Essential fatty acids, Serum / Plasma

Department

Specialist Biochemistry

Delphic Registration Code

ESFA

Laboratory Handling

Phlebotomy

Send to the lab ASAP, as the samples needs to be separated within 3 hours of collection

Separating

Separate within 3 hours of collection

Laboratory

Gross haemolysis OK, gross lipemia reject, gross icterus OK

Test Adds

Must have been separated within 3 hours of collection, Refrigerated 72 hours, frozen (preferred) 92 days

Synonyms

alpha-linolenic acid C18:3w3
Arachidonic acid C20:4w6
Docosahexaenoic acid C22:6w3
Eicosapentaenoic acid C20:5w3
Fatty acids - essential
gamma-Linolenic acid
Linoleic acid C18:2w6
Mead acid
Omega 3
Omega 6

Turnaround Time

6 weeks

Test Code

5815

Specimen Type

• Serum
• Plasma

Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

• Serum (Red Cap)

Preferred if West Coast

• SST II (Gold Cap)

Acceptable

• SST II (Gold Cap)
• Lithium Heparin - Non-gel (Green Cap)
• Lithium Heparin - Gel (Light Green Cap)
• EDTA (Lavender Cap)

Preferred Sample Volume (ml)

2

Minimum Sample Volume (ml)

1

No of Samples Required

1

Paediatric Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

• Serum (Red Cap)

Acceptable

• SST II (Gold Cap)
• Lithium Heparin - Non-gel (Green Cap)
• Lithium Heparin - Gel (Light Green Cap)
• EDTA (Lavender Cap)

Preferred Sample Volume (ml)

0.5

Minimum Sample Volume (ml)

0.5

Pre-testing Requirements

Fasting

Aliquot Instructions

Sample Type

• Serum
• Plasma

Minimum Volume (ml)

0.2

Transport to Lab

Frozen
If overnight - Frozen

Additional Referral/Aliquot Information

Preferred aliquot 1mL serum or plasma, absolute minimum a measurable 200 µL

Test Method

capillary GCMS after hydrolysis of total serum lipids

Non-Funded Test Cost

$275.27 (Exclusive of GST)

Billing Code

5815

Referred to The Mater Hospital lab, Brisbane
This test will detect the following acids:Linoleic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid, omega 6, omega 3, omega 9, mead acid, fatty acids, docosapentaemoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, eicopentaemoic acid, lindenic acid,and arachidonic acid.

Contact Information

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