Carnitine, total and free

Alphabetical Test listing

Carnitine, total and free-13582

Test name:

Test number:

13582

Excellian order number:

LAB13582

Abbreviation:

CRN

Alternate names:

Carnitor^®/Carnitor^® SF
L-Carnitine^®
Levocarnitine

Useful for:

The analysis of carnitines is indicated in patients who fail to thrive, hypotonia, chronic muscle weakness, cardiomyopathy, intermittent episodes of weakness and encephalopathy, renal Fanconi's syndrome, hypoglycemic episodes, metabolic acidosis, or hypo ketotic dicarboxylic acidurias.

Specimen type:

Serum

Collection container:

Gold serum separator (SST) tube

Volume:

2.5 mL

Minimum volume:

0.3 mL
Submission of the minimum volume does not allow for repeat testing

Collection instructions:

Immediately following collection, thoroughly mix sample by gently inverting 5 times

Processing instructions:

Allow sample to clot for a minimum of 30 minutes
Spin within two (2) hours of sample collection
Transfer serum to a Screw-cap polypropylene frozen transport vial/tube - 4mL (LabCorp)
Freeze as soon as possible

Transport container:

Screw-cap polypropylene frozen transport vial/tube - 4mL (LabCorp)

Alternate specimen type:

Heparin plasma

Alternate collection container:

Red serum vial/tube - 5 mL

Dk green heparin (Li or Na), no gel

Alternate collection instructions:

Dk green:

Immediately following collection, mix sample thoroughly by gently inverting 8 - 10 times to prevent clotting

Alternate processing instructions:

Red:

Allow sample to clot
Spin within two (2) hours of sample collection
Transfer serum to a Screw-cap polypropylene frozen transport vial/tube - 4mL (LabCorp), labelled as serum
Freeze as soon as possible

Dk green:

Spin within two (2) hours of sample collection
Transfer plasma to a Screw-cap polypropylene frozen transport vial/tube - 4mL (LabCorp), labelled as the appropriate plasma type
Freeze as soon as possible

Transport and stability:

Frozen - 14 days

Reason for rejection:

Specimen not frozen

Performing lab:

LabCorp Burlington (706500): R-LC

Days set up:

Mo - Fr

TAT:

3 - 6 days

Method:

High-pressure liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS)

Reference ranges:

Carnitine total: 27 - 73 umol/L
Carnitine free: 20 - 55 umol/L
Esterified/Free: 0 - 0.9

CPT codes:

82379

LOINC code:

Result 14288-5

Date created:

03/27/2019

Revised date:

05/20/2019

Review date:

12/31/2023