SBMF Online Payment ▶

test directorySearch Results

Click here to search again.

Test Name:
Fatty Acid Profile, Essential (C12-C22), Serum


  • SBMF No:
    42283
  • Performance Lab Name:
    Mayo Medical Laboratories
  • Test Mnemonic:
    FAPEP
  • ABN:
    Required – Not FDA-Approved
  • CPT Code:
    82544
  • LOINC Code:
    19146-0
  • Ref Lab Test No:
    82426
  • Also Known As:
    C12-C22, Fatty Acid Profile, Essential
    Essential Fatty Acids
    Essential, Fatty Acid Profile
    Fatty Acids
    LCFA (Long-Chain Fatty Acids)
    Long-Chain Fatty Acids (LCFA)
    Omega 3
    Omega 6
    Omega 7
    Omega 9
    Omega fatty acids
    Polyunsatuated Fatty Acids
  • Spec Type:
    Serum
  • Spec Container:
    Gold top (SST) or red top (serum) tube
  • Pref Vol:
    0.5 mL
  • Min Vol:
    0.15 mL
  • Fasting:
    Yes
  • Patient Prep:
    Draw blood following an overnight (12-14 hours) fast
    Patient must not consume any alcohol for 24 hours before the specimen is drawn
    CAUTION: For nutritional assessment, a 12 to 14 hour fast is required; however, patients suspected of having a FAO disorder should not fast before testing owing to the possibility of acute metabolic decompensation. Instead, draw the specimen after the longest fast possible, just before feeding.
  • Spec Collect:
    Routine venipuncture
  • Spec Process:
    Clot 30 minutes
    Promptly centrifuge 15 minutes
    Immediately transfer serum to separate plastic tube and freeze
  • Spec Store Transport:
    Frozen
  • Spec Reject:
    Non-frozen or lipemic sample
  • Spec Remarks:
    Separate serum from cells within 45 minutes of collection
    Patient's age is required on request form for processing
    Include information regarding treatment, family history, and tentative diagnosis
  • Methodology:
    Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS)
    Stable Isotope Dilution Analysis
  • Use:

    Evaluating the nutritional intake and intestinal absorption of essential fatty acids

    Identifying deficiency of essential and other nutritionally beneficial fatty acids

    Monitoring treatment of patients with essential fatty acid deficiencies that are receiving linoleic acid (C18:2w6) and alpha-linolenic acid (C18:3w3)

  • Clinical Significance:

    Fats are important sources of energy for tissues and are important for the function and integrity of cellular membranes. Deficiencies are commonly caused by inadequate dietary intake of lipids due to an unbalanced diet or long-term parenteral nutrition, or by intestinal malabsorption, which is common in conditions such as cystic fibrosis and irritable bowel syndrome. Deficiencies can also be caused by an impairment of biomolecular transformations among fatty acids, such as linoleic acid to arachidonic acid. Linoleic and linolenic acids cannot be made by the body and are essential components of the diet (ie, essential fatty acids).

    The major clinical manifestations associated with essential fatty acid deficiency (EFAD) include dermatitis, increased water permeability of the skin, increased susceptibility to infection, lowered resistance to irradiation injury, impaired wound healing, hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, fatty infiltration of the liver, elevated hepatic enzymes, and impaired chylomicron synthesis. Treatment of EFAD depends on the source of the deficiency and may include supplementation of essential fatty acids, linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid.

    Biochemical abnormalities may be detected before the onset of recognizable clinical manifestations. EFAD can be detected by diminished levels of the essential fatty acids: linoleic acid (C18:2w6) and alpha-linolenic acid (C18:3w3). It can also be detected by increases in the ratio triene/tetraene ratio (Holman index): (eicosatrienoic [mead] acid [C20:3w9]/arachidonic acid [C20:4w6]).

    Excess dietary fatty acids have also been linked to the onset of cardiovascular disease. The dietary contents of saturated, monounsaturated, or polyunsaturated fatty acids influence the concentration of cholesterol in low-density and high-density lipoproteins, and consequently the development of atherosclerosis. Regular consumption of, or supplementation with, polyunsaturated fatty acids may have a beneficial effects on long-term cardiovascular prognosis due to their anti-inflammatory and possibly antiarrhythmic effects. Elevated levels of C18:2w6 can contribute to overproduction of the proinflammatory 2-series local hormones.

  • Reference Range:

    Lauric Acid, C12:0
    <1 year:  6-190 nmol/mL
    1-17 years:  5-80 nmol/mL
    > or =18 years: 6-90 nmol/mL

    Myristic Acid, C14:0
    <1 year:  30-320 nmol/mL
    1-17 years:  40-290 nmol/mL
    > or =18 years:  30-450 nmol/mL

    Hexadecenoic Acid, C16:1w9
    <1 year:  21-69 nmol/mL
    1-17 years:  24-82 nmol/mL
    > or =18 years:  25-105 nmol/mL

    Palmitoleic Acid, C16:1w7
    <1 year:  20-1,020 nmol/mL
    1-17 years:  100-670 nmol/mL
    > or =18 years:  110-1,130 nmol/mL

    Palmitic Acid, C16:0
    <1 year:  720-3,120 nmol/mL
    1-17 years:  960-3,460 nmol/mL
    > or =18 years:  1,480-3,730 nmol/mL

    Gamma-Linolenic Acid, C18:3w6
    <1 year:  6-110 nmol/mL
    1-17 years:  9-130 nmol/mL
    > or =18 years:  16-150 nmol/mL

    Alpha-Linolenic Acid, C18:3w3
    <1 year:  10-190 nmol/mL
    1-17 years:  20-120 nmol/mL
    > or =18 years:  50-130 nmol/mL

