Amino Acid, Plasma

Specimen Container

Lithium heparin tube

(To be obtained from DPLM Client Services, after office hour call extension 1352)

Specimen Requirement

Whole Blood
1 mL

Specimen Storage / Transport

Send specimen directly to the laboratory. Specimen should be separated within 1 hour of sampling.

Please send with a separate ice pack.

Method

Orderable as STAT?

For URGENT analysis, contact the Biochemical Genetics lab on 6394 8728 or the Lead Scientist on 8388 8741 to discuss.

Turn Around Time

5 working days

Reference Value(s)

Plasma Amino Acids Reference Range (µmol/L)

	< 7 days		7 days-6m		6m-2years		2-10 years		10-17 years		>17 years
Taurine	20	269	25	192	21	138	26	157	20	106	21	144
Aspartate	6	49	6	28	6	22	6	23	6	12	6	23
Threonine	55	295	55	354	36	264	43	200	56	186	45	199
Serine	66	228	73	255	55	221	63	205	73	185	60	171
Asparagine	22	92	19	90	17	97	22	97	25	87	28	87
Glutamate	13	178	21	208	12	130	10	91	7	95	11	142
Glutamine	312	964	304	897	296	713	323	695	331	727	318	823
Glycine	150	502	105	397	88	361	102	409	128	356	103	405
Alanine	138	625	144	651	101	565	123	573	143	590	155	564
Citrulline	7	32	9	48	7	48	10	51	11	53	11	53
Valine	60	227	76	279	86	371	105	363	117	315	91	303
Cystine	14	62	12	70	12	54	13	56	20	66	25	89
Methionine	10	51	14	63	9	48	11	45	12	38	11	44
Isoleucine	6	72	15	106	23	142	23	130	32	105	24	108
Leucine	29	150	44	188	43	233	51	220	63	172	43	174
Tyrosine	34	141	26	165	25	134	30	124	29	103	32	98
Phenylalanine	31	88	27	99	32	110	33	98	33	95	39	95
Ornithine	19	159	23	202	16	114	18	112	25	108	30	142
Lysine	80	275	73	328	54	275	75	249	86	244	93	256
Histidine	39	104	35	108	38	107	44	105	40	98	37	97
Arginine	10	109	25	137	22	121	23	144	31	140	30	143
Proline	84	428	82	346	57	373	59	316	68	299	61	332

Testing Laboratory Location

KKH

Laboratory

Biochemical Genetics Lab

Contact Number

6394 8728

Day and Time Performed

Mon – Fri: 0900 hrs – 1800 hrs

Last specimen receipt time is at 1730 hrs.

Orderable on CPOE?

Yes

Downtime Form

Biochemical Genetics Lab

Additional Information

Useful For	Detecting disorders such as phenylketonuria(PKU), tyrosinaemia, maple syrup urine disease(MSUD), cystinuria, non-ketotic hyperglycinaemia and the urea cycle disorders. Monitoring the efficacy of treatment in patients with these disorders, as well as patients on low protein diets for other reasons (eg. those with organic acidaemias).
Clinical Indication	acute life-threatening episode failure to thrive recurrent vomiting neurological deterioration hyperammonaemia lethargy metabolic acidosis testing or following therapy for a specific inborn error of metabolism (PKU, MSUD, tyrosinemia, etc.).
Interpretation	A detailed interpretation requires the overview of results and correlation to available clinical information. Further steps such as additional biochemical and in vitro studies (enzyme & molecular analysis) may be needed to confirm and provide differential diagnosis of the disorders.

For URGENT analysis, contact the Biochemical Genetics laboratory at 6394 8728 or the Lead Scientist at 8388 8741 to discuss.

If sent after office hours, plasma will be separated and stored in Clinical Laboratory -20°C freezer.