ARUP's Laboratory Test Directory

Carotenes, Fractionated, Plasma or Serum : 0021021

Mnemonic: CARO FRAC

Methodology: Quantitative High Performance Liquid Chromatography
Performed: Mon, Wed, Fri
Reported: 1-5 days
Specimen Required: Patient Prep: Patient should fast overnight for 12 hours and should not consume alcohol for 24 hours prior to blood draw.

Collect: Serum separator tube or green (sodium or lithium heparin).

Specimen Preparation: CRITICAL: Protect from light within one hour of collection and during storage and shipment. Transfer 1 mL serum or plasma to an ARUP Amber Transport Tube ASAP or within 2 hours of collection. (Min: 0.3 mL)

Storage/Transport Temperature: Frozen. Separate specimens must be submitted when multiple tests are ordered.

Unacceptable Conditions: EDTA plasma, whole blood, or body fluids. Room temperature specimens. Hemolyzed specimens.

Stability (collection to initiation of testing): After separation from cells: Ambient: Unacceptable; Refrigerated: 72 hours; Frozen: 1 year
Reference Interval:
α-Carotene: 9-101 µg/L
β-Carotene: 42-373 µg/L
Lutein: 50-250 µg/L
Zeaxanthin: 8-80 µg/L
Interpretive Data: Carotenoid concentrations may be decreased due to inadequate dietary fat consumption, intestinal parasitic infection or other malabsorption disorders; interactions from drugs such as cholestyramine, ethanol, weight-loss drugs, and fiber supplements; and kidney, liver, or pancreatic insufficiency. Carotenoid concentrations may be elevated due to hypothyroidism, hyperlipemia due to diabetes mellitus, myxedema, chronic nephritis, or vitamin supplementation.

See Compliance Statement B: www.aruplab.com/CS
CPT Code(s): 82380
Cross References: Alpha-Carotene (Carotenes, Fractionated, Plasma or Serum), Beta-Carotene (Carotenes, Fractionated, Plasma or Serum), Lutein (Carotenes, Fractionated, Plasma or Serum), Zeaxanthin (Carotenes, Fractionated, Plasma or Serum)