    Linoleic Acid, C18:2w6
    1-31 days:  350-2,660 nmol/mL
    32 days-11 months:  1,000-3,300 nmol/mL
    1-17 years:  1,600-3,500 nmol/mL
    > or =18 years:  2,270-3,850 nmol/mL

    Oleic Acid, C18:1w9
    <1 year:  250-3,500 nmol/mL
    1-17 years:  350-3,500 nmol/mL
    > or =18 years:  650-3,500 nmol/mL

    Vaccenic Acid, C18:1w7
    <1 year:  140-720 nmol/mL
    1-17 years:  320-900 nmol/mL
    > or =18 years:  280-740 nmol/mL

    Stearic Acid, C18:0
    <1 year:  270-1,140 nmol/mL
    1-17 years:  280-1,170 nmol/mL
    > or =18 years:  590-1,170 nmol/mL

    EPA, C20:5w3
    <1 year:  2-60 nmol/mL
    1-17 years:  8-90 nmol/mL
    > or =18 years:  14-100 nmol/mL

    Arachidonic Acid, C20:4w6
    <1 year:  110-1,110 nmol/mL
    1-17 years:  350-1,030 nmol/mL
    > or =18 years:  520-1,490 nmol/mL

    Mead Acid, C20:3w9
    1-31 days:  8-60 nmol/mL
    32 days-11 months:  3-24 nmol/mL
    1-17 years:  7-30 nmol/mL
    > or =18 years:  7-30 nmol/mL

    Homo-Gamma-Linolenic C20:3w6
    <1 year:  30-170 nmol/mL
    1-17 years:  60-220 nmol/mL
    > or =18 years:  50-250 nmol/mL

    Arachidic Acid, C20:0
    <1 year:  30-120 nmol/mL
    1-17 years:  30-90 nmol/mL
    > or =18 years:  50-90 nmol/mL

    DHA, C22:6w3
    <1 year:  10-220 nmol/mL
    1-17 years:  30-160 nmol/mL
    > or =18 years:  30-250 nmol/mL

    DPA, C22:5w6
    <1 year:  3-70 nmol/mL
    1-17 years:  10-50 nmol/mL
    > or =18 years:  10-70 nmol/mL

    DPA, C22:5w3
    <1 year:  6-110 nmol/mL
    1-17 years:  30-270 nmol/mL
    > or =18 years:  20-210 nmol/mL

    DTA, C22:4w6
    <1 year:  2-50 nmol/mL
    1-17 years:  10-40 nmol/mL
    > or =18 years:  10-80 nmol/mL

    Docosenoic Acid, C22:1
    <1 year:  2-20 nmol/mL
    1-17 years:  4-13 nmol/mL
    > or =18 years:  4-13 nmol/mL

    Nervonic Acid, C24:1w9
    <1 year:  30-150 nmol/mL
    1-17 years:  50-130 nmol/mL
    > or =18 years:  60-100 nmol/mL

    Triene/Tetraene Ratio
    1-31 days:  0.017-0.083
    32 days-17 years:  0.013-0.050
    > or =18 years:  0.010-0.038

    Total Saturated Acid
    <1 year:  1.2-4.6 mmol/L
    1-17 years:  1.4-4.9 mmol/L
    > or =18 years:  2.5-5.5 mmol/L

    Total Monounsaturated Acid
    <1 year:  0.3-4.6 mmol/L
    1-17 years:  0.5-4.4 mmol/L
    > or =18 years:  1.3-5.8 mmol/L

    Total Polyunsaturated Acid
    <1 year:  1.1-4.9 mmol/L
    1-17 years:  1.7-5.3 mmol/L
    > or =18 years:  3.2-5.8 mmol/L

    Total w3
    <1 year:  0.0-0.4 mmol/L
    1-17 years:  0.1-0.5 mmol/L
    > or =18 years:  0.2-0.5 mmol/L

    Total w6
    <1 year:  0.9-4.4 mmol/L
    1-17 years:  1.6-4.7 mmol/L
    > or =18 years:  3.0-5.4 mmol/L

    Total Fatty Acids
    <1 year:  3.3-14.0 mmol/L
    1-17 years:  4.4-14.3 mmol/L
    > or = 18 years:  7.3-16.8 mmol/L

    Interpretation
    Concentrations below the stated reference ranges are consistent with fatty acid deficiencies.

    An increased triene/tetraene ratio is consistent with essential fatty acid deficiency.

  • Additional Test Info:

    This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic. This test has not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

    Clinical Reference

    1. Stellaard F, ten Brink HJ, Kok RM, et al: Stable isotope dilution analysis of very long chain fatty acids in plasma, urine, and amniotic fluid by electron capture negative ion mass fragmentography. Clin Chim Acta 1990;192:133-144
    2. ten Brink HJ, Stellaard F, van den Heuvel CM, et al: Pristanic acid and phytanic acid in plasma from patients with peroxisomal disorder: stable isotope dilution analysis with electron capture negative ion mass fragmentography. J of Lipid Res 1992;33:41-47
    3. Jeppesen PB, Chistensen MS, Hoy CE, Mortensen PB: Essential fatty acid deficiency in patients with severe fat malabsorption. Am J Clin Nutr 1997;65:837-843
    4. Lagerstedt SA, Hinrichs DR, Batt SM, et al: Quantitative determination of plasma c8-c26 total fatty acids for the biochemical diagnosis of nutritional and metabolic disorders. Mol Gen Metab 2001;73(1):38-45

  • Day Run:
    Mon-Fri
  • Time Run:
    7:00 am
  • Time Reported:
    Within 8 days
  • Test Type:
    CHEMISTRY

Home > Test Directory > Search Results

Test Directory