Pyruvic Acid

Pyruvate Level

8 days

Pyruvate - lactate, spectrophotometry

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Measures blood or urine pyruvic acid. Evaluates metabolic acidosis and mitochondrial disease.

Perchloric acid supernatant from oxalated Whole Blood

0.5 mL clear supernatant

Container: Gray-top (potassium oxalate/sodium fluoride) tube AND one LabCorp 8% perchloric acid tube

Patient should be in a fasting and resting state (should not exercise)

Draw blood into chilled gray-top tube. Immediately after blood is drawn, add 2 mLof whole blood from the gray-top tube to 2 mL of 8% perchloric acid (7 mL of 70% perchloric acid diluted to 100 mL with deionized water). NOTE: Use 1:1 blood (ie, equal parts) to 8% perchloric ratio if less blood is obtained. Shake mixture vigorously for about 30 seconds. Refrigerate for five minutes to ensure complete protein precipitation. Centrifuge 5 to 10 minutes at approximately 1500xg. Immediately transfer the CLEAR SUPERNATANT to a transport tube. Label the transport tube as "SUPERNATANT" and send to the laboratory. NOTE: A second centrifugation of the supernatant may be necessary to obtain a clear protein-free solution.