Amino acids (full profile; plasma, urine or CSF)

Plasma

Requirements :

• Fasting preferred

• 3 mL ; Minimum : 0.5 mL

Specimen Collection :

• Sodium heparin (preferred)

• Lithium heparin (acceptable)

• Plasma should be separated within 2 hours of collection

Specimen Shipment and Storage:

• Plasma should be shipped frozen (-15 to -25 °C)

• Specimen should not be left at room temperature for more than 2 hours

Urine (Only for Full Amino Acid Profile)

Requirements:

• First morning urine preferred

• 2 mL; Minimum: 1 mL

Collection:

• Random urine. Avoid dilute urine when possible

Specimen Shipment and Storage:

• Urine aliquots should be shipped frozen (-15 to -25 °C)

• Specimen should not be left at room temperature for more than 2 hours

CSF (Only for Full Amino Acid Profile)

Requirements:

• 0.5 mL; Minimum: 0.3 mL

Specimen collection

• Sterile vial

• Centrifuge CSF to separate and remove cellular material and blood contamination and aliquot supernatant

Specimen Shipment and Storage:

• CSF must be transported frozen

• Specimen should not be left at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

• Stored at -80 °C in lab