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Order Code LAB7 Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Plasma or Serum

Additional Codes

Test Name in EPIC

EPIC Test Code           

Mnemonic

RV ASPARTATE AMINOTRANSFERASE

LAB7

AST

 

Useful For

Diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis, necrosis, jaundice, and cirrhosis.

Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type: Plasma or Serum

Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Green-top (lithium heparin) gel tube.

Acceptable: Plain, red-top tube or SST

Specimen Volume: 2 mL

Pediatric (minimum) volume: 0.5 mL

Due to the very low density of platelets, it is important to centrifuge plasma specimens before testing according to your collection device manufacturer’s instructions to avoid contamination of plasma with AST derived from platelets.

Avoid agitation or mixing of plasma samples after centrifugation. Re-suspension of platelets into previously centrifuged plasma may lead to artificially elevated AST results because of high AST activity in platelets.

Specimen Stability

Specimen Type Temperature Stability          
Plasma or Serum Ambient 3 days
  Refrigerated (preferred) 7 days
  Frozen 3 months

Reference Values

Female 14-36 U/L

Male 17-59 U/L

Day(s) Test Set Up

Monday through Sunday

Performing Laboratory

Ridgeview Medical Center Laboratory

Two Twelve Medical Center Laboratory

Ridgeview Sibley Medical Center Laboratory

Ridgeview Le Sueur Medical Center Laboratory

Methodology

Multiple-point rate