Pathology tests database

Sample and container requirements

EDTA Plasma

Minimum volume required

500 µL plasma

Special requirements

Plasma must be spun down and frozen within 1 hour of venesection.

Patient preparation

Must be fasted overnight.

Sample viability

Turnaround time

21 days

Reference range

6.7 – 15.2 µmol/L

Clinical guidance

Please refer to LabTestsOnlineUK to learn more about homocysteine. https://labtestsonline.org.uk/tests/homocysteine

Notes

Deficiencies of the vitamins folic acid (B9), pyridoxine (B6), or B12 (cobalamin) can lead to high homocysteine levels. Supplementation with pyridoxine, folic acid, B12 or trimethylglycine (betaine) reduces the concentration of homocysteine in the bloodstream. Elevations of homocysteine also occur in the rare hereditary disease homocystinuria and in the methylene-tetrahydrofolate-reductase polymorphism genetic traits. The latter is quite common (about 10% of the world population) and it is linked to an increased incidence of thrombosis and cardiovascular disease.