Carnitine, Total; Carnitine, Free; Carnitine, Esters; Esterified/Free Ratio
Serum carnitine analysis is useful in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with carnitine deficiency (either primary or secondary). Primary carnitine deficiency is an autosomal recessively inherited genetic condition that affects carnitine uptake by cells and tissues through a defect in the plasma membrane carnitine transporter. Secondary carnitine deficiency can be seen in some disease states or in patients on carnitine-poor diets, but is also seen in a number of metabolic disorders. In these disorders, carnitine complexes with the accumulated substrate of the blocked metabolic step, and the resulting acylcarnitine ester is excreted in the urine, leading to a depletion of carnitine in the patient.
Patient should be in a well-fed state
1.0 mL Frozen Serum from a Red Top Tube in a Plastic Vial
1.0 mL Frozen Plasma from a Green Top Tube - Na Heparin in a Plastic Vial
5 hours Ambient
5 days Refrigerated
30 days Frozen (prefered & transport)
Avoid Thaw/Freeze Cycles
Separate Serum by centrifugation
Freeze immediately after separation.
0.4 mL Serum
| Carnitine, Total | |
| Adult Male | 30-70 µmol/L |
| Adult Female | 25-58 µmol/L |
| Male ≤17 Years | 32-62 µmol/L |
| Female ≤17 Years | 28-59 µmol/L |
| Carnitine, Free | |
| Adult Male | 23-59 µmol/L |
| Adult Female | 19-48 µmol/L |
| Male ≤17 Years | 25-54 µmol/L |
| Female ≤17 Years | 19-51 µmol/L |
| Carnitine, Esters | |
| Adult Male | 4-15 µmol/L |
| Adult Female | 4-13 µmol/L |
| Male ≤17 Years | 4-12 µmol/L |
| Female ≤17 Years | 3-16 µmol/L |
| Esterified/Free Ratio | |
| Adult Male | 0.12-0.39 |
| Adult Female | 0.13-0.42 |
| Male ≤17 Years | 0.09-0.35 |
| Female ≤17 Years | 0.09-0.49 |
Serum carnitine analysis is useful in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with carnitine deficiency (either primary or secondary). Primary carnitine deficiency is an autosomal recessively inherited genetic condition that affects carnitine uptake by cells and tissues through a defect in the plasma membrane carnitine transporter. Secondary carnitine deficiency can be seen in some disease states or in patients on carnitine-poor diets, but is also seen in a number of metabolic disorders. In these disorders, carnitine complexes with the accumulated substrate of the blocked metabolic step, and the resulting acylcarnitine ester is excreted in the urine, leading to a depletion of carnitine in the patient.
3 to 5 days
00910422
82379