Vitamin K1

Test ID: 

703160

CPT code:

84597

Synonyms:

Phylloquinone

Phytonadione

Clinical Use:

Vitamin K deficiency may be induced by obstructive liver disease, obstructive icterus, malabsorption due to celiac disease, pancreatitis, diarrhea, and antibiotic abuse; may be used to treat blood clotting disorders, bone metabolism disorders, and hemorrhagic disorders of newborns.

Test Information:

In humans, deficiency of vitamin K leads to decreased concentrations of circulating, active coagulation factors, which often results in bleeding. Vitamin K nutritional status has also been implicated in osteoporosis. Interest in vitamin K has increased beyond its well-established function in blood clotting with human epidemiological and intervention studies suggesting that vitamin K may reduce bone loss in osteoporotic people and decrease fracture risk.

Specimen Type:

Serum or plasma, frozen and protected from light

Requested Volume: 

1.5 mL

Minimum Volume: 

1 mL

Container Type: 

Lavender-top (EDTA) tube, red-top tube without anticoagulant, or amber plastic transport tube with amber top. (If amber tubes are unavailable, cover standard transport tube completely, top and bottom, with aluminum foil. Identify specimen with patient’s name directly on the container and on the outside of the aluminum foil. Secure with tape.)

Collection:

Draw blood in chilled lavender-top tubes containing EDTA or in chilled red-top tubes with no anticoagulant. Gently invert five to six times to mix if using anticoagulant tube. Keep unopened vacuum tube on ice before processing. Immediately separate plasma/serum from red cells using refrigerated centrifugation or prechilled centrifuge carrier tubes before centrifuging. Serum or plasma must be separated from cells within 45 minutes of venipuncture. Transfer serum or plasma specimen to a labeled amber transport tube and freeze on dry ice. Protect from light. To avoid delays in turnaround time when requesting multiple tests on frozen samples, please submit separate frozen specimens for each test requested.

Storage Instructions:

Freeze serum or plasma on dry ice in plastic amber transport tube with amber top.

Stability Requirements:

Not stable refrigerated. Protect from light.Stable for three months at -20°C.

Rejection Criteria

Specimen not protected from light; specimen not received frozen; use of anticoagulants other than EDTA has not been studied