Category
SPECIAL CHEMISTRY.
Sub Category
PORPHYRIA.
Synonyms/Aliases
PORPHOBILINOGEN; AMINOLEVULINIC ACID; DELTA AMINOLAEVULINIC ACID; 5-AMINOLAEVULINATE.
Abbreviations
PBG; ALA, DELTA ALA, D-ALA.
Type
PROFILE/ PANEL (BUNDLED TESTS).
7 Days
RESULTS READY/ REPORTED IN 7 WORKING DAYS.
Method
SPECTROPHOTOMETRY.
Temp
REFRIGERATED (2℃-8℃): 4-7DAYS; F (-20℃): 30DAYS; AMBIENT NOT ACCEPTABLE.
Setup
BATCHED.
Components Parameters
PORPHOBILINOGEN (PBG) AND AMINOLEVULINIC ACID (ALA).
PRE-ANALYTIC CONSIDERATIONS
Test Ordering Instructions
FILL OUT TEST REQUEST FORM FULLY & LEGIBLY.
Patient preparation
INSTRUCTIONS FOR 24 HOUR URINE COLLECTION APPLY IF SAMPLE TYPE IS 24 HOUR URINE (SPOT/ RANDOM URINE IS AN ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATIVE).
Sample type
RANDOM URINE OR 24 HOUR URINE IN A DARK CONTAINER E.G. FULLY COVERED IN ALUMINIUM FOIL (PHOTO SENSITIVE ANALYTE).
Container/ preservative
DARK CONTAINER (AMBER COLOURED OR COVERED IN FOIL) WITHOUT PRESERVATIVE.
Sample volume
10ML OF SPOT URINE OR 10ML ALIQUOT OF 24 HOUR URINE PROTECTED FROM LIGHT.
Rejection criteria
LABELING ISSUE (UNLABELED/ MISLABELED); MISSING REQUEST FORM; MISMATCH BETWEEN REQUEST FORM & SAMPLE DETAILS; MISSING AGE/ GENDER; WRONG SAMPLE TYPE; INSUFFICIENT SAMPLE; 24 HOUR URINE VOLUME MISSING FOR 24 HOUR URINE SAMPLES; SAMPLE NOT PROTECTED FROM LIGHT OR AT ROOM TEMPERATURE.
Other Instructions
NOT APPLICABLE
Reference intervals
AGE & GENDER APPROPRIATE VALUES ARE PROVIDED ON THE REPORT.
Clinical Utility
EVALUATION OF SUSPECTED ACUTE PORPHYRIA (WHEN PATIENT IS SYMPTOMATIC/ HAS NEUROVISCERAL SYMPTOMS); FOR SUSPECTED LEAD POISONING, SPECIFIC TESTING FOR LEAD IS PREFERRED.
Test Limitations/ Confounders
FALSE NEGATIVE RESULTS MAY OCCUR DUE TO LIGHT EXPOSURE (ANALYTES ARE PHOTOSENSITIVE) OR IF PATIENT IS ASYMPTOMATIC AT THE TIME OF TESTING. HEREDITARY TYROSINEMIA AND LEAD POISONING CAN LEAD TO ISOLATED INCREASES IN ALA LEVELS. PRESERVATIVES MAY INTERFERE WITH RESULTS.