Geisinger Medical Laboratories/Geisinger Proven Diagnostics Test Catalog
HOMOCYSTEINE |
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ORDERING INFORMATION: |
Geisinger Epic Procedure Code: LAB2493 Geisinger Epic ID: 19453 | |
SPECIMEN COLLECTION |
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Specimen type: |
Serum or plasma | |
Preferred collection container: |
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Alternate Collection Container: |
4 mL green/green-top (sodium heparin) tube
3 mL lavender-top (K2 EDTA) tube
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Specimen required: |
1 mL serum or plasma; minimum 0.5 mL. | |
SPECIMEN PROCESSING |
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Specimen processing instructions: |
Place the specimen in a refrigerator or ice bath for 30 minutes after collection. Centrifuge the specimen as soon as possible after complete clot formation has taken place. Centrifuge and aliquot. | |
Transport temperature: |
Refrigerated. | |
Specimen stability: |
Room temperature: 4 days, Refrigerated: 14 days, Frozen: 6 months. | |
Rejection criteria: |
Gross hemolysis • Unseparated serum or plasma • Whole blood specimens • Grossly lipemic. | |
TEST DETAILS |
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CPT code(s): |
83090 | |
Note: The billing party has sole responsibility for CPT coding. Any questions regarding coding should be directed to the payer being billed. The CPT codes provided by GML are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. | ||
Test includes: |
Homocysteine value. | |
Methodology: |
Enzymatic |
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Synonyms: |
Quest 31789, HOM, HCY
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Clinical significance: |
An elevated concentration of homocysteine is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. When used in conjunction with methylmalonic acid (MMA), these tests are useful to diagnose and monitor vitamin B12 (cobalamin) and folic acid deficiency and are often useful in evaluating macrocytosis (an elevated MCV, an erythrocytic index). |