Homocysteine, Total

Tube Type

Test ID   LAB93
EPIC Order
   HOMOCYSTEINE
CPT Code(s)   83090
Group/Individual Test   Individual
Laboratory   Core Laboratory
Tube Station   Routine: 30
Specimen Routine: 2 mL of blood/lavender EDTA tube, COLLECT ON ICE; See below for alternate specimen types and comments
 Stability  
Once separated from the cells, plasma is stable:
Room temperature: 8 hours
Refrigerator: 48 hours
Frozen: 13 weeks
  Micro: 300 µL blood/lavender EDTA microtainer, Collect on ICE
Availability Routine: 24 hrs/day
Turnaround Time Routine: 2 hrs
Reference Range Normal: 3.7 - 13.9 µmol/L
Alternate Specimen Types              
2 mL green lithium heparin gel tube, Collect on Ice
or
2 mL gold SST tube, Collect on Ice
Comment
  • Deliver to Laboratory Immediately.
  • If Outpatient, maintain on ice during transport to laboratory. If possible, centrifuge in refrigerated centrifuge, separate and transport plasma ON ICE.
  • SAMPLE is NOT STABLE at ROOM TEMPERATURE if left on the cells.
  • Sample should be centrifuged within one hour or on ice.  If sample is stored on ice, centrifugation and separation from the cells must occur within 8 hours.

Reviewed by J. Carr on November 25, 2025

UNC Hospitals
McLendon Clinical Laboratories
101 Manning Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27514