Skip to main content

Specimen Collection Manual and Test Catalog

  or
  or
  or

FATTY ACIDS, FREE

Geisinger Epic Procedure Code:  LAB2308    Geisinger Epic ID:  6634

SPECIMEN COLLECTION
Specimen type: 

Serum (preferred) or plasma


Preferred collection container: 
Alternate collection container: 
6 mL dark blue-top (K2 EDTA) tube
4 mL grey-top (Na fluoride/K oxalate) tube
6 mL red-top (plain, non-serum separator) tube
3 mL lavender-top (K2 EDTA) tube
3.0 mL blue-top (3.2% sodium citrate) tube
Specimen required: 

1 mL aliquot of serum (preferred) or plasma ; minimum 0.3 mL. Please submit a separate frozen aliquot for this test. It may not be combined with any other test requiring a frozen aliquot.


Patient preparation: 

Overnight fasting is preferred.



SPECIMEN PROCESSING
Processing instructions: 

Allow serum to clot. Centrifuge serum or plasma 10 minutes at 3000 rpm.


Transport temperature: 

Frozen.


Specimen stability: 

Room Temperature: Unacceptable. Refrigerated: 2 hours. Frozen: 1 month.


Rejection criteria: 

Stability limits exceeded (must ship frozen).



TEST DETAILS
Reference interval: 

Newborns: Less than 2.30 mmol/L
1-12 Months: 0.50-1.60 mmol/L
1-7 Years: 0.60-1.50 mmol/L
8-17 Years: 0.20-1.10 mmol/L
Adults: 0.07-0.88 mmol/L


CPT code(s):  82725
Note: The billing party has sole responsibility for CPT coding.  Any questions regarding coding should be directed to the payer being billed.
The CPT codes provided by GML are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only.

Test includes: 

Nonesterified Fatty Acids (Free Fatty Acids).


Methodology: 
Enzymatic
Spectrophotometric (Colorimetric)
Synonyms: 

Quest test code 449, Nonesterified Fatty Acids (Free Fatty Acids), FFA


Clinical significance: 

The Nonesterified Fatty Acids (Free Fatty Acids) assay is useful in evaluating lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation. Nonesterified Fatty Acids may be useful in evaluating patients with hypoglycemia and for nutritional assessment


Doctoral Director(s): 
Randin Nelson MD
Review Date:  11/13/2024

Performing Locations