Test Id : PCGP

For skin biopsy or cultured fibroblast specimens, fibroblast culture testing will be performed at an additional charge. If viable cells are not obtained, the client will be notified.

The following algorithms are available in Special Instructions:

-Porphyria (Acute) Testing Algorithm

-Porphyria (Cutaneous) Testing Algorithm

Customization of this panel and/or single gene analysis for any gene present on this panel is available. For more information see CGPH / Custom Gene Panel, Hereditary, Next-Generation Sequencing, Varies.

Specimen preferred to arrive within 96 hours of collection.

Patient Preparation: A previous bone marrow transplant from an allogenic donor will interfere with testing. Call 800-533-1710 for instructions for testing patients who have received a bone marrow transplant.

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Specimen Type: Whole blood

Container/Tube:

Preferred: Lavender top (EDTA) or yellow top (ACD)

Acceptable: Any anticoagulant

Specimen Volume: 3 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Invert several times to mix blood.

2. Send whole blood specimen in original tube. Do not aliquot.

Specimen Stability Information: Ambient (preferred) 4 days/Refrigerated 14 days

Specimen Type: Skin biopsy

Supplies: Fibroblast Biopsy Transport Media (T115)

Container/Tube: Sterile container with any standard cell culture media (eg, minimal essential media, RPMI 1640). The solution should be supplemented with 1% penicillin and streptomycin.

Specimen Volume: 4-mm punch

Specimen Stability Information: Refrigerated (preferred)/Ambient

Additional Information: A separate culture charge will be assessed under CULFB / Fibroblast Culture for Biochemical or Molecular Testing. An additional 3 to 4 weeks is required to culture fibroblasts before genetic testing can occur.

Specimen Type: Cultured fibroblast

Container/Tube: T-25 flask

Specimen Volume: 2 Flasks

Collection Instructions: Submit confluent cultured fibroblast cells from a skin biopsy from another laboratory. Cultured cells from a prenatal specimen will not be accepted.

Specimen Stability Information: Ambient (preferred)/Refrigerated (<24 hours)

Additional Information: A separate culture charge will be assessed under CULFB / Fibroblast Culture for Biochemical or Molecular Testing. An additional 3 to 4 weeks is required to culture fibroblasts before genetic testing can occur.

Specimen Type: Blood spot

Supplies: Card-Blood Spot Collection Filter Paper (T493)

Container/Tube:

Preferred: Collection card (Whatman Protein Saver 903 Paper)

Acceptable: PerkinElmer 226 (formerly Ahlstrom 226) filter paper or blood spot collection card

Specimen Volume: 5 Blood spots

Collection Instructions:

1. An alternative blood collection option for a patient older than 1 year of age is finger stick. See Dried Blood Spot Collection Tutorial for how to collect blood spots.

2. Let blood dry on the filter paper at ambient temperature in a horizontal position for a minimum of 3 hours.

3. Do not expose specimen to heat or direct sunlight.

4. Do not stack wet specimens.

5. Keep specimen dry

Specimen Stability Information: Ambient (preferred)/Refrigerated

Additional Information:

1. Due to lower concentration of DNA yielded from blood spot, it is possible that additional specimen may be required to complete testing.

2. For collection instructions, see Blood Spot Collection Instructions

3. For collection instructions in Spanish, see Blood Spot Collection Card-Spanish Instructions (T777)

4. For collection instructions in Chinese, see Blood Spot Collection Card-Chinese Instructions (T800)

Specimen Type: Saliva

Patient Preparation: Patient should not eat, drink, smoke, or chew gum 30 minutes prior to collection.

Supplies: Saliva Swab Collection Kit (T786)

Specimen Volume: 1 Swab

Collection Instructions: Collect and send specimen per kit instructions.

Specimen Stability Information: Ambient 30 days

Additional Information: Due to lower concentration of DNA yielded from saliva, it is possible that additional specimen may be required to complete testing.

