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Specimen Collection Manual and Test Catalog

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PREALBUMIN

Geisinger Epic Procedure Code:  LAB2895    Geisinger Epic ID:  6936

SPECIMEN COLLECTION
Specimen type: 

Plasma or serum


Preferred collection container: 
Specimen required: 

2 mL of serum or plasma; minimum 0.2 mL.



SPECIMEN PROCESSING
Processing instructions: 

Allow serum to clot. Centrifuge to separate serum or plasma within 2 hours of collection.


Transport temperature: 

Refrigerated (preferred) or frozen.


Specimen stability: 

Room temperature: 3 days. Refrigerated: 6 months. Frozen: 1 year.


Rejection criteria: 

Stability limits exceeded.



TEST DETAILS
Reference interval: 

18-45 mg/dL.


CPT code(s):  84134
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.

Methodology: 
Immunoturbidity
Synonyms: 

Transthyretin, prealbumin, PAB, PREALB


Clinical significance: 

Prealbumin is decreased in protein-calorie malnutrition, liver disease, and acute inflammation. It may be used as an indicator of nutritional requirements and response to therapy during total parenteral nutrition and as a biochemical marker of nutritional adequacy in premature infants.


Doctoral Director(s): 
Hoi-Ying Elsie Yu, PhD, DABCC, FADLM
Sheng-Ying (Margaret) Lo, PhD, DABCC
Review Date:  12/27/2024

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