Micronutrient, Vitamin C
Test Code
Clinical Significance
Micronutrient, Vitamin C - Vitamin C is an antioxidant involved in connective tissue metabolism, drug-metabolizing systems, and mixed-function oxidase systems to list a few. Vitamin C deficiency causes scurvy; manifestations include impaired formation of mature connective tissue, bleeding into the skin, weakness, fatigue, and depression.
Test Resources
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Test Details
Refrain from eating fruits and from taking vitamin C supplements for 24 hours prior to collection.
Methodology
Reference Range(s)
| Male ≥18 years | 0.2-2.1 mg/dL |
| Female ≥18 years | 0.3-2.7 mg/dL |
Preferred Specimen(s)
1 mL frozen serum - protected from light
Alternative Specimen(s)
Plasma collected in: Sodium heparin (green-top) tube protected from light • Foil wrapped transport tube protected from light
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Collection Instructions
Patients should be 18 years of age or greater.
Centrifuge within 1 hour of collection. Immediately separate serum from the cells into a clean, plastic transport tube. Freeze. Protect from light.
If unable to centrifuge immediately, sample should be covered with aluminum foil and placed on ice until serum can be separated from cells. Transport to the laboratory frozen.
For remote collection sites, or those with no access to ultra-low freezers or dry ice, it is recommended to schedule patient visits/draws after 12:00 p.m. local time and store the samples at -10 ° C to -30° C freezers (stable for 8 hours) until picked up by courier. Couriers should then transfer samples to -70° C storage (on dry ice) while enroute to the performing site location.
Transport Container
Amber transport tube
Transport Temperature
Frozen -70° C
Specimen Stability
- Room temperature: Unacceptable
- Refrigerated: Unacceptable
- Frozen -20° C: 8 hours
- Frozen -70° C: 35 days
Reject Criteria
Hemolysis • Lipemia • Received at -20° C • Not protected from light • EDTA plasma • Lithium heparin plasma • Thawed samples
Setup Schedule
Centrifuge within 1 hour of collection. Immediately separate serum from the cells into a clean, plastic transport tube. Freeze. Protect from light.
If unable to centrifuge immediately, sample should be covered with aluminum foil and placed on ice until serum can be separated from cells. Transport to the laboratory frozen.
For remote collection sites, or those with no access to ultra-low freezers or dry ice, it is recommended to schedule patient visits/draws after 12:00 p.m. local time and store the samples at -10 ° C to -30° C freezers (stable for 8 hours) until picked up by courier. Couriers should then transfer samples to -70° C storage (on dry ice) while enroute to the performing site location.
Refrigerated: Unacceptable
Frozen -20° C: 8 hours
Frozen -70° C: 35 days