Serotonin, Whole Blood




Test Mnemonic

SEROWB

CPT Codes

  • 84260 - QTY (1)

LOINC ®

2939-7

Aliases

  • 5HT
  • 5-hydroxytryptamine

Performing Laboratory

ARUP


Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
3 mLWhole bloodEDTA (Lavender)Place specimen on ice after draw.Frozen, CriticalPatient Prep: Abstain from medications for 72 hours prior to collection. Place on ice after draw. Transfer 3 mL whole blood to a serotonin transport tube containing ascorbic acid (ARUP supply #16568). Mix well and freeze. Must preserve and freeze specimen within 2 hours of collection. Separate specimens must be submitted when multiple tests are ordered.

Minimum Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
1 mL     

Stability

Environmental Condition Description
AmbientAfter transfer to serotonin transport tube: Unacceptable
RefrigeratedAfter transfer to serotonin transport tube: Unacceptable
FrozenAfter transfer to serotonin transport tube: 1 month

Days Performed

Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat

Turnaround Time

2 - 6 days

Methodology

Name Description
High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) 

Reference Range

Serotonin, Whole Blood
Sex Age From Age To Type Range Range Unit
       Normal50 - 200ng/mL

Special Info

Patient Prep: Abstain from medications for 72 hours prior to collection. CRITICAL FROZEN. Separate specimens must be submitted when multiple tests are ordered. Non-frozen specimens and specimens other than whole blood are unacceptable. This test is New York DOH approved.

Clinical Info

Used to diagnose and monitor carcinoid tumors. Preferred serotonin test since most of the blood serotonin resides in the platelets. Medications that may affect serotonin concentrations include lithium, MAO inhibitors, methyldopa, morphine, and reserpine. Foods that contain serotonin do not interfere significantly, in general. 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 > 400 ng/mL.