Carnitine Free & Total, Plasma | Cleveland Clinic Laboratories

Carnitine Free & Total, Plasma Print

Test Mnemonic

CARNPL

CPT Codes

82379 - QTY (1)

Includes

Free L-carnitine
Total L-carnitine
Esterified Carnitine / Free Carnitine Ratio
Esterified Carnitine

Performing Laboratory

Cleveland Clinic Laboratories

Specimen Requirements

Volume	Type	Container	Collect Temperature	Transport Temperature	Special Instructions
1 mL	Plasma	Green NaHep NOGEL		Frozen	Centrifuge and transfer the plasma/serum to a plastic CCL tube within 2 hours of collection and freeze.

Alternate Specimen Requirements

Volume	Type	Container	Transport Temperature	Special Instructions
1 mL	Serum	Red Plain	Frozen	Centrifuge and transfer the plasma/serum to a plastic CCL tube within 2 hours of collection and freeze.
1 mL	Plasma	Green LiHep Nogel	Frozen	Centrifuge and transfer the plasma/serum to a plastic CCL tube within 2 hours of collection and freeze.
1 mL	Plasma	Mint PST LiHep	Frozen	Centrifuge and transfer the plasma/serum to a plastic CCL tube within 2 hours of collection and freeze.
1 mL	Plasma	Lavender EDTA	Frozen	Centrifuge and transfer the plasma/serum to a plastic CCL tube within 2 hours of collection and freeze.

Minimum Specimen Requirements

Volume	Type	Container	Collect Temperature	Transport Temperature	Special Instructions
0.2 mL

Stability

Environmental Condition	Description
Frozen	After separation from cells: 90 days
Refrigerated	After separation from cells: 30 days
Ambient	After separation from cells: 24 hours

Days Performed

2 days per week

Turnaround Time

1 - 4 days

Methodology

Name	Description
Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

Reference Range

Esterified Carnitine / Free Carnitine Ratio
Sex	Age From	Age To	Type	Range	Range Unit
	Days	30 Days	Normal	0.2 - 1.8
	31 Days	364 Days	Normal	0.1 - 0.7
	1 Years	6 Years	Normal	0.1 - 0.6
	7 Years	17 Years	Normal	0.1 - 0.5
	18 Years		Normal	0.1 - 0.7
Esterified L-Carnitine
Sex	Age From	Age To	Type	Range	Range Unit
	Days	30 Days	Normal	6.5 - 23.2	umol/L
	31 Days	364 Days	Normal	4.6 - 24.9	umol/L
	1 Years	6 Years	Normal	2.7 - 17.4	umol/L
	7 Years	17 Years	Normal	2.8 - 13.4	umol/L
	18 Years		Normal	3.0 - 15.6	umol/L
Free L-carnitine
Sex	Age From	Age To	Type	Range	Range Unit
	Days	30 Days	Normal	6.9 - 35.6	umol/L
	31 Days	364 Days	Normal	21.3 - 75.1	umol/L
	1 Years	6 Years	Normal	20.0 - 54.8	umol/L
	7 Years	17 Years	Normal	18.7 - 55.3	umol/L
	18 Years		Normal	20.0 - 53.0	umol/L
Total L-carnitine
Sex	Age From	Age To	Type	Range	Range Unit
	Days	30 Days	Normal	20.0 - 51.1	umol/L
	31 Days	364 Days	Normal	33.0 - 93.9	umol/L
	1 Years	6 Years	Normal	26.4 - 69.3	umol/L
	7 Years	17 Years	Normal	25.8 - 65.6	umol/L
	18 Years		Normal	26.4 - 66.0	umol/L

Special Info

Decant plasma/serum from cells within 2 hours from collection. Fasting is not required, but the information is helpful for test interpretation; indicate patient fasting hours when possible. Carnitine, fish oil, and omega-3 supplements affect test results; indicate supplement use on the requisition.

Clinical Info

Useful in the evaluation of individuals at risk for a deficiency of free carnitine, which may occur during treatment with valproate, in persons receiving chronic renal dialysis, and in some forms of malnourishment. When combined with the profile of plasma acylcarnitine species, useful in the diagnostic evaluation of individuals suspected of having a disorder of mitochondrial fatty acid beta-oxidation and many genetic disorders of organic acid metabolism.

Clinical Limitation

The free plasma carnitine levels can respectively increase or decrease substantially after recent carnitine supplementation or renal dialysis.