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Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide (VIP), Plasma

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB6175, Beaker: XVIP, Mayo: VIP

Department

Send Outs

Instructions

• The patient must be fasting 8 hours prior to specimen collection.
• This test should not be requested on patients who have recently received radioactive material.

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: One Lavender-top EDTA tube.

Send specimen for processing immediately after collection.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Critical frozen. Centrifuge to separate plasma from cells. Transfer plasma to a plastic transport tube and freeze (-20°C/-4°F or below) immediately.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 1.0 mL plasma, frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below). (Minimum: 0.55 mL)

Rejection Criteria

• Grossly hemolyzed specimens.
• Grossly lipemic specimens.
• Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

In-Lab Processing

Critical frozen. Centrifuge to separate plasma from cells. Transfer plasma to a plastic transport tube and freeze (-20°C/-4°F or below) immediately.

Transport: 1.0 mL plasma, frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below). (Minimum: 0.55 mL)

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): Unacceptable
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): Unacceptable
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 90 days

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Specimen retention time is determined by the policy of the reference laboratory. Contact the Send Outs Laboratory with any questions.

Laboratory

Sent to Mayo Medical Laboratories, Rochester, MN.

Performed

Monday, Wednesday.
Results available in 4-8 days.

Reference Range

Less than 75 pg/mL.

Test Methodology

Radioimmunoassay (RIA).

Interpretation

Values above 75 pg/mL may indicate presence of enteropancreatic tumor causing hypersecretion of VIP.

Values greater than 200 pg/mL are strongly suggestive of VI Poma.

Clinical Utility

This assay is useful in the diagnosis of VIPoma in patients with chronic diarrheal diseases. VIP induces vasodilatation in the cardiovascular system and bronchial dilatation in the respiratory system. In the digestive system, VIP stimulates water and electrolyte secretion, relaxes intestinal smooth muscle, and stimulates release of pancreatic hormones (insulin, glucagon). Abnormally high levels have been found in patients with tumors (VIPomas) associated with watery diarrhea (Verner-Morrison syndrome) or pancreatic cholera.

CPT Codes

84586
LOINC:  3125-2

Contacts

Last Updated

10/2/2023