Fatty Acid Profile, Essential, Serum
Use
Evaluating the nutritional intake and intestinal absorption of essential fatty acids using serum specimens. It is useful in identifying deficiency of essential and other nutritionally beneficial fatty acids. Additionally, it can be used for monitoring treatment of patients with essential fatty acid deficiencies who are receiving linoleic acid (C18:2w6) and alpha-linolenic acid (C18:3w3).
Special Instructions
Patient's age is required. Include information regarding treatment, family history, and tentative diagnosis. Fasting for nutritional assessment should be 12 hours (required). The patient must not consume any alcohol for 24 hours before the specimen collection.
Limitations
For nutritional assessment, a 12- to 14-hour fast is required; however, infants or persons suspected of having a fatty acid oxidation disorder should not fast before testing due to the possibility of acute metabolic decompensation. Elevated levels of linoleic acid can contribute to overproduction of the proinflammatory 2-series local hormones.
New York Approved
Methodology
Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)
Biomarkers
LOINC Codes
- 43676-6
- 35150-2
- 35157-7
- 35155-1
- 35162-7
- 35161-9
- 35163-5
- 35164-3
- 35165-0
- 35166-8
- 35167-6
- 35149-4
- 35173-4
- 35168-4
- 35172-6
- 35171-8
- 35169-2
- 35174-2
- 35181-7
- 35180-9
- 35182-5
- 35160-1
- 35170-0
- 35411-8
- 35175-9
- 35176-7
- 35177-5
- 35178-3
- 35179-1
- 24461-6
- 59462-2
Result Turnaround Time
3-5 days
Related Documents
For more information, please review the documents below
Specimen
Serum
Volume
0.5 mL
Minimum Volume
0.15 mL
Container
Plastic vial
Collection Instructions
Centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial.
Patient Preparation
1. Fasting: a. For nutritional assessment: 12 hours, required. b. For patients with a suspected fatty acid oxidation disorder, prolonged fasting is contraindicated. Collect as close to the patient's next scheduled meal/feeding as possible. 2. Patient must not consume any alcohol for 24 hours before the specimen collection.
Causes for Rejection
Gross lipemia
Stability Requirements
| Temperature | Period |
|---|---|
| Refrigerated | 72 hours |
| Frozen | 92 days |