Sign in →

Red Blood Cell Plasmalogen Content

Important Note

SPECIMEN SHOULD ONLY BE COLLECTED MONDAY-THURSDAY TO BE RECEIVED IN LAB BY 1600.

DO NOT COLLECT ANYTIME FRIDAY-SUNDAY OR THE DAY BEFORE/OF A HOLIDAY.

Performing Laboratory

St. Louis Children's Hospital Sendout to Kennedy Krieger Institute Genetics Laboratory

Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type: Blood

Patient Preparation: None

Container/Tube        

Preferred:  Lavender-top (EDTA) Vacutainer®.

Acceptable: 
Collection Volume: 3.0 mL (minimum 1.5 mL)

Special Instructions: 

Immediately invert tube gently 8-10 times after collection to ensure proper mixing of blood and anticoagulant (this will avoid specimen clotting).

Send a completed "Kennedy Krieger Institute Genetics Laboratory - Proxisomal Disease" test requisition with specimen. Send to lab promptly.

 

Sample Rejection

Clotted specimens.

Specimens collected anytime Friday-Sunday

Mislabeled or unlabeled specimens.

Logistics

Test Availability:  Collect Monday-Thursday only to be received in lab by 1600 day of collection.

Cut-off time: None

Days set up by performing lab: Wednesday

Turnaround Time: 7-10 days

Reference Values

Reference Interval: Interpretive report will be provided

Critical Value: None established

Methodology

Plasmalogens in the form of dimethylacetals (DMAs) are identified by gas chromatography and the DMA/fatty acid ratios (C16:0DMA/C16:0 and C18:0DMA/C18:0) are compared to reference lab's normal and disease control values.

Limitations

NA

Additional Information

FOR SLCH CORE LABORATORY USE ONLY

Lab Processing Instructions: DO NOT SPIN.

Transport Temperature: Ambient
Analyte Stability: 

Ambient: NA

Refrigerated: NA

Frozen: NA

Note: 

  1. Specimens should be collected and shipped Mon-Thursday only by overnight express.
  2. Send the completed "Kennedy Krieger Institute Genetics Laboratory - Proxisomal Disease" test requisition with specimen.
  3. DO NOT transfer blood to other containers

Test Classification and CPT Code

Misc Ref SLC

82542

LOINC

NA

Last Reviewed

08/2025