Pyruvic Acid, Whole Blood
Also known as: Pyruvate
Use
Increased pyruvic acid levels have been associated with diabetes mellitus, vitamin deficiencies, uremia, congestive heart failure, liver diseases, muscular dystrophy, thiamine deficiency, and neoplastic conditions. Pyruvic acid is useful in assessing oxygen deprivation and provides an index of the severity of circulatory failure.
Special Instructions
Ensure that the patient is in a fasting and resting state and should not engage in exercise.
Limitations
There is no adequate means of preserving pyruvic acid levels, except by immediate precipitation of blood proteins. Due to the time needed to obtain serum or plasma from blood, the pyruvic acid values from plasma might not reflect true initial values. Thus, using whole blood with protein precipitation is recommended for precise determination.
Methodology
Automated Analyzer (Clinical Chemistry)
Biomarkers
LOINC Codes
- 2905-8
- 2905-8
Result Turnaround Time
4-6 days
Related Documents
For more information, please review the documents below
Specimen
Whole Blood
Volume
0.5 mL (clear supernatant)
Minimum Volume
0.2 mL (clear supernatant)
Container
Gray-top (potassium oxalate/sodium fluoride) tube and one LabCorp 8% perchloric acid tube
Collection Instructions
Draw blood into chilled gray-top tube. Immediately after drawing, add 2 mL of whole blood from the gray-top tube to 2 mL of 8% perchloric acid. Shake mixture vigorously for about 30 seconds. Refrigerate for five minutes to ensure complete protein precipitation. Centrifuge 5 to 10 minutes at approximately 1500xg. Immediately transfer the clear supernatant to a transport tube labeled as 'supernatant.' A second centrifugation may be necessary to acquire a clear, protein-free solution.
Patient Preparation
Patient should be in a fasting and resting state (should not exercise).
Storage Instructions
Maintain the perchloric acid supernatant refrigerated.
Causes for Rejection
Whole blood received; gray-top tube not prepared with perchloric acid
Stability Requirements
| Temperature | Period |
|---|---|
| Room Temperature | 5 days |
| Refrigerated | 7 days |
| Frozen | 7 days |