• Molecular Genetics: Biochemical Disorders Patient Information
• Informed Consent for Genetic Testing
• Porphyria (Acute) Testing Algorithm
• Porphyria (Cutaneous) Testing Algorithm
• Blood Spot Collection Card-Spanish Instructions
• Blood Spot Collection Card-Chinese Instructions
• Informed Consent for Genetic Testing (Spanish)
• Blood Spot Collection Instructions
• Targeted Genes and Methodology Details for Porphyria Comprehensive Gene Panel

1. New York Clients-Informed consent is required. Document on the request form or electronic order that a copy is on file. The following documents are available in Special Instructions:

-Informed Consent for Genetic Testing (T576)

-Informed Consent for Genetic Testing (Spanish) (T826)

2. Molecular Genetics: Biochemical Disorders Patient Information (T527) in Special Instructions

See Specimen Required

Follow up for abnormal biochemical results suggestive of porphyria

Establishing a molecular diagnosis for patients with porphyria

Identifying variants within genes known to be associated with porphyria, allowing for predictive testing of at-risk family members

This test utilizes next-generation sequencing to detect single nucleotide and copy number variants in 11 genes associated with porphyria: ALAD, ALAS2, CLPX, CPOX, FECH, GATA1, HFE, HMBS, PPOX, UROD, UROS. See Targeted Genes and Methodology Details for Porphyria Comprehensive Gene Panel in Special Instructions and Method Description for additional details.

Identification of a pathogenic variant may assist with diagnosis, prognosis, clinical management, familial screening, and genetic counseling for porphyria.

The biochemical testing approach for diagnosis of patients with a suspected porphyria is most effective when done in a thoughtful manner. For recommendations for first-tier biochemical testing, the following algorithms are available in Special Instructions:

-Porphyria (Acute) Testing Algorithm

-Porphyria (Cutaneous) Testing Algorithm

For skin biopsy or cultured fibroblast specimens, fibroblast culture testing will be performed at an additional charge. If viable cells are not obtained, the client will be notified.

The following algorithms are available in Special Instructions:

-Porphyria (Acute) Testing Algorithm

-Porphyria (Cutaneous) Testing Algorithm

The porphyrias are a group of inherited disorders resulting from enzyme defects in the heme biosynthetic pathway. Depending on the specific enzyme involved, various porphyrins and their precursors accumulate in different specimen types. The patterns of porphyrin accumulation in erythrocytes and plasma and excretion of the heme precursors in urine and feces allow for the detection and differentiation of the porphyrias.

The porphyrias are typically classified as erythropoietic or hepatic based upon the primary site of the enzyme defect. In addition, hepatic porphyrias can be further classified as acute hepatic or chronic cutaneous, based on their clinical presentation.

The primary acute hepatic porphyrias: acute intermittent porphyria (AIP), hereditary coproporphyria (HCP), and variegate porphyria (VP), are associated with neurovisceral symptoms that typically onset during puberty or later. Common symptoms include severe abdominal pain, peripheral neuropathy, and psychiatric symptoms. A broad range of medications (including barbiturates and sulfa drugs), alcohol, infection, starvation, heavy metals, and hormonal changes may precipitate crises. Photosensitivity is not associated with AIP but may be present in HCP and VP. Aminolevulinic acid dehydratase deficiency porphyria (ADP) is a rare, autosomal recessive porphyria that has a variable age at presentation.

Clinical manifestations of acute porphyria include attacks of neurologic dysfunction, commonly characterized as abdominal pain. However, these acute attacks are variable and can include vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, urinary retention, acute episodes of neuropathic symptoms, psychiatric symptoms, seizures, respiratory paralysis, tachycardia, and hypertension. Respiratory paralysis can progress to coma and death.

HCP and VP are also associated with cutaneous manifestations, including edema, sun-induced erythema, acute painful photodermatitis, and urticaria. In some cases, patients present with isolated photosensitivity.

Acute attacks may be prevented by avoiding both endogenous and exogenous triggers. These triggers include porphyrogenic drugs, hormonal contraceptives, fasting, alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis.

Acute hepatic porphyrias are caused by autosomal dominant variants in 1 of 3 genes: HMBS, associated with AIP; CPOX, associated with HCP; and PPOX, associated with VP. Variants in these genes show incomplete penetrance, and patients with a confirmed deleterious variant may be asymptomatic. ADP is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, due to two pathogenic variants in ALAD.

The recommended first-tier tests to screen for acute hepatic porphyria are quantitative urinary porphyrins analysis (PQNRU/ Porphyrins, Quantitative, Random, Urine) and fecal porphyrins analysis (FQPPS / Porphyrins, Feces)

Cutaneous photosensitivity is associated with the chronic porphyrias: porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) and the erythropoietic porphyrias; erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), X-linked protoporphyria (XLP), and congenital erythropoietic porphyria (CEP). Although genetic in nature, environmental factors may exacerbate symptoms, significantly impacting the severity and course of disease.

