Vitamin K

Overview

  • EPIC Code:
  • LAB1110
  • Soft Test Code:
  • VITK
  • Send Out Test Code:
  • 36585
Clinical Significance

Vitamin K is a required cofactor for the synthesis of factors 2, 7, 9, and 10, and proteins C and S. Deficiencies of vitamin K lead to bleeding. Warfarin acts as an anticoagulant because it is a vitamin K antagonist.


Specimen Collection & Preparation

Patient Preparation

Fasting for a minumum of 8 hours required. 
Patient should refrain from eating liver and taking multivitamins or vitamin K at least 24 hours before sample collection.



Specimen Requirements

1.0 mL Frozen Plasma from a Lavender Top Tube - EDTA in a Amber Vial


Transport And Storage

24 hours Ambient
24 hours Refrigerated 
3 months Frozen (Transport)

Do not thaw


Samples received frozen but not protected from light are acceptable.


Collection Instructions

Centrifuge within 1 hour of collection, transfer plasma into amber vial, freeze immediately

Protect from Light by placing the plasma in an Amber Vial or other in the dark protocols

If unable to centrifuge immediately, sample should be covered with aluminum foil (or amber specimen bag) immediately and placed on ice until plasma or serum can be separated from cells


Minimum Volume

0.5 mL Plasma


Neonatal Volume

Clinical Interpretation

Reference Range:

130 - 1500 pg/mL


Methodology:
  • High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
Clinical Significance

Vitamin K is a required cofactor for the synthesis of factors 2, 7, 9, and 10, and proteins C and S. Deficiencies of vitamin K lead to bleeding. Warfarin acts as an anticoagulant because it is a vitamin K antagonist.


Production Schedule

Sites Performed
  • Quest - Chantilly
Days Performed
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Departments
  • Sendouts - Clinical
Turn Around Time

3 to 4 days


Coding & Compliance

CDM

00914597


CPT Coding

84597