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Test Code
CARN
Test Name
Carnitine, Total and Free
CPT Codes
82379
Included Tests
  • Carnitine, Free
  • Esterified/Free
  • Carnitine, Total
Expected Turnaround Time
3 - 6 days
Clinical Utility

The analysis of carnitines is indicated in patients who exhibit the following: failure to thrive, hypotonia, chronic muscle weakness, cardiomyopathy, intermittent episodes of weakness and encephalopathy, renal Fanconi's syndrome, hypoglycemic episodes, metabolic acidosis, or hypoketotic dicarboxylic acidurias.
Specimen and Container Info

Specimen Type: Plasma

Alternate Specimen Type: Serum

Collection Container: Green Top (Sodium and Lithium Heparin)

Alternate Collection Container: Red Top, Plain or Gold Top, Serum Separator 

Desired Specimen Volume: 2.5 mL
Collection Instructions
  1. Collect green (sodium or lithium heparin) via venipuncture.
Processing and Submission Instructions
  1. Transfer 2.5 mL of plasma to a LabCorp PP transpak frozen purple tube.
  2. To avoid delays in turnaround time when requesting multiple tests on frozen samples, please submit separate frozen specimens for each test requested.
Transport Instructions

Transport to the laboratory frozen. 
Stability Requirements

Frozen

14 days
Causes for Rejection

Specimen not frozen
Methodology
High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Reference Intervals

 See patient report.
Alternate Names
  • Carnitor®/Carnitor® SF
  • L-Carnitine®
  • Levocarnitine
Reference Lab
Labcorp Of America Holdings
Testing Schedule
Monday-Friday
The American Medical Association (AMA) Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes published by HNL Lab Medicine are guidelines and are intended for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the exclusive responsibility of the billing entity. View the Terms.
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