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22411 Carnitine, Plasma (CARN)

Carnitine, Plasma (CARN)
Test Code: CARNSO
Synonyms/Keywords
L-Carnitine, Carnitine Free and Total
Useful For

Evaluation of patients with a clinical suspicion of a wide range of conditions including organic acidemias, fatty acid oxidation disorders, and primary carnitine deficiency using plasma specimens

Highlights:

Carnitine levels are disturbed in primary disorders of the carnitine cycle, or secondary disturbances of carnitine metabolism due to other biochemical disorders.

Additional testing is required to distinguish between primary and secondary deficiencies of carnitine.

Dietary intake (meat, carnitine supplementation) may cause increased carnitine values.

Abnormal results are accompanied by detailed interpretation including recommendations for follow-up testing. 

Specimen Requirements
 
Specimen Type Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)		 Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
Plasma​​Sodium-heparin Green Top Tube (GTT)​EDTA Lavendar Top Tube  (LTT) or Lithium heparin0.5 mL​​0.2 mL ​
Collection Processing Instructions

​Patient's age is required.

Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature Time
​Plasma ​ ​ Frozen (preferred)​ ​60 days
​Ambient ​7 days
​Refrigerated 21 days
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Report Available Methodology/Instrumentation
Mayo Clinic Laboratories​​
Monday through Friday
2 to 5 days
Flow Injection Analysis-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (FIA-MS/MS)
Reference Lab
Mayo Clinic Laboratories
Reference Range Information
Reference Range
Total Carnitine (TC)
Free Carnitine (FC)
Acylcarnitine (AC)
AC/FC Ratio
Age Group
Range*
Range*
Range*
Range
less than or =1 day
23-68
12-36
7-37
0.4-1.7
2-7 days
17-41
10-21
3-24
0.2-1.4
8-31 days
19-59
12-46
4-15
0.1-0.7
32 days-12 months
38-68
27-49
7-19
0.2-0.5
13 months-6 years
35-84
24-63
4-28
0.1-0.8
7-10 years
28-83
22-66
3-32
0.1-0.9
11-17 years
34-77
22-65
4-29
0.1-0.9
> or =18 years
34-78
25-54
5-30
0.1-0.8
*Values expressed as nmol/mL
Schmidt-Sommerfeld E, Werner E, Penn D: Carnitine plasma concentrations in 353 metabolically healthy children. Eur J Pediatr 1988;147:356-360
Used with permission of European Journal of Pediatrics, Springer-Verlag, New York, Inc., Secaucus, NJ
Interpretation
When abnormal results are detected, a detailed interpretation is given, including an overview of the results and of their significance, a correlation to available clinical information, elements of differential diagnosis, recommendations for additional biochemical testing, and a phone number to reach one of the laboratory directors in case the referring physician has additional questions.
Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)		 Quantity Description Comments
​82379 ​ ​ ​ ​
Synonyms/Keywords
L-Carnitine, Carnitine Free and Total
Ordering Applications
Ordering Application Description
​Centricity ​Carnitine, Plasma (8802)
​Cerner Carnitine, Plasma (8802)​
If the ordering application you are looking for is not listed, contact your local laboratory for assistance.
Specimen Requirements
 
Specimen Type Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)		 Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
Plasma​​Sodium-heparin Green Top Tube (GTT)​EDTA Lavendar Top Tube  (LTT) or Lithium heparin0.5 mL​​0.2 mL ​
Collection Processing

​Patient's age is required.

Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature Time
​Plasma ​ ​ Frozen (preferred)​ ​60 days
​Ambient ​7 days
​Refrigerated 21 days
Useful For

Evaluation of patients with a clinical suspicion of a wide range of conditions including organic acidemias, fatty acid oxidation disorders, and primary carnitine deficiency using plasma specimens

Highlights:

Carnitine levels are disturbed in primary disorders of the carnitine cycle, or secondary disturbances of carnitine metabolism due to other biochemical disorders.

Additional testing is required to distinguish between primary and secondary deficiencies of carnitine.

Dietary intake (meat, carnitine supplementation) may cause increased carnitine values.

Abnormal results are accompanied by detailed interpretation including recommendations for follow-up testing. 

Reference Range Information
Reference Range
Total Carnitine (TC)
Free Carnitine (FC)
Acylcarnitine (AC)
AC/FC Ratio
Age Group
Range*
Range*
Range*
Range
less than or =1 day
23-68
12-36
7-37
0.4-1.7
2-7 days
17-41
10-21
3-24
0.2-1.4
8-31 days
19-59
12-46
4-15
0.1-0.7
32 days-12 months
38-68
27-49
7-19
0.2-0.5
13 months-6 years
35-84
24-63
4-28
0.1-0.8
7-10 years
28-83
22-66
3-32
0.1-0.9
11-17 years
34-77
22-65
4-29
0.1-0.9
> or =18 years
34-78
25-54
5-30
0.1-0.8
*Values expressed as nmol/mL
Schmidt-Sommerfeld E, Werner E, Penn D: Carnitine plasma concentrations in 353 metabolically healthy children. Eur J Pediatr 1988;147:356-360
Used with permission of European Journal of Pediatrics, Springer-Verlag, New York, Inc., Secaucus, NJ
Interpretation
When abnormal results are detected, a detailed interpretation is given, including an overview of the results and of their significance, a correlation to available clinical information, elements of differential diagnosis, recommendations for additional biochemical testing, and a phone number to reach one of the laboratory directors in case the referring physician has additional questions.
For more information visit:
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Report Available Methodology/Instrumentation
Mayo Clinic Laboratories​​
Monday through Friday
2 to 5 days
Flow Injection Analysis-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (FIA-MS/MS)
Reference Lab
Mayo Clinic Laboratories
For billing questions, see Contacts
Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)		 Quantity Description Comments
​82379 ​ ​ ​ ​
For most current information refer to the Marshfield Laboratory online reference manual.