Assessment of circulating vitamin K1 concentration.
Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
Phylloquinone
Phytonadione
Mephyton
Phytomenadione
Synthex
Konakion
Serum
Patient Preparation: Patient should fast overnight (12-14 hours); infants should have specimen collected before next feeding.
Supplies: Amber Frosted Tube, 5 mL (T915)
Collection Container/Tube:
Preferred: Red top
Acceptable: Serum gel
Submission Container/Tube: Amber vial
Specimen Volume: 2 mL
Collection Instructions:
1. Within 2 hours of collection, centrifuge the specimen.
2. For red top tubes, immediately aliquot serum into an amber vial (preferred). Serum may sit on whole blood cells up to a maximum of two hours before aliquoting.
3. For serum gel tubes, immediately aliquot serum into an amber vial (preferred). Serum may sit on gel at ambient temperature for a maximum of 24 hours or refrigerated for a maximum of 7 days before aliquoting.
If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a General Request (T239) with the specimen.
0.75 mL
Gross hemolysis | OK |
Lipemia | Reject |
Gross icterus | OK |
Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
---|---|---|---|
Serum | Ambient | 30 days | |
Refrigerated (preferred) | 30 days | ||
Frozen | 30 days |
Assessment of circulating vitamin K1 concentration.
Vitamin K1, or phylloquinone, is part of a group of similar fat-soluble vitamins in which the 2-methyl-1,4- naphthoquinone ring is common. Phylloquinone is found in high amounts in leafy green vegetables and some fruits (avocado, kiwi). It is a required cofactor involved in the gamma-carboxylation of glutamate residues of several proteins. Most notably, the inactive forms of the coagulation factors prothrombin (factor II), factors VII, IX, and X, as well as protein S and protein C are converted to their active forms by the transformation of glutamate residues to gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla). Other proteins such as those involved in bone metabolism, cell growth and apoptosis also undergo this Gla transformation. Thus, vitamin K plays a critical role in hemostasis (blood clotting) and acute deficiency is characterized by defective blood coagulation. In neonates, low vitamin K levels in breast milk, inadequate placental transport, and hepatic immaturity leading to insufficient synthesis of coagulation proteins can result in the bleeding disorder hemorrhagic disease of the newborn. To minimize this risk, Vitamin K is commonly administered prophylactically immediately after birth. Other at-risk groups for vitamin K deficiency include those with insufficient dietary intake, malabsorption disorders, cystic fibrosis, cholestasis, and alcoholism, as well as liver and pancreatic disease. Several drugs such as coumarin anticoagulants (ie, warfarin) and antibiotics (ie, cephalosporin) have also been shown to interfere with vitamin K metabolism. High doses of vitamin K have not been shown to produce toxicity. Direct measurement of vitamin K1 by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry has been established as a highly effective strategy to assess status and intake.
<18 years: Not established
> or =18 years: 0.10-2.20 ng/mL
Low vitamin K1 concentrations in the serum are indicative of insufficiency and poor vitamin K1 status.
Testing of nonfasting specimens or the use of vitamin K1 supplementation can result in elevated serum vitamin K1 concentrations.
1. Vitamin K-Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. US Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. Office of Dietary Supplements. Updated March 29, 2021. Accessed April 9, 2025. Available at: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminK-HealthProfessional/
2. Zhang Y, Bala V, Mao Z, Chhonker YS, Murry DJ. A concise review of quantification methods for determination of vitamin K in various biological matrices. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2019;169:133-141. doi:10.1016/j.jpba.2019.03.006
3. Sodi R, Taylor A. Vitamins and trace elements In: Rifai N, Horvath AR, Wittwer CT, eds. Tietz Fundamentals of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics. 8th ed. Elsevier; 2020:466-487
4. Booth SL. Vitamin K: food composition and dietary intakes. Food Nutr Res. 2012;56 :10.3402/fnr.v56i0.5505. doi:10.3402/fnr.v56i0.5505
5. Shearer MJ, Newman P. Metabolism and cell biology of vitamin K. Thromb Haemost. 2008;100(4):530-547
6. Mladenka P, Macakova K, Kujovska Krcmova L, et al. Vitamin K - sources, physiological role, kinetics, deficiency, detection, therapeutic use, and toxicity. Nutr Rev. 2022;80(4):677-698. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuab061
7. Card DJ, Gorska R, Harrington DJ. Laboratory assessment of vitamin K status. J Clin Pathol. 2020;73(2):70-75. doi:10.1136/jclinpath-2019-205997
Deuterated stable isotope (vitamin K1-d7) is added to a serum sample as an internal standard. Protein is precipitated from the mixture by the addition of ethanol. Vitamin K1 and internal standard are extracted from the resulting supernatant by solid-phase extraction. Vitamin K1 and internal standard are then separated utilizing high-throughput liquid chromatography with analysis on a tandem mass spectrometer equipped with a heated nebulizer ion source using multiple-reaction monitoring.(Unpublished Mayo method)
Monday through Friday
This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.
84597
Test Id | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
---|---|---|
VITK1 | Vitamin K1, S | 9622-2 |
Result Id | Test Result Name |
Result LOINC Value
Applies only to results expressed in units of measure originally reported by the performing laboratory. These values do not apply to results that are converted to other units of measure.
|
---|---|---|
62167 | Vitamin K1, S | 9622-2 |
Change Type | Effective Date |
---|---|
Test Status - Test Resumed | 2025-04-10 |
Test Status - Test Delay | 2025-03-31 |