep) tube

Acceptable: Green SAMPLETTE/MICROTAINER, Plain Red-top tube, Gold SST gel tube or Dark Green-top (NaHep) tube

Collection Volume: 3.0 mL (minimum 0.6 mL)

NOTE: if collected in microtainer, container MUST be FULL

Submission container/tube: If specimen is coming from outside facility, process specimen within 1 hour. Aliquot plasma/serum into a screw cap plastic vial for transport (labeling aliquot with specimen type) and freeze. Send on dry ice to keep frozen.

Special Instructions: Send to lab promptly.

Sample Rejection

Mislabeled or unlabeled specimens

Logistics

Test Availability: Daily

Days set up: Monday-Friday

Cut-off time: Varies; batched once per day in a.m.
Turnaround Time: 3-5 days
 

Reference Values

Reference Range:

Carnitine Total: 35-80 mcmol/L
Carnitine Free (FC): 20-65 mcmol/L                                                              
Acylcarnitine Total (AC): 5-30 mcmol/L
AC/FC Ratio: 0.1-0.8

Interpretation included

Critical Values: None established

Methodology

Electrospray Tandem Mass Spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS)

Limitations

  • NA

Additional Information

For SLCH Laboratory use only

Lab Processing Instructions: Centrifuge specimen to separate and aliquot sample into a plastic conical tube (label as serum if collected in Red top or gold SST gel tube). Place aliquot tube in freezer. 

Processed Volume: 1.0 mL (minimum 0.3 mL) plasma/serum

Analyte Stability:

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Whole Blood (unprocessed)  Ambient 1 hour
Plasma/Serum (processed)    Refrigerated     NA
  Ambient  1 hour
  Frozen (preferred)    indefinitely  

Test Classification and CPT Code

82379
Test Classification: This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by St. Louis Children's Hospital Clinical Laboratory. It has not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

LOINC

Total:14288-5

Free (FC): 14286-9

Acylcarnitine (AC): 14282-8

AC/FC Ratio: 30193-7

Interpretation: 59462-2

Last Reviewed

08/2025