Ordering Guidance

This is the preferred test for assessment for protoporphyria. The preferred test for assessing lead toxicity in children is blood lead. For more information see PBDV / Lead, Venous, with Demographics, Blood or PBDC / Lead, Capillary, with Demographics, Blood. The preferred screening test for suspicion of a hepatic porphyria is urine porphyrins. For more information see PQNRU / Porphyrins, Quantitative, Random, Urine.

Necessary Information

1. Volume of packed cells and total volume of specimen (red cells + saline) are required and must be sent with specimen.

2. Include a list of medications the patient is currently taking.

Specimen Required

All porphyrin tests on erythrocytes can be performed on 1 draw tube.

Patient Preparation: Patient must not consume any alcohol for 24 hours before specimen collection.

Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Green top (sodium heparin)

Acceptable: Dark blue top (metal free heparin), green top (lithium heparin), or lavender top (EDTA)

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: Entire washed erythrocyte suspension

Collection Instructions: Collect and process whole blood specimen as follows:

1. Transfer entire specimen to a 12-mL graduated centrifuge tube.

2. Centrifuge specimen at 4° C for 10 minutes at 2000 rpm.

3. Record volume of packed cells and the total volume of the specimen.

4. Discard supernatant plasma.

5. Wash packed erythrocytes 2 times by resuspension of at least an equal amount of cold 0.9% saline, mix, and centrifuge for 5 minutes at 2000 rpm, discarding supernatant after each washing.

6. Resuspend packed cells to the original total volume with 0.9% saline. Invert specimen gently to mix.

7. Transfer to a plastic tube and freeze.