Laboratory Lab results are too important to go anywhere else.

Uric Acid Rasburicase (Elitek), Heparin

Uric Acid - Rasburicase, Elitek

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB5126, Beaker: UARH

Department

Chemistry

Instructions

• It is essential that the order for this test be placed correctly. If only Uric Acid (LAB5127) is ordered, the collection label will indicate incorrect collection instructions.
• Uric Acid Rasburicase should ONLY be collected at Hospital Campuses. Specimens should NOT be collected at any other Beaumont Laboratory draw site, nursing home, or Outreach office.

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: One Green-top Lithium or Sodium Heparin tube.

• Specimen must be collected into a green-top lithium or sodium heparin tube pre-chilled on ice for at least 1 minute.
• Specimen must be placed on ice immediately after collection, maintained on ice during transportation, and delivered to the laboratory immediately.
• This test is considered STAT.

Rejection Criteria

• Moderate to grossly hemolyzed specimens.
• Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

Inpatient Specimen Preparation

Transport specimens STAT, ON ICE, to the STAT Laboratory (Royal Oak) or Chemistry Laboratory (Grosse Pointe, Troy, Dearborn, Taylor and Wayne).

In-Lab Processing

Centrifuge immediately to separate plasma from cells and run the test STAT.

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): Unacceptable
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): Not applicable - Specimens are transported on ice and tested immediately.
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Specimens are disposed within 8 hours of testing.

Laboratory

Dearborn Chemistry Laboratory
Grosse Pointe Chemistry Laboratory 
Livonia Main Laboratory
Lenox Main Laboratory
Royal Oak STAT Laboratory
Taylor Chemistry Laboratory
Troy Chemistry Laboratory
Trenton Chemistry Laboratory
Wayne Chemistry Laboratory

Performed

Sunday – Saturday, 24 hours a day.
STAT results available within 30 minutes of receipt in the laboratory.

Reference Range

Sex	Age	Range (mg/dL)
Male	0 – 13 years	1.5 – 7.6
Male	14 years – adult	3.5 – 7.2
Female	0 years – adult	2.6 – 6.0

Test Methodology

Enzymatic, Spectrophotometry.

Interpretation

Low uric acid levels in the setting of rasburicase use are most likely a result of the drug itself. If other potential causes of hypouricemia are suspected, repeat uric acid level after cessation of any uric acid lowering medications is suggested.

Clinical Utility

• In patients being treated with Rasburicase (Elitek), "Uric Acid Rasburicase" should be ordered for 3 days following drug administration. This recommendation is based on the drug's half-life and the expected duration of activity.
• Rasburicase catalyzes the oxidation of uric acid into an inactive and soluble metabolite. It is used for prophylaxis and treatment of chemotherapy-induced or spontaneous acute tumor lysis syndrome. Rasburicase can cause spuriously low plasma uric acid levels if the specimen is transported or stored at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F) or if processing is delayed. Uric Acid Rasburicase differs from Uric Acid in the collection and handling of the specimen. Transporting the specimen on ice and running it STAT helps to minimize (but not necessarily completely eliminate) the artifactual effects of rasburicase. Uric acid levels should be ordered in this way only when rasburicase has been administered to a patient.

CPT Codes

84550

Contacts

Last Updated

11/2/2023