Serotonin, Serum




Test Mnemonic

SERTON

CPT Codes

  • 84260 - QTY (1)

LOINC ®

27057-9

Aliases

  • 5-Hydroxytryptamine

Performing Laboratory

ARUP


Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
0.5 mLSerumSST (Gold) FrozenAbstain from medications for 72 hours prior to collection. Centrifuge and transfer serum into an amber transport tube within 1 hour of collection. Separate specimens must be submitted when multiple specimens are ordered.

Minimum Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
0.2 mL     

Stability

Environmental Condition Description
RefrigeratedAfter separation from cells: 24 hours
FrozenAfter separation from cells: 1 month
AmbientAfter separation from cells: Unacceptable

Days Performed

Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat

Turnaround Time

2 - 6 days

Methodology

Name Description
High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) 

Reference Range

Serotonin, Serum
Sex Age From Age To Type Range Range Unit
       50 - 220 ng/mL 

Special Info

Patient Prep: Abstain from medications for 72 hours prior to collection. Separate specimens must be submitted when multiple specimens are ordered. Specimens other than serum are unacceptable. Non-frozen specimens will not be accepted. This test is New York DOH approved.

Clinical Info

Medications that may affect serotonin concentrations include lithium, MAO inhibitors, methyldopa, morphine, and reserpine. In general, foods that contain serotonin do not interfere significantly. Slight increases may be seen in acute intestinal obstruction, acute MI, cystic fibrosis, dumping syndromes, and nontropical sprue. Metastasizing abdominal carcinoid tumors often show serotonin concentrations greater than 400 ng/mL.