TEST DIRECTORY | MIDx Labs

HOMOCYSTEINE (HCY)

Marker of cardiovascular risk and B-vitamin/folate deficiency.

LIS TEST CODE: HOMO

CPT CODE: 82746

ALIASES: HCY, Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase deficiency (MTHFR), MTHFR deficiency, Methionine synthase deficiency, Cobalamin (Cbl) metabolism, Transcobalamin II deficiency, Adenosylhomocysteinase (AHCY) deficiency

METHODOLOGY: Chemiluminescent Microparticle Immunoassay (CMIA)

SPECIMEN:

- Type: Serum

- Container: Gold Top (SST) Vacutainer

- Minimum Volume Required: 1 mL

- Storage/Handling: Allow 30 minutes for blood to clot, then centrifuge specimen at 3500 RPM for 10 minutes. Maintain specimen in the refrigerator or in the freezer until testing can be performed.

NOTE: If freezing is required to preserve stability, transfer serum into a separate plastic screw-cap transport container.

- Stability:

Room Temperature (20-25 °C): 6 hours (on ice)

Refrigerated (2-8 °C): 14 days

Frozen (-20 °C or colder): 1 year; avoid more than 3 freeze/thaw cycles.

- Turnaround Time: 24 hours from receipt.

Special Instructions: To minimize increases in homocysteine concentration from synthesis by RBCs, place all specimens (serum and plasma) on ice after collection and prior to processing.

REJECTION REASONS: QNS, Gross Hemolysis, Gross Lipemia, Contamination, Stability Violation, Expired Container, Incorrect Container

REFERENCE RANGES:

Males (umol/L)

>= 1 years of age: 5.46 -16.20

Females (umol/L)

>= 1 years of age: 4.44 -13.56