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Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Plasma VITC

Specimen Required
Method(s)	Quantitative High Performance Liquid Chromatography
Collect	One 10 mL green (sodium or lithium heparin) top tube. PLACE IN ICE BATH IMMEDIATELY. Also acceptable: Plasma separator tube.
Transport	Special Handing PROTECT FROM LIGHT AND CRITICAL FROZEN. Centrifuge, transfer plasma and freeze within ONE hour of collection. Transfer 0.5 mL plasma to amber vial (Min: 0.3 mL). Separate specimens must be submitted when multiple tests are ordered.
Remarks	Thawing and refreezing of the specimen and exposure to light will result in decreased Vitamin C concentration.
Stability	After separation from cells: Ambient: Unacceptable Refrigerated: Unacceptable Frozen: 1 month
Unacceptable Conditions	EDTA plasma Whole blood Body fluids Hemolyzed specimens

Schedule	Daily
Billing Code	5010490
CPTCode	82180
Preferred Specimen Collection Device(s)
Dark Green Cap Tube with Sodium Heparin
Reference Interval
23-114 micromol/L Interpretive Data: Vitamin C concentrations lower than 11 micromol/L indicate deficiency. Concentrations between 11 and 23 micromol/L are consistent with a moderate risk for deficiency due to inadequate tissue stores.