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Order Code PBGU Porphobilinogen, Quantitative, Random, Urine

Reporting Name

Porphobilinogen, QN, Random, U

Useful For

First-order test for evaluating a suspected acute porphyria: acute intermittent porphyria, hereditary coproporphyria, and variegate porphyria

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Specimen Type

Urine


Shipping Instructions


Ship specimen protected from light.



Necessary Information


Include a list of medications the patient is currently taking.



Specimen Required


Patient Preparation: Patient must not consume any alcohol for at least 24 hours prior to collection.

Supplies: Urine Container-Amber, 60 mL (T596)

Specimen Volume: 20 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Collect a random urine specimen.

2. No preservative necessary but pH must be above 5.0.

3. Specimens should be protected from light and frozen immediately following collection.


Specimen Minimum Volume

15 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Urine Frozen (preferred) 7 days LIGHT PROTECTED
  Refrigerated  7 days LIGHT PROTECTED

Reference Values

≤1.3 mcmol/L

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Friday

CPT Code Information

84110

Method Description

Porphobilinogen (PBG) in urine is quantified by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry after addition of stable isotope-labeled PBG internal standard and solid phase extraction.(Ford RE, Magera MJ, Kloke KM, et al. Quantitative measurement of porphobilinogen in urine by stable-isotope dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Clin Chem. 2001 September;47[9]:1627-1632; Stolzel U, Doss MO, Schuppan D. Clinical guide and update on porphyrias. Gastroenterology. 2019;157(2):365-381.e4. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2019.04.050)

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)