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Vitamin E Level

Alpha-tocopherol Levels, Vitamin E, Serum

Test Codes

MAYO: VITE, EPIC: LAB6182, SOFT: XVITE

Department

Send Outs

Instructions

The patient must be fasting 12-14 hours prior to specimen collection (for infants, collect specimen just prior to next schedule feeding).

 

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: One plain Red-top tube.
Also acceptable: One Gold-top SST tube.

• See Minimum Pediatric Specimen Requirements for Microtainer^® collection.
• Protect specimen from light.
• Send specimen for processing immediately after collection.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Protect specimen from light. Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes and immediately centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Transfer serum to an amber plastic transport tube and refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F).

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 0.5 mL light-protected serum, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 0.25 mL)

Rejection Criteria

• Hemolyzed specimens.
• Lipemic specimens.
• Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.
• Specimens not protected from light.

In-Lab Processing

Protect specimen from light. Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes and immediately centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Transfer serum to an amber plastic transport tube and refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F).

Transport: 0.5 mL light-protected serum, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 0.25 mL)

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): Unacceptable
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 14 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 14 days

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Specimen retention time is determined by the policy of the reference laboratory. Contact the Send Outs Laboratory with any questions.

Laboratory

Sent to Mayo Medical Laboratories, Rochester, MN.

Performed

Monday – Friday.
Results available in 3-6 days.

Reference Range

By report.

Test Methodology

Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Specific quantitation of alpha-tocopherol.

Interpretation

Serum vitamin E concentrations are correlated with serum lipids, and accurate assessment may require calculation of a lipid ratio.

Significant deficiency of vitamin E (less than 3.0 mg/L) is associated with improper specimen collection and malabsorption syndromes. Significant excess (greater than 40 mg/L) is often associated with hyperlipidemia.

Clinical Utility

This assay is used to evaluate vitamin E deficiency in hemolytic disease in premature infants, and neuromuscular disease in infants (and adults) with chronic cholestasis. It is also used to evaluate patients on long-term parenteral nutrition, patients with malignancy or malabsorption, and to investigate brown-bowel syndrome. Infertility in both males and females may be a manifestation of vitamin E deficiency. Vitamin E has been used for the treatment of habitual abortion and sterility. There has been no conclusive evidence that vitamin E has any beneficial effect on these conditions. High doses of vitamin E appear to be tolerated without significant adverse effects.

CPT Codes

84446
LOINC:  1823-4

Contacts

Last Updated

7/15/2021