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Test Code INSUL or LAB828 Insulin Level, Serum or Plasma

Important Note

Patient Preparation: For 12 hours before this test, do not take multivitamins or dietary supplements containing biotin (vitamin B7), which is commonly found in hair, skin, and nail supplements and multivitamins. Biotin can interfere with many immunoassay tests.

Specimen Requirements

Patient Preparation:

Patients should fast overnight (10-12 hours) unless special studies are to be performed. 
Container Type:

Optimal: Gold or Mint*

*For STAT requests

Acceptable: Red or Green
Optimal Collection Volume: 

4.5mL; full tube
Minimum Volume:

1 mL whole blood
Collection Instructions:

Gently invert the sample 5-6 times after collection.

Note: If there will be a delay in transport > 24 hours, spin the sample down, aliquot serum or plasma into a plastic vial, and freeze.
Specimen Transport:

Refrigerate
Processing Instructions: 

1. If serum, allow the specimen to clot for 30 minutes.

2. Centrifuge specimen within 2 hours of collection.

3. After centrifugation, specimen tubes without a gel barrier should have the serum or plasma aliquoted to a false bottom container.

4. Keep serum or plasma refrigerated until testing can be performed.

Specimen Stability

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Serum or Plasma Refrigerated 2 days
Room Temperature 4 hours
Frozen 6 months

Specimen Rejection Criteria

Hemolysis Mild OK; Moderate Reject; Gross Reject
Lipemia Mild OK; Moderate OK; Gross Reject
Icterus Mild OK; Moderate OK; Gross Reject
Other Quantity not sufficient

Useful For

The determination of insulin is utilized in the diagnosis and therapy of various disorders of carbohydrate metabolism, including diabetes mellitus and hypoglycemia.

Methodology

Roche Cobas - Electrochemiluminescence assay

Reference Ranges

< 22.7 uU/mL
 

Interpretive

INS - Clinical & Interpretive: Insulin, Serum (mayocliniclabs.com)

Day(s) Performed

24/7

Expected TAT

Same day

Performing Laboratory

Bronson Laboratory, Chemistry - Kalamazoo

Sample Retention Time

7 days

CPT Code

83525

LOINC Code

20448-7