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Carotene

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB7059, Beaker: XCARO, WARDE: CARO

Department

Send Outs

Instructions

It is important that the patient fasts for 12-14 hours before specimen collection. No substance except water should be ingested during this time frame.

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: One Gold-top SST tube.
Also acceptable: One plain Red-top tube.

• Protect specimen from light.
• Send specimen for processing immediately after collection.
• Critical frozen. Send specimen for processing immediately after collection.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Critical Frozen. Protect specimen from light. Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes then immediately centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Transfer serum to an amber transport tube and freeze (-20°C/-4°F or below) immediately.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 2.0 mL serum in an amber plastic transport tube protected from light, frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below). (Minimum: 1.5 mL)

Rejection Criteria

• Hemolyzed specimens.
• Specimens that have not been light protected.
• Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

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): 14 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 Warde Medical Laboratory, Ann Arbor, MI.

Performed

Tuesday and Thursday.
Results available in 2-5 days.

Reference Range

70-300 mcg/dL.

Test Methodology

Colorimetry.

Interpretation

• Increased carotene levels are found in patients who consume large amounts of vegetables, particularly carrots. Increased levels are also found in patients with diabetes mellitus, myxedema, hyperlipidemia, or chronic nephritis.
• Decreased carotene levels are associated with malabsorption syndromes and steatorrhea.

Clinical Utility

This assay aids in the diagnosis of carotenoderma. It may be useful in screening for fat malabsorption (levels are low). Serum levels of Vitamin A and carotene do not correlate well with liver stores.

CPT Codes

82380
LOINC:  2053-7

Contacts

Last Updated

8/16/2023