AMINOLEUVLINIC ACID (ALA), URINE

<p>Random urine/1.2 mL minimum refrigerated in a screw-capped plastic urine cup.</p> <p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>

 

Refrigerated: 4 days; Frozen: 1 month

By Report*

4-8 days Performed Mon, Wed, Fri

<p>Diagnose porphyrias: delta-ALA may be increased in attacks of acute intermittent porphyria, hereditary coproporphyria, and porphyria variegata; evaluation of certain neurological problems with abdominal pain; diagnosis of lead or mercury poisoning. Urinary delta-ALA is not a sensitive indicator of lead poisoning in children because it does not increase until blood lead concentration is 40 ug/dL, well above the recommended level of &lt;15 ug/dL. ALA is increased also in tyrosinemia. Porphobilinogen and delta aminolevulinic acid are the tests of choice for acute intermittent porphyria. Recently the molecular lesions have been identified in a severely affected homozygote with delta aminolevulinate dehydratase deficient porphyria.</p>

ALA