Porphyrins, Fractionated, Plasma

Plasma Porphyrins Fractionation

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB1232248, Beaker: Porphyrins, Quest: 5519

NOTE: Testing includes: Uroporphyrin, Heptacarboxyporphyrin, Hexacarboxyporphyrin, Pentacarboxyporphyrin, Coproporphyrin, Protoporphyrin, Total Porphyrins

Department

Send Outs

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect (preferred specimen): One Green-top Lithium or Sodium Heparin tube.
Also acceptable: One Lavender-top EDTA tube or One Red-top.

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

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Critical frozen. Protect specimen from light. Centrifuge to separate plasma or serum from cells. Transfer plasma or serum to an amber transport tube and freeze (-20°C/-4°F or below) immediately.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 2.0 mL light-protected plasma or serum, frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below). (Minimum: 0.6 mL)

Rejection Criteria

• Plasma Separator (PST) tubes.
• Serum separator tube (SST).
• Hemolysis.
• Not protected from light.
• Non-frozen specimens.
• Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

Inpatient Specimen Preparation

Critical frozen. Protect specimen from light. Deliver light-protected specimen to the Laboratory immediately from processing.

In-Lab Processing

Critical frozen. Protect specimen from light. Centrifuge to separate plasma or serum from cells. Transfer plasma or serum to an amber transport tube and freeze (-20°C/-4°F or below) immediately.

Transport: 2.0 mL light-protected plasma or serum, frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below). (Minimum: 0.6 mL)

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 8 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 8 hours
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 Quest Diagnostics, Wood Dale, IL.

Performed

Tuesday, Thursday.
Results available in 4-9 days.

Reference Range

Uroporphyrin	≤0.2 mcg/L
Heptacarboxyporphyrin	≤0.2 mcg/L
Hexacarboxyporphyrin	≤0.3 mcg/L
Pentacarboxyporphyrin	≤0.4 mcg/L
Coproporphyrin	≤0.8 mcg/L
Protoporphyrin	0.4-4.8 mcg/L
Total Porphyrins	1.0-5.6 mcg/L

Test Methodology

High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

Interpretation

By report.

Clinical Utility

Porphyrins, Fractionated, Plasma – Porphyria is a group of distinct disorders characterized by the abnormal accumulation of porphyrins or porphyrin precursors. Porphyrin fractionation of plasma is useful in diagnosing certain types of porphyrias and excluding porphyrias in patients with chronic renal failure suspected of having a porphyria.

CPT Codes

82542

Contacts

Last Updated

12/19/2025