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Test ID: PMSBB    
Postmortem Screening, Bile and Blood Spots

Method Description Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference

Blood and bile are collected on the same filter paper card; newborn screening filter paper cards are used. Blood drawn into heparin-containing tubes and bile collected by direct puncture of the gallbladder are spotted on a filter paper card. Two circles at one end of the card are used for blood, 2 circles at the opposite end for the bile (each 25 microL of volume). A 3/16" disk is punched out of the dried blood or 1/16" dried bile spot into an Eppendorf tube. The acylcarnitines are extracted by the addition of methanol and known concentrations of isotopically labeled acylcarnitines as internal standards. The extract is transferred to a Reacti-Vial, dried under a stream of nitrogen, and derivatized by the addition of n-butanol hydrochloric acid. The acylcarnitines are measured as their butyl esters by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. The concentration of the analytes is established by computerized comparison of ion intensities of these analytes to that of the respective internal standards. (Chace DH, DiPerna JC, Mitchell BL, et al: Electrospray tandem mass spectrometry for analysis of acylcarnitines in dried postmortem blood specimens collected at autopsy from infants with unexplained cause of death. Clin Chem 2001;47:1166-1182)

Day(s) and Time(s) Test Performed Outlines the days and times the test is performed. This field reflects the day and time the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time required before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means assays are performed several times during the day.

Tuesday; 11 a.m.

Analytic Time Defines the amount of time it takes the laboratory to setup and perform the test. This is defined in number of days. The shortest interval of time expressed is "same day/1 day," which means the results may be available the same day that the sample is received in the testing laboratory. One day means results are available 1 day after the sample is received in the laboratory.

2 days

Maximum Laboratory Time Defines the maximum time from specimen receipt at Mayo Medical Laboratories until the release of the test result

16 days

Specimen Retention Time Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded

Indefinitely

Performing Laboratory Location The location of the laboratory that performs the test

Rochester