Specimen Requirements
Title
Bile Acids, Fractionated & Total
Specimen Requirement
Collect SST/1 mL serum. After 30 minutes of clotting, promptly centrifuge and send.
Alternate sample: Red top.
Patient Preparation: Overnight fasting is preferred.
Methodology
Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Stability
Room Temperature: Unacceptable; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: 30 days
Reference Range
By Report*
Turnaround
5-7 days, Performed Sunday-Friday
Clinical Use
Bile acids are formed in the liver, from cholesterol, stored and concentrated in the gallbladder, and excreted into the intestines in response to food. Elevated concentrations often suggest impaired hepatic clearance due to liver disease. Patients with intestinal malabsorption and metabolic disorders such as Gilbert’s disease do not exhibit elevated bile acids concentrations.
Test Code
BIALW