Free Fatty Acids FFA

Synonyms

Allscripts (AEHR) Order Name

Free Fatty Acids Measurement

Sunrise Clinical Manager (SCM) Order Name

Free Fatty Acids Measurement

Clinical Info

Knowledge of the level of nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) in blood plasma can be helpful in the diagnosis and management of certain diseases and disorders of metabolism and in the evaluation of prospective causes of hyperlipoproteinemia. A disorder of disease that causes excessive release of a lipoactive hormone (epinephrine, ACTH, GH, etc) can induce an elevation of blood level of fatty acids. A sustained release of fatty acids from adipose cells in excess of energy needs can contribute to the development of secondary hyperlipoproteinemia.

Specimen Type

Blood

Container

Red Top Tube

Collection Instructions

Container/Tube: Gold top tube or Red Top Tube
Specimen: 1 mL serum ( 0.3 mL min)
Transport Temperture: Frozen 
Collection: After clotting, separate serum and freeze immediately following centrifugation. Serum is the specimen of choice. Heparin must not be used nor should the patient be on heparin therapy. The NEFA level in serum will increase as it remains at room temperature. Transfer specimen to a plastic transport tube before freezing.
Stability: 4 Hours Room Temperature
               1 Day Refrigerated
               105 Days Frozen
Patient Preparation
Sample should be collected in the early morning after a 12-hour fast. Blood for the NEFA procedure should be collected after an overnight fast because the level of circulating nonesterified fatty acids is strongly influenced by food ingestion. If the patient has not properly fasted, the determined level of NEFA will be elevated and not directly comparable to a normal range derived from fasting normal controls.
 
 

Transport Instructions

Specimen Stability

4 Hours Room Temperature
1 Day Refrigerated
105 Days Frozen

Methodology

Spectrophotometry
 
TAT: 5 - 7 Days

Days Performed

Performing Laboratory

LabCorp

CPT

82725
 
LOINC Code:  15066-4

PDM

5302876

Result Interpretation

Age	Male (mEq/L)	Female (mEq/L)
0 to 30 d	0.0−0.8	0.0−0.8
1 to 6 m	0.0−0.9	0.0−1.1
7 m to 1 y	0.1−2.2	0.2−1.9
2 to 5 y	0.2−2.3	0.1−2.8
6 to 12 y	0.0−1.2	0.0−1.2
13 to 30 y	0.0−0.8	0.0−1.0
31 to 70 y	0.1−0.9	0.1−1.1
71 to 80 y	0.2−0.7	0.1−1.1
>80 y	0.1−0.9	0.1−0.9

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