| Test Description |
Bile Acids, Total, Serum
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| Synonym(s) |
Bile Acids, Total; Bile Salts, Total |
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| Test ID |
BILEA
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| General Information |
Useful for:
- An aid in the evaluation of liver function
- Evaluation of liver function changes before the formation of more advanced clinical signs of illness such as icterus
- Determination of hepatic dysfunction as a result of chemical and environmental injury
- Indicator of hepatic histological improvement in chronic hepatitis C patients responding to interferon treatment
- Indicator for intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
- For evaluation of bowel dysfunction, order BA48F / Bile Acids, Bowel Dysfunction, 48 Hour, Feces
- For evaluation of patients treated with urso or cholate, order BAFS / Bile Acids, Fractionated and Total, Serum
- For evaluation of inborn errors of metabolism, order BAIPD / Bile Acids for Peroxisomal Disorders, Serum
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| Specimen Type |
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| Specimen Requirements |
- Preferred: Serum Gel
- Acceptable: Red Top
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| Specimen Collection / Processing Instructions |
- 12-hour minimum fasting is required
- Serum gel tubes should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection
- Red-top tubes should be centrifuged and aliquoted within 2 hours of collection.
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| Minimum Sample Volume |
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| Stability |
- Refrigerated (preferred): 7 days
- Frozen: 30 days
- Ambient: 24 hours
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| Unacceptable Specimen Conditions |
- Gross hemolysis
- Gross icterus
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| Limitations |
- Serum total bile acids testing is generally not suitable for differentiation among the various types of liver diseases
- Total bile acids concentration is increased after meals; samples should be collected under fasting conditions.
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