Test ID: PYR
Pyruvic Acid, Blood
Secondary ID 
A test code used for billing and in test definitions created prior to November 2011
NY State Approved Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.
Useful For Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful
Screening for possible disorders of mitochondrial metabolism, when used in conjunction with blood lactate collected at the same time to determine the lactate-to-pyruvate ratio
Method Name A short description of the method used to perform the test
Spectrophotometry (SP)
Reporting Name A shorter/abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test; an abbreviated test name
Aliases Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching
Lactate to pyruvate ratio (#8665 Lactate, Plasma needs to be drawn at the same time, but has different specimen requirements)
Mitochondrial Electron Transport Chain Defects
Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain Disorders
PC
PDH (Pyruvate Dehydrogenase) Deficiency
PDHC (Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex)
Pyruvate Carboxylase Deficiency
Pyruvate Decarboxylase Deficiency
Pyruvate Dehydrogenase (PDH) Deficiency
Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex (PDHC)
Pyruvate, Blood
Specimen Type Describes the specimen type needed for testing
Specimen Required Defines the optimal specimen. This field describes the type of specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing. The volume allows automated processing, fastest throughput and, when indicated, repeat or reflex testing.
Call Mayo Medical Laboratories at 800-533-1710 or 507-266-5700 to order special collection tube.
Container/Tube: Special collection tube containing 2.5 mL of 6% perchloric acid (Supply T012)
Specimen Volume: Exactly 1 mL
Collection Instructions:
1. Fasting (at least 4 hours)
2. Special collection tube must be pre-chilled prior to draw.
3. Draw enough blood directly into syringe to add exactly 1 mL of blood to the special collection tube (pre-chilled).
4. Once drawn, immediately transfer blood to the pre-chilled, special collection tube and shake vigorously to mix.
Additional Information:
1. Supplied collection tube expires 12 months after preparation. Check expiration date before using.
2. If perchloric acid spills, obtain new, pre-chilled tube.
Forms: If not ordering electronically, submit a Biochemical Genetics Request Form (Supply T439) with the specimen.
Specimen Minimum Volume Defines the amount of specimen required to perform an assay once, including instrument and container dead space. Submitting the minimum specimen volume makes it impossible to repeat the test or perform confirmatory or perform reflex testing. In some situations, a minimum specimen volume may result in a QNS (quantity not sufficient) result, requiring a second specimen to be collected.
Reject Due To Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected
| Hemolysis | Mild OK; Gross OK |
| Lipemia | Mild OK; Gross OK |
| Icterus | NA |
| Other | Use of any anticoagulant other than special tube |
Specimen Stability Information Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the laboratory. Alternate acceptable temperature(s) are also included.
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Whole blood | Refrigerated | 15 days |
Clinical Information Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test
Pyruvic acid, an intermediate metabolite, plays an important role in linking carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism to the tricarboxylic acid cycle, the fatty acid beta-oxidation pathway, and the mitochondrial respiratory chain complex. Though isolated elevated pyruvate is not diagnostic of any inborn error of metabolism, analysis with lactate may suggest an inborn error of metabolism as some present with lactic acidosis and/or a high lactate-to-pyruvate (L:P) ratio.
The L:P ratio is elevated in several, but not all, mitochondrial respiratory chain disorders. Mitochondrial disorders vary widely in presentation and age of onset. Many mitochondrial disorders have neurologic and myopathic features and may involve multiple organ systems. Determination of lactate, pyruvate, and L:P ratio in cerebrospinal fluid is helpful in directing attention toward a possible mitochondrial disorder in cases with predominantly neurologic dysfunction and normal blood lactate levels, though further confirmatory testing will be required to establish a diagnosis.
