Amino Acids, Blood

Alternate test name

Lab area

Clinical Biochemistry - Metabolic Diseases

Method and equipment

Quantification of Amino Acids using UPLC-MS/MS

Expected turn-around time

STAT: 36 hours Urgent: 36 hours Routine: 7 days

Specimen type

Heparinized Plasma (lithium or sodium heparin are acceptable).
Serum ( do not use tube with gel separator).

Specimen requirements

0.2 mL heparinized plasma or serum.

Storage and transportation

Plasma/Serum must be separated within 1 hour of collection and kept frozen.
Specimen from external clients should be sent frozen on dry ice.

Special requirements

Hemolyzed samples adversely affect results.

Shipping information

The Hospital for Sick Children

Rapid Response Laboratory

555 University Avenue, Room 3642

Toronto, ON

Canada

M5G 1X8

Phone: 416-813-7200

Toll Free: 1-855-381-3212

Hours: 7 days/week, 24 hours/day

Background and clinical significance

The importance of Amino Acid analysis in the detection and treatment of Inborn Errors of Metabolism is well established, and it is increasingly apparent that its importance extends into the fields of total parenteral nutrition, surgery and shock trauma treatment.

These clinical situations require reliable separation and accurate quantitation of the complex mixtures of free amino acids and related compounds found in physiological fluids such as plasma and serum.

Disease condition