Newcastle Laboratories

Amino acids, urine

Clinical Background:

Measurement of amino acids in urine is required for the investigation of disorders of renal tubular function such as cystinuria and fanconi syndrome, secondary renal tubular impairment in mitochond...

Measurement of amino acids in urine is required for the investigation of disorders of renal tubular function such as cystinuria and fanconi syndrome, secondary renal tubular impairment in mitochondrial disease and some specific metabolic disorders such as hypophosphatasia and lysinuric protein intolerance. 

Plasma amino acids is the recommended sample type for the investigation of a disorder of amino acid metabolism, for monitoring treatment or for assessment of nutritional state.   Urine amino acids analysis is not normally indicated in these cases.

All requests for urine amino acids analysis from NUTH requestors will be reviewed and analysis performed where appropriate supporting clinical information is supplied. It is therefore essential that all requests are accompanied by clinical details. 

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Test Details

  • Discipline:

    Biochemistry

    Biochemistry

  • Specimen Container Adult:

    Random urine, no preservative

    24 hour urine required for urine cystine analysis

    Random urine, no preservative

    24 hour urine required for urine cystine analysis

  • Specimen Container Paediatric:

    Random urine, no preservative

    24 hour urine required for urine cystine analysis

    Random urine, no preservative

    24 hour urine required for urine cystine analysis

  • Minimum Volume Adult:

    1 mL urine

    1 mL urine

  • Minimum Volume Paediatric:

    1 mL urine

    1 mL urine

  • Transport Requirements:

    Samples should be sent to the laboratory at ambient temperature and stored frozen in the laboratory.

    Samples from referral laboratories should be transported frozen.

    Samples should be sent to the laboratory at ambient temperature and stored frozen in the laboratory.

    Samples from referral laboratories should be transported frozen.

  • Quality Assurance:

    ERNDIM

    ERNDIM

  • Interpretation:

    Results will be interpreted in context of the clinical information and results of other laboratory investigations.  It is therefore essential that clinical details are supplied with requests.

    Results will be interpreted in context of the clinical information and results of other laboratory investigations.  It is therefore essential that clinical details are supplied with requests.

  • Reference Ranges:

    Age-related reference ranges and interpretation provided on laboratory report.

    Age-related reference ranges and interpretation provided on laboratory report.

  • Factors Affecting Result:

    Urine amino acids analysis is subject to interference from drug metabolites, bacterial contamination and faecal contamination.  Quantitation is unreliable when the sample is very dilute (creatinine...

    Urine amino acids analysis is subject to interference from drug metabolites, bacterial contamination and faecal contamination.  Quantitation is unreliable when the sample is very dilute (creatinine < 1 mmol/L). 

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  • Routine Contact Name:

    Duty Biochemist

  • Routine Telephone:

    Freeman: 0191 244 8889

    RVI: 0191 282 9719

    Freeman: 0191 244 8889

    RVI: 0191 282 9719

  • Routine Email:

  • Specialist Test:

    Yes

    Yes

  • Specialist Contact Name:

    Metabolic Clinical Scientist

    Metabolic Clinical Scientist

  • Specialist Telephone:

    0191 282 9685 (Consultant Clinical Scientist)

    0191 282 0334 (Metabolic Laboratory)

    0191 282 9685 (Consultant Clinical Scientist)

    0191 282 0334 (Metabolic Laboratory)

  • Specialist Email:

Availability:

Available during full access hours
Assayed at least twice weekly
Site of analysis: RVI

Turn Around:

13 days

Urgent analysis is available following discussion with the laboratory, contact details below

Send To:

Department of Blood Sciences

Level 3
Leazes Wing
Royal Victoria Infirmary
Queen Victoria Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 4LP

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