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Order Code ALAUR Aminolevulinic Acid, Urine

Reporting Name

Aminolevulinic Acid, U

Useful For

Assisting in the differential diagnosis of the acute hepatic porphyrias

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Specimen Type

Urine


Ordering Guidance


The preferred test for lead toxicity in children is blood lead; order either PBDV / Lead, Venous, with Demographics, Blood or PBDC / Lead, Capillary, with Demographics, Blood.



Necessary Information


Patient's age is required.



Specimen Required


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

Supplies: Urine Tubes, 10 mL (T068)

Collection Container/Tube: Clean, plastic urine collection container

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 2 mL

Collection Instructions: Collect a random urine specimen.


Specimen Minimum Volume

1 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Urine Refrigerated (preferred) 28 days
  Frozen  45 days

Reference Values

<1 year: ≤10 nmol/mL

1-17 years: ≤20 nmol/mL

≥18 years: ≤15 nmol/mL

Day(s) Performed

Tuesday, Thursday

CPT Code Information

82135

Method Description

Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) stable isotope dilution analysis. The urine is mixed with an internal standard ([13]C5, [15]N ALA-IS) and filtered using a 0.2 mcM nylon filter vial. The ratios of the extracted peak areas of ALA to ALA-IS determined by LC-MS/MS are used to calculate the concentration of ALA present in the sample.(Lacey, JM, Magera MJ, Tortorelli S: Delta aminolevulinic acid quantitation in urine by LC-MS/MS. J Am Soc Mass Spectrom. 2011;22, S1:pp 69)

Reject Due To

  All specimens will be evaluated at Mayo Clinic Laboratories for test suitability.

Method Name

Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)