Vitamin C

Vitamin C

Test Code

929
82180
CPT Code is subject to a Medicare Limited Coverage Policy and may require a signed ABN when ordering.
929
82180
CPT Code is subject to a Medicare Limited Coverage Policy and may require a signed ABN when ordering.
Not offered in Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute (IFD) – San Juan Capistrano. Please provide SERVICE AREA INFORMATION to find available tests you can order.
In-home collection is not available in your area through Quest Mobile.

Clinical Significance

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

None found for this test
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Test Details

Patient Preparation

Overnight fasting is preferred.
Refrain from eating fruits and from taking vitamin C supplements for 24 hours prior to collection.

Methodology

Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

Assay Category

This test was developed and its analytical performance characteristics have been determined by Quest Diagnostics. It has not been cleared or approved by FDA. This assay has been validated pursuant to the CLIA regulations and is used for clinical purposes.

Reference Range(s)

Female 0.3-2.7 mg/dL
Male 0.2-2.1 mg/dL

Alternative Name(s)

Ascorbic Acid

LOINC® Codes, Performing Laboratory

Service Area must be determined
Overnight fasting is preferred.
Refrain from eating fruits and from taking vitamin C supplements for 24 hours prior to collection.

Methodology

Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry
This test was developed and its analytical performance characteristics have been determined by Quest Diagnostics. It has not been cleared or approved by FDA. This assay has been validated pursuant to the CLIA regulations and is used for clinical purposes.

Reference Range(s)

Female 0.3-2.7 mg/dL
Male 0.2-2.1 mg/dL

Alternative Name(s)

Ascorbic Acid
Service Area must be determined

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

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 immediately 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 room temperature • Received refrigerated • Not protected from light • EDTA plasma • Lithium heparin plasma • Thawed samples • Samples not received at -70° C

Setup Schedule

Service Area must be determined
1 mL frozen serum - protected from light
Plasma collected in: Sodium heparin (green-top) tube protected from light • Foil wrapped transport tube protected from light
0.5 mL
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 immediately 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.
Amber transport tube
Frozen -70° C
Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: Unacceptable
Frozen -20° C: 8 hours
Frozen -70° C: 35 days
Hemolysis • Lipemia • Received room temperature • Received refrigerated • Not protected from light • EDTA plasma • Lithium heparin plasma • Thawed samples • Samples not received at -70° C
Service Area must be determined
Not offered in Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute (IFD) – San Juan Capistrano. Please provide SERVICE AREA INFORMATION to find available tests you can order.
In-home collection is not available in your area through Quest Mobile.
Test Details

Clinical Significance

Test Resources

Reference ranges are provided as general guidance only. To interpret test results use the reference range in the laboratory report.

The CPT codes provided are based on AMA guidance and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payer being billed.

This material contains content from LOINC® (http://loinc.org). The LOINC Table, LOINC Table Core are copyright © 1995-2019, Regenstrief Institute, Inc. and the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) Committee and is available at no cost under the license at http://loinc.org/license.

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