A low L:P ratio is observed in inherited disorders of pyruvate metabolism including pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHC) deficiency. Clinical presentation of PDHC deficiency can range from fatal congenital lactic acidosis to relatively mild ataxia or neuropathy. The most common features in infants and children with PDHC deficiency are delayed development and hypotonia, and seizures and ataxia are also frequent features. Other manifestations can include congenital brain malformations, degenerative changes including Leigh disease, and facial dysmorphism.
Reference Values Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.
0.08-0.16 mmol/L
NIH Unit
0.7-1.4 mg/dL
Interpretation Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results
An elevated lactate-to-pyruvate (L:P) ratio may indicate inherited disorders of the respiratory chain complex, tricarboxylic acid cycle disorders and pyruvate carboxylase deficiency. Respiratory chain defects usually result in L:P ratios >20.
A low L:P ratio (disproportionately elevated pyruvic acid) may indicate an inherited disorder of pyruvate metabolism. Defects of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex result in L:P ratios <10.
The L:P ratio is characteristically normal in other patients. An artifactually high ratio can be found if the patient is acutely ill.
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) L:P ratio may assist in evaluation of patients with neurologic dysfunction and normal blood L:P ratios. Blood and CSF specimens should be collected at the same time.
Cautions Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances
Correct specimen collection and handling is crucial to achieve reliable results.
Pyruvic acid levels alone have little clinical utility. Abnormal concentrations of pyruvic acid, and lactate-to-pyruvate (L:P) ratios, are not diagnostic for a particular disorder but must be interpreted in the context of the patient's clinical presentation and other laboratory studies. The determination of pyruvic acid is of diagnostic value when lactic acid is measured and the L:P ratio is established in the same specimen.
When comparing blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) L:P ratios, blood and CSF specimens should be collected at the same time.
Clinical Reference Provides recommendations for further in-depth reading of a clinical nature
1. Munnich A, Rotig, A, Cormier-Daire V, Rustin P: Clinical presentation of respiratory chain defects. In The Metabolic and Molecular Bases of Inherited Disease. Eighth edition. Edited by CR Scriver, AL Beaudet, D Valle, et al. New York, McGraw-Hill Book Company, 2001, pp 2261-2274
2. Robinson BH: Lactic acidemia: disorders of pyruvate carboxylase and pyruvate dehydrogenase. In The Metabolic and Molecular Bases of Inherited Disease. Eighth edition. Edited by CR Scriver, AL Beaudet, D Valle, et al. New York, McGraw- Hill Book Company, 2001, pp 2275-2296
3. Shoffner JM: Oxidative phosphorylation diseases. In The Metabolic and Molecular Bases of Inherited Disease. Eighth edition. Edited by CR Scriver, AL Beaudet, D Valle, WS Sly, et al. New York, McGraw- Hill Book Company, 2001, pp 2367-2424
Method Description Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference
Pyruvate, in the presence of excess NADH, H+, and lactic dehydrogenase, is reduced to lactate. The reaction is stoichiometric; the decrease in absorbance at 340 nm is directly proportional to the concentration of pyruvate.(Standard Methods of Clinical Chemistry, 1979;6:245-259; Huckabee WE: Relationships of pyruvate and lactate during anaerobic metabolism. I. Effects of infusion of pyruvate or glucose and of hyperventilation. J Clin Invest 1958;37:244-254)
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.
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
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.
Maximum Laboratory Time Defines the maximum time from specimen receipt at Mayo Medical Laboratories until the release of the test result
Specimen Retention Time Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded
Performing Laboratory Location The location of the laboratory that performs the test
Test Classification Provides information regarding the medical device classification for laboratory test kits and reagents. Tests may be classified as cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used per manufacturer's instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR), Investigation Use Only (IUO) product, or a Research Use Only (RUO) product.
CPT Code Information Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Medical Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.
84210
LOINC® Code Information Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the result codes returned for this test or profile.
| Result ID | Reporting Name | LOINC Code |
|---|---|---|
| 8657 | Pyruvic Acid, B | 14121-8 |
| 7729 | Pyruvic Acid, B | 2905-8 |
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