Synonyms |
|
Porphobilinogen,
PBG,
|
Clinical
Indications |
|
|
Clinical
Presentation |
Specimens |
Comments |
|
Acute
neurological attacks (suspected AIP, VP, HCP) |
Urine
Faeces
Blood |
To
exclude a current attack or to monitor known porphyria,
urine alone is adequate. Urine screen is provided
in-house. |
|
Acute
photosensitivity (suspected EPP) |
Blood |
Urine
and faeces of no value. |
|
Skin
lesions (suspected PCT, VP, HCP or CEP) |
Urine
Faeces
Blood |
To
monitor patients with PCT send urine only. |
|
Request
Form |
|
Combined Pathology
Blood form (Yellow/Black)
|
Availability |
|
On request, if
specific criteria met.
|
Specific
Criteria |
|
Investigation
suspected porphyria. The incidence of porphyria is such that
an average District should contain about 20 patients with
overt porphyria. The rate of diagnosis is much less than this
and may be due to failure to suspect porphyria as a possible
diagnosis.
|
Turnaround
Time |
|
Same day
(Monday to Friday) for in-house urine screen. Otherwise 3
weeks.
|
Specimen |
|
Blood
(plasma and red cells), Early Morning Urine or Faeces (small
random sample approx. 10g). Protect from light
|
Volume |
|
2 ml
(blood); 10 ml (urine); 10 g (faeces)
|
Container |
|
Pink top
(EDTA) tube (heparin also acceptable)
|
Collection |
|
Samples should be
transported to the laboratory protected from light..
|
|
Lab. Handling |
|
Blood
samples: separate plasma from cells and send BOTH plasma and
cells. Send samples by first class post (avoid weekends).
|
Causes
for Rejection |
|
Unlabelled sample.
|
Interpretation |
|
Acute
neurological attacks: if urine screen normal and urine was
collected during a suspected attack then no further tests are
normally required.
|