Mobile Site ›
Print Page Email Page
Print Friendly View

Test ID: CARNS    
Carnitine, Serum

‹ Back to Pediatric index

Useful For Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Evaluation of patients with a clinical suspicion of a wide range of conditions including organic acidemias, fatty acid oxidation disorders, and primary carnitine deficiency

Genetics Test Information Provides information that may help with selection of the correct test or proper submission of the test request

 

Clinical Information Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test

Carnitine and its esters are required for normal energy metabolism and serve 4 primary functions:

-Importing long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria

-Exporting naturally-occurring short-chain acyl-CoA groups from the mitochondria

-Buffering the ratio of free CoA to esterified CoA

-Removing potentially toxic acyl-CoA groups from the cells and tissues

 

Evaluation of carnitine in serum, plasma, tissue, and urine screens patients for suspected primary disorders of the carnitine cycle, or secondary disturbances in carnitine levels as a result of organic acidemias and fatty acid oxidation disorders. In the latter disorders, acyl-CoA groups accumulate and are excreted into the urine and bile as carnitine derivatives, resulting in a secondary carnitine deficiency. More than 100 such primary and secondary disorders have been described. Individually, the incidence of these disorders varies from <1:10,000 to >1:1,000,000 live births. Collectively, their incidence is approximately 1:1,000 live births. Primary carnitine deficiency has an incidence of approximately 1 in 21,000 live births based on Minnesota newborn screening data.

 

Other conditions which could cause an abnormal carnitine level are neuromuscular diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, familial cardiomyopathy, renal tubulopathies and chronic renal failure (dialysis), and prolonged treatment with steroids, antibiotics (pivalic acid), anticonvulsants (valproic acid), and total parenteral nutrition.

 

Follow up testing is required to differentiate primary and secondary carnitine deficiencies and to elucidate the exact cause.

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.

 

Total Carnitine (TC)

Free Carnitine (FC)

Acylcarnitine (AC)

AC/FC Ratio

Age Group

Range*

Range*

Range*

Range

1 day

23-68

12-36

7-37

0.4-1.7

2-7 days

17-41

10-21

3-24

0.2-1.4

8-31 days

19-59

12-46

4-15

0.1-0.7

32 days-12 months

38-68

27-49

7-19

0.2-0.5

13 months-6 years

35-84

24-63

4-28

0.1-0.8

7-10 years

28-83

22-66

3-32

0.1-0.9

11-17 years

34-77

22-65

4-29

0.1-0.9

> or =18 years

34-78

25-54

5-30

0.1-0.8

*Values expressed as nmol/mL

Schmidt-Sommerfeld E, Werner E, Penn D: Carnitine plasma concentrations in 353 metabolically healthy children. Eur J Pediatr 1988;147:356-360

Used with permission of European Journal of Pediatrics, Springer-Verlag, New York, Inc., Secaucus, NJ

Interpretation Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results

When abnormal results are detected, a detailed interpretation is given, including an overview of the results and of their significance, a correlation to available clinical information, elements of differential diagnosis, recommendations for additional biochemical testing, and a phone number to reach one of the laboratory directors in case the referring physician has additional questions.

Cautions Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances

Increased values may be obtained after carnitine supplementation or meat consumption.

Clinical Reference Provides recommendations for further in-depth reading of a clinical nature

1. Scaglia F, Longo N: Primary and secondary alterations of neonatal carnitine metabolism. Semin Perinatol 1999;23:152-161

2. Longo N, Amat di San Filippo C, Pasquali M: Disorders of carnitine transport and the carnitine cycle. Am J Med Genet C Semin Med Genet 2006;142C(2):77-85

3. Zammit VA, Ramsay RR, Bonomini M, Arduini A: Carnitine, mitochondrial function and therapy. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2009;61(14):1353-62