Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Plasma
Ordering Recommendation
Use for nutritional assessment of vitamin C.
Methodology
Quantitative High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Performed
Sun, Tue-Thu, Sat
Reported
1-6 days
New York DOH Approval Status
Specimen Required
Green (sodium or lithium heparin). Place specimen in ice bath immediately. Also acceptable: Plasma separator tube.
Protect from light, centrifuge, transfer plasma and freeze within 1 hour of collection. Transfer 0.5 mL plasma to an ARUP Amber Transport Tube. (Min: 0.3 mL)
CRITICAL FROZEN AND LIGHT PROTECTED. Separate specimens must be submitted when multiple tests are ordered
EDTA plasma, whole blood, or body fluids. Grossly hemolyzed specimens.
Thawing and refreezing of the specimen and exposure to light will result in decreased Vitamin C concentration.
After separation from cells: Ambient: Unacceptable; Refrigerated: Unacceptable; Frozen: 30 days
Reference Interval
23-114 µmol/L
Interpretive Data
Vitamin C concentrations lower than 11 µmol/L indicate deficiency. Concentrations between 11 and 23 µmol/L are consistent with a moderate risk of deficiency due to inadequate tissue stores.
Vitamin C concentration is reported as micromoles per liter (µmol/L). To convert concentration to milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), multiply the result by 0.0176.
This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by ARUP Laboratories. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. This test was performed in a CLIA certified laboratory and is intended for clinical purposes.
Laboratory Developed Test (LDT)
Note
Fasting specimen preferred. Thawing and refreezing of the specimen and exposure to light will result in decreased Vitamin C concentration.
Hotline History
CPT Codes
82180
Components
Component Test Code* | Component Chart Name | LOINC |
---|---|---|
0080380 | Vitamin C, Plasma | 1903-4 |
Aliases
- Ascorbate