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Order Code LAB1130 Pyruvic Acid, Blood

Additional Codes

Mayo Test Code: PYR

Reporting Name

Pyruvic Acid, B

Useful For

Screening for possible disorders of mitochondrial metabolism, when used in conjunction with blood lactate collected at the same time, to determine the lactate-to-pyruvate ratio

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Specimen Type

Whole blood


Additional Testing Requirements


This test does not calculate the lactate:pyruvate ratio. If you would like the lactate:pyruvate ratio, order LAPYP / Lactate Pyruvate Panel, Plasma.



Specimen Required


Call 800-533-1710 or 507-266-5700 to order special collection tube.

 

Patient Preparation: Fasting (at least 4 hours)

Supplies: Perchloric Acid-Pyruvate Tube (T012)

Container/Tube: Special collection tube containing 2.5 mL of 6% perchloric acid

Specimen Volume: Exactly 1 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Special collection tube must be prechilled prior to collection.

2. Draw enough blood directly into syringe to add exactly 1 mL of blood to the prechilled special collection tube.

3. Taking care to not spill any of the preservative, cautiously remove the cap from the tube.

4. Immediately transfer blood, once drawn, to the prechilled, special collection tube, recap, and shake vigorously to mix.

Additional Information:

1. Check expiration date before using. Supplied collection tube expires 14 months after preparation.

2. If perchloric acid (preservative) spills, obtain a new, prechilled tube.


Specimen Minimum Volume

See Specimen Required

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Whole blood Refrigerated 15 days PYRUVATE

Reference Values

0.08-0.16 mmol/L

 

NIH Unit

0.7-1.4 mg/dL

Day(s) Performed

Monday, Thursday

CPT Code Information

84210

Method Description

Pyruvate, in the presence of excess nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, hydrogen ions, and lactic dehydrogenase is reduced to lactate. The reaction is stoichiometric; the decrease in absorbance at 340 nm is directly proportional to the concentration of pyruvate.(Fleischer WR, Forman DT, Huckabee WE, Antonis A, Young K. Enzymatic methods for lactic and pyruvic acids. In: MacDonald RP, ed. Standard Methods of Clinical Chemistry. Vol 6. 1970:245-259; Huckabee WE. Relationships of pyruvate and lactate during anaerobic metabolism. I. Effects of infusion of pyruvate or glucose and of hyperventilation. J Clin Invest. 1958;37[2]:244-254; Cowan T, Pasquali M. Laboratory investigations of inborn errors of metabolism. In: Sarafoglou K, Hoffman GF, Roth KS, eds. Pediatric Endocrinology and Inborn Errors of Metabolism. 2nd ed. McGraw-Hill; 2017:1139-1158)

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis OK
Gross lipemia OK

Method Name

Spectrophotometry (SP)

Genetics Test Information

The lactate:pyruvate (L:P) ratio is considered a helpful (not diagnostic) tool in the evaluation of patients with possible disorders of mitochondrial metabolism, especially in patients with neurologic dysfunction and either elevated or normal blood lactate levels. Pyruvic acid levels alone have little clinical utility.