CEP is an erythropoietic porphyria caused by uroporphyrinogen III synthase deficiency. Symptoms typically present in early infancy with red-brown staining of diapers, severe cutaneous photosensitivity with fluid-filled bullae and vesicles. Other common symptoms may include thickening of the skin, hypo- and hyperpigmentation, hypertrichosis, cutaneous scarring, and deformities of the fingers, eyelids, lips, nose, and ears. A few milder adult-onset cases have been documented as well as cases that are secondary to myeloid malignancies (sometimes referred to as erythropoietic uroporphyria).

PCT is the most common form of porphyria and is most commonly sporadic (acquired), but approximately 25% of cases are inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. The most prominent clinical characteristics are cutaneous photosensitivity and scarring on sun-exposed surfaces. Patients experience chronic blistering lesions resulting from mild trauma to sun-exposed areas. These fluid-filled vesicles rupture easily, become crusted, and heal slowly. Secondary infections can cause areas of hypo- or hyperpigmentation or sclerodermatous changes and may result in the development of alopecia at sites of repeated skin damage. Liver disease is common in patients with PCT as evidenced by abnormal liver function tests and with 30% to 40% of patients developing cirrhosis. In addition, there is an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatoerythropoietic porphyria (HEP) is observed when an individual inherits PCT from both parents. Patients exhibit a similar clinical presentation to what is seen in CEP.

The clinical presentation of EPP and XLP is identical with onset of symptoms typically occurring in childhood. Cutaneous photosensitivity in sun-exposed areas of the skin generally worsens in the spring and summer months. Common symptoms may include itching, edema, erythema, stinging or burning sensations, and occasionally scarring of the skin in sun-exposed areas.

Chronic porphyrias are caused by autosomal dominant pathogenic variants in UROD that are associated with inherited PCT or autosomal recessive variants in UROD that are associated with HEP. They are also due to autosomal recessive pathogenic variants in UROS or X-linked variants in GATA1 that are associated with CEP, or autosomal recessive variants in FECH that are associated with EPP. In addition, autosomal dominant variants in CLPX, associated with EPP2, and X-linked variants in ALAS2, associated with XLP, are also causes of chronic porphyrias.

A comprehensive gene panel is a helpful tool to establish a targeted diagnosis for patients with suggestive clinical and biochemical features of porphyria.

The recommended first-tier biochemical testing for patients with a suspected porphyria is most effective when following a stepwise approach.

The following algorithms are available in Special Instructions:

-Porphyria (Acute) Testing Algorithm

-Porphyria (Cutaneous) Testing Algorithm

An interpretive report will be provided.

All detected alterations are evaluated according to American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) recommendations.(1) Variants are classified based on known, predicted, or possible pathogenicity and reported with interpretive comments detailing their potential or known significance.

Clinical Correlations:
Test results should be interpreted in the context of clinical findings, family history, and other laboratory data. Misinterpretation of results may occur if the information provided is inaccurate or incomplete.

If testing was performed because of a clinically significant family history, it is often useful to first test an affected family member. Detection of at least one reportable variant in an affected family member would allow for more informative testing of at-risk individuals.

To discuss the availability of further testing options or for assistance in the interpretation of these results, contact the Mayo Clinic Laboratory genetic counselors at 800-533-1710.

Technical Limitations:
Next-generation sequencing may not detect all types of genomic variants. In rare cases, false-negative or false-positive results may occur. The depth of coverage may be variable for some target regions; assay performance below the minimum acceptable criteria or for failed regions will be noted. Given these limitations, negative results do not rule out the diagnosis of a genetic disorder. If a specific clinical disorder is suspected, evaluation by alternative methods can be considered.

There may be regions of genes that cannot be effectively evaluated by sequencing or deletion and duplication analysis as a result of technical limitations of the assay, including regions of homology, high guanine-cytosine (GC) content, and repetitive sequences. Confirmation of select reportable variants will be performed by alternate methodologies based on internal laboratory criteria.

This test is validated to detect 95% of deletions up to 75 base pairs (bp) and insertions up to 47bp. Insertions/deletions (indels) of 40 or more bp, including mobile element insertions, may be less reliably detected than smaller indels.

Deletion/Duplication Analysis:

This analysis targets single and multi-exon deletions/duplications; however, in some instances single exon resolution cannot be achieved due to isolated reduction in sequence coverage or inherent genomic complexity. Balanced structural rearrangements (such as translocations and inversions) may not be detected.

This test is not designed to detect low levels of mosaicism or to differentiate between somatic and germline variants. If there is a possibility that any detected variant is somatic, additional testing may be necessary to clarify the significance of results.

