Methylmalonic Acid and Homocysteine
Test Code
Clinical Significance
Methylmalonic Acid and Homocysteine -
To diagnose and monitor vitamin B12 (cobalamin) deficiency.
Test Resources
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Test Details
Methodology
Reference Range(s)
| ≤30 days | 87-580 nmol/L |
| 31 days-11 months | 62-377 nmol/L |
| 12-23 months | 55-347 nmol/L |
| 2-59 years | 55-335 nmol/L |
| 60-79 years | 69-390 nmol/L |
| ≥80 years | 85-423 nmol/L |
Homocysteine
| Age | Male (umol/L) | Female (umol/L) |
| 0-1 years | Not Established | Not Established |
| 2-9 years | ≤7.6 | ≤7.6 |
| 10-14 years | ≤9.7 | ≤8.4 |
| 15-17 years | ≤11.3 | ≤10.2 |
| 18-29 years | ≤12.9 | ≤10.9 |
| 30-49 years | ≤13.5 | ≤11.0 |
| >49 years | ≤15.2 | ≤13.4 |
Preferred Specimen(s)
2.7 mL serum
Alternative Specimen(s)
Plasma collected in: Sodium heparin (green-top)
Minimum Volume
1.1 mL
Collection Instructions
Red-top tubes: Place the specimen in a refrigerator or ice bath for 30 minutes after collection. Centrifuge the specimen as soon as possible after complete clot formation has taken place. Transfer the serum to a transport tube.
Barrier gel separator tubes: Place the specimen in a refrigerator for 30 minutes after collection. Centrifuge the specimen as soon as possible after complete clot formation has taken place. Do not place barrier tubes in an ice bath as freezing may prevent the barrier gel from adequately separating serum from cells.
Heparin tubes: Place the specimen in a refrigerator or ice bath until the specimen can be centrifuged. Centrifuge the specimen as soon as possible and transfer the plasma to a transport tube.
Transport Container
Transport tube
Transport Temperature
Room temperature
Specimen Stability
- Room temperature: 4 days
- Refrigerated: 7 days
- Frozen: 6 months
Reject Criteria
Gross hemolysis • Grossly lipemic • Unseparated serum or plasma • Whole blood
Setup Schedule
Barrier gel separator tubes: Place the specimen in a refrigerator for 30 minutes after collection. Centrifuge the specimen as soon as possible after complete clot formation has taken place. Do not place barrier tubes in an ice bath as freezing may prevent the barrier gel from adequately separating serum from cells.
Heparin tubes: Place the specimen in a refrigerator or ice bath until the specimen can be centrifuged. Centrifuge the specimen as soon as possible and transfer the plasma to a transport tube.
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: 6 months