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Test Code VITAE Vitamin A and Vitamin E, Serum


Shipping Instructions


Ship specimen in amber vial to protect from light.



Specimen Required


Patient Preparation: Patient should fast overnight (12-14 hours); infants should have specimen collected before next feeding.

Supplies: Amber Frosted Tube, 5 mL (T915)

Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Red top

Acceptable: Serum gel

Submission Container/Tube: Amber vial

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into light protected plastic vial within 2 hours of collection.


Useful For

Diagnosing vitamin A deficiency and toxicity

 

Evaluating persons with intestinal malabsorption of lipids

 

Monitoring of Vitamin E supplementation/treatment

Profile Information

Test ID Reporting Name Available Separately Always Performed
VITAP Vitamin A, S Yes, (Order VITA) Yes
VITE Vitamin E, S Yes Yes

Method Name

Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

Reporting Name

Vitamin A and Vitamin E, S

Specimen Type

Serum

Specimen Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Refrigerated (preferred) 28 days LIGHT PROTECTED
  Frozen  28 days LIGHT PROTECTED
  Ambient  7 days LIGHT PROTECTED

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis Reject
Gross lipemia Reject
Gross icterus OK

Reference Values

VITAMIN A (RETINOL)

0-6 years: 11.3-64.7 mcg/dL

7-12 years: 12.8-81.2 mcg/dL

13-17 years: 14.4-97.7 mcg/dL

≥18 years: 32.5-78.0 mcg/dL

 

VITAMIN E (ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL)

0-17 years: 3.8-18.4 mg/L

≥18 years: 5.5-17.0 mg/L

Interpretation

Vitamin A:

The World Health Organization recommends supplementation when vitamin A levels fall below 20.0 mcg/dL. Severe deficiency is indicated at levels less than 10.0 mcg/dL. Vitamin A values above 120.0 mcg/dL suggest hypervitaminosis A and associated toxicity.

 

Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol):

Vitamin E concentrations within the healthy reference population range usually indicate adequate Vitamin A stores.

 

The rare occurrence of low Vitamin A levels might correlate with potential deficiency and investigation of potential fat malabsorptions should be considered.

 

Conversely, Vitamin E concentrations significantly above the upper healthy reference population range might indicate that Vitamin E intake exceeds the tolerable upper daily intake level(s).

Day(s) Performed

Sunday through Friday

Report Available

2 to 5 days

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

CPT Code Information

84446

84590

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
VITAE Vitamin A and Vitamin E, S 96600-2

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
2350 A-Tocopherol, Vitamin E 1823-4
605124 Vitamin A 2923-1