Genes may be added or removed based on updated clinical relevance. Refer to the Targeted Genes and Methodology Details for Porphyria Comprehensive Gene Panel in Special Instructions for the most up to date list of genes included in this test. For detailed information regarding gene specific performance and technical limitations, see Method Description or contact a laboratory genetic counselor.

If the patient has had an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant or a recent heterologous blood transfusion, results may be inaccurate due to the presence of donor DNA. Call Mayo Clinic Laboratories for instructions for testing patients who have received a bone marrow transplant.

Reclassification of Variants:
At this time, it is not standard practice for the laboratory to systematically review previously classified variants on a regular basis. The laboratory encourages health care providers to contact the laboratory at any time to learn how the classification of a particular variant may have changed over time.

Variant Evaluation:
Evaluation and categorization of variants is performed using published American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and the Association for Molecular Pathology recommendations as a guideline.(1) Other gene-specific guidelines may also be considered. Variants are classified based on known, predicted, or possible pathogenicity and reported with interpretive comments detailing their potential or known significance. Variants classified as benign or likely benign are not reported. 

Multiple in silico evaluation tools may be used to assist in the interpretation of these results. The accuracy of predictions made by in silico evaluation tools is highly dependent upon the data available for a given gene, and periodic updates to these tools may cause predictions to change over time. Results from in silico evaluation tools should be interpreted with caution and professional clinical judgement.

1. Richards S, Aziz N, Bale S, et al: Standards and guidelines for the interpretation of sequence variants: a joint consensus recommendation of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and the Association for Molecular Pathology. Genet Med. 2015 May;17(5):405-424

2. Siegesmund M, van Tuyll van Serooskerken AM, Poblete-Gutierrez P, Frank J: The acute hepatic porphyrias: current status and future challenges. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2010 Oct;24(5):593-605

3. Tortorelli S, White A, Raymond K: Disorders of porphyrin metabolism. In: Dietzen DJ, Wong ECC, Bennett MJ, Haymond S, eds. Biochemical and Molecular Basis of Pediatric Disease. 5th ed. AACC Press; 2020:chap 15

• Molecular Genetics: Biochemical Disorders Patient Information
• Informed Consent for Genetic Testing
• Porphyria (Acute) Testing Algorithm
• Porphyria (Cutaneous) Testing Algorithm
• Blood Spot Collection Card-Spanish Instructions
• Blood Spot Collection Card-Chinese Instructions
• Informed Consent for Genetic Testing (Spanish)
• Blood Spot Collection Instructions
• Targeted Genes and Methodology Details for Porphyria Comprehensive Gene Panel

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) and/or Sanger sequencing is performed to test for the presence of variants in coding regions and intron/exon boundaries of the genes analyzed, as well as some other regions that have known pathogenic variants. The human genome reference GRCh37/hg19 build was used for sequence read alignment. At least 99% of the bases are covered at a read depth over 30X. Sensitivity is estimated at above 99% for single nucleotide variants, above 94% for insertions/deletions (indels) less than 40 base pairs (bp), above 95% for deletions up to 75 bp and insertions up to 47 bp. NGS and/or a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based quantitative method is performed to test for the presence of deletions and duplications in the genes analyzed. See Targeted Genes and Methodology Details for Porphyria Comprehensive Gene Panel for details regarding the targeted genes analyzed.

There may be regions of genes that cannot be effectively evaluated by sequencing or deletion and duplication analysis as a result of technical limitations of the assay, including regions of homology, high guanine-cytosine (GC) content, and repetitive sequences. See Targeted Genes and Methodology Details for Porphyria Comprehensive Gene Panel for details regarding the specific gene regions not routinely covered.(Unpublished Mayo method)

Genes analyzed: ALAD, ALAS2, CLPX, CPOX, FECH, GATA1, HFE, HMBS, PPOX, UROD, UROS

Varies

• Authorized users can sign in to Test Prices for detailed fee information.
• Clients without access to Test Prices can contact Customer Service 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Prospective clients should contact their account representative. For assistance, contact Customer Service.

This test was developed, and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. This test has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

81405

81406 x 2

81479

88233-Tissue culture, skin, solid tissue biopsy (if appropriate)

88240-Cryopreservation (if appropriate)

81479 (if appropriate for government payers)

Sample Reports

Normal and Abnormal sample reports are provided as references for report appearance.

Normal Reports | Abnormal Reports

SI Sample Reports

International System (SI) of Unit reports are provided for a limited number of tests. These reports are intended for international account use and are only available through MayoLINK accounts that have been defined to receive them.

SI Normal Reports | SI Abnormal Reports