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HelpTest Code LAB811 Amino Acids, Quantitative, Blood
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-top (Lithium Heparin) microtainer®, Gold SST gel tube, Plain red-top tube, or DARK green-top (sodium heparin) tube.
Collection Volume:
3.0 mL (minimum 0.6 mL) whole blood
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 specimen
Logistics
Day(s) Test Set Up: Monday-Friday
Cut-off time: Varies; batched once per day in a.m.
Turnaround Time: 3-5 days
Reference Values
Reference Range: Age dependent. See Amino Acid Reference Values
Critical Values: None established
Methodology
Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
Limitations
- NA
Additional Information
FOR SLCH CORE LABORATORY USE ONLY
Lab Processing Instructions: Centrifuge specimen to separate, aliquot sample into a plastic conical tube and freeze within 1 hour of collection. Label aliquot with specimen type (plasma or serum).
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 |
NOTES: None
Test Classification and CPT Code
82139
Test Classifcation: 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
35083-5
Last Reviewed
08/2025