Test Directory

This test is used for the assessment of vitamin K deficiency. Vitamin K deficiency may be induced by obstructive liver disease, obstructive icterus, malabsorption due to celiac disease, pancreatitis, diarrhea, and antibiotic abuse; may be used to treat blood clotting disorders, bone metabolism disorders, and hemorrhagic disorders of newborns.

Preferred Specimen Type: Plasma

Alternate Specimen Type: Serum

Preferred Collection Container: Lavender Top (EDTA)  

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

Desired Specimen Volume: 1 mL

1. Collect specimen in lavender top EDTA tube via venipuncture.
2.  Mix immediately by gentle inversion at least six times to ensure adequate mixing.

1. Separate plasma from cells.
2. Transfer 1 mL of plasma to an amber aliquot tube.
3. Specimens should be light protected.

Patient should fast for 12 hours overnight.

Transport to the laboratory refrigerated. 

• Mild or grossly lipemic specimen
• Grossly hemolyzed specimen
• Specimen not protected from light
• Specimen outside of stability
• Citrate plasma

See patient report.

Overnight (12-hour) patient fasting is required. Consumption of supplements or food with Vitamin K may elevate plasma concentrations of Vitamin K1 for testing.

Although lipemia does not interfere with the analytical measurement of Vitamin K1 by this test, Vitamin K1 levels are correlated with lipoprotein concentrations. As such, all lipemic samples should be rejected given Vitamin K1 levels are expected to be elevated in lipemic specimens and prevent evaluation for Vitamin K1 insufficiency.

 Phylloquinone