ARUP's Laboratory Test Directory

Vitamin A (Retinol), Serum or Plasma : 0080525

Mnemonic: VIT A

Methodology: Quantitative High Performance Liquid Chromatography
Performed: Sun, Tue-Sat
Reported: 1-4 days
Specimen Required: Patient Prep: Patient should fast for 12 hours and abstain from alcohol for 24 hours prior to collection.

Collect: Green (sodium or lithium heparin) or serum separator tube. Also acceptable: Lavender (EDTA) or pink (K2EDTA).

Specimen Preparation: Protect from light during collection, storage, and shipment. Spin and pour off within 1 hour of collection. Transfer 1 mL serum or plasma to an ARUP Amber Transport Tube immediately. (Min: 0.2 mL) Avoid hemolysis.

Storage/Transport Temperature: Refrigerated.

Unacceptable Conditions: Whole blood or body fluids other than serum or plasma.

Stability (collection to initiation of testing): After separation from cells: Ambient: Unacceptable; Refrigerated: 1 month; Frozen: 1 year

Reference Interval:
Test Number Components Reference Interval
Vitamin A (Retinol)
Age Reference Interval
0-1 month
2 months-12 years
13-17 years
18 years and older
0.18-0.50 mg/L
0.20-0.50 mg/L
0.26-0.70 mg/L
0.30-1.20 mg/L
Retinyl Palmitate 0-150 years: 0-0.10 mg/L

Interpretive Data:

See Compliance Statement B: www.aruplab.com/CS
Note: Serum retinol is typically maintained until hepatic stores are almost depleted. Values greater than 0.30 mg/L represent adequate liver stores, whereas values less than 0.10 mg/L indicate deficiency. Samples that come in contact with plastic tubing or have been exposed to excessive light may show low results.

Vitamin A toxicity occurs when retinol concentration exceeds the capacity of retinol binding protein (RBP).  Individuals with compromised renal function can retain RBP and may, therefore, have moderate retinol elevations. Drugs which interfere with vitamin A analysis include probucol (Lorelco).

This assay does not measure other vitamin A metabolites such as retinaldehyde and retinoic acid.
CPT Code(s): 84590
Cross References: A Vitamin (Vitamin A (Retinol), Serum or Plasma), Retinol (Vitamin A (Retinol), Serum or Plasma)