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Specimen Collection Manual and Test Catalog

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VITAMIN C

Geisinger Epic Procedure Code:  LAB1780    Geisinger Epic ID:  22073

SPECIMEN COLLECTION
Specimen type: 

Serum


Preferred collection container: 
Alternate collection container: 
6 mL red-top (plain, non-serum separator) tube
Specimen required: 

1 mL aliquot of serum; minimum 0.5 mL. Please submit a separate frozen aliquot for this test. It may not be combined with any other test requiring a frozen aliquot.


Special notes: 

Wrap tube in aluminum foil to protect from light.


Patient preparation: 

Overnight fasting is preferred. Patient should refrain from taking vitamin supplements 24 hours before collection.



SPECIMEN PROCESSING
Processing instructions: 

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


Transport temperature: 

Freeze and ship frozen. Do not thaw.


Specimen stability: 

Frozen specimen stable 35 days at -70°C.


Rejection criteria: 

Specimen not shipped frozen, not protected from light. Lipemic specimen. Hemolysis.



TEST DETAILS
Reference interval: 

Female 0.3-2.7 mg/dL 
Male 0.2-2.1 mg/dL


CPT code(s):  82180
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: 

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid).


Methodology: 
Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
Synonyms: 

VITC, Ascorbic Acid, Quest test code 929


Clinical significance: 

Vitamin C is an antioxidant involved in connective tissue metabolism, drug-metabolizing systems, and mixed-function oxidase systems to list a few. Vitamin C deficiency causes scurvy; manifestations include impaired formation of mature connective tissue, bleeding into the skin, weakness, fatigue, and depression.


Review Date:  11/14/2024

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