Sample type: Plasma
Test name: Very long chain fatty acids a.k.a. VLCFA, pristanic acid, pristanate, phytanic acid, phytanate
Condition / Indication: Peroxisomal disorders e.g. Refsums, XALD, X-ALD, Zellweger etc.
Special precautions & notes: Adults – fasting sample strongly preferred; Infants – preprandial/pre-feed sample recommended.
Reference range: C26:0 0.24 - 1.19 umol/L, C26:0/C22:0 ratio <0.021, C24:0/C22:0 ratio <1.06, Pristanic acid <1.4 umol/L, Phytanic acid (age-related ranges): <5.4 (age up to 1 month), <10.8 (age 1-12 months), <12.3 (age 12 months+).
Container: Li heparin (green top)
Alternative container: Serum (Gold top), or EDTA (Lavender top)
Ideal volume (mL): 2 mL
Referred outside NBT for analysis? No
Discipline: Clinical Biochemistry
Section: Metabolic Biochemistry
Turnaround time: 21 days
Referral location: