Test Catalog

Test Id : BAFS

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Bile Acids, Fractionated and Total, Serum

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Overview

Test Catalog

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Measuring tauro- and glycol-conjugated and unconjugated bile acid constituents in serum

 

Monitoring patients receiving bile acid therapy, such as cholic acid, deoxycholic acid, or ursodeoxycholic acid

 

Aiding in the evaluation of liver function; evaluation of liver function changes before the formation of more advanced clinical signs of illness such as icterus

 

Determining hepatic dysfunction as a result of chemical and environmental injury

 

Indicating hepatic histological improvement in chronic hepatitis C patients responding to interferon treatment

 

Indicating intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

 

This assay is not useful for the diagnosis of peroxisomal biogenesis disorders or inborn errors of bile acid metabolism.

Highlights

Bile acids are elevated in individuals with liver dysfunction.

 

This bile acid test can be used in the diagnosis of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

 

Fractionated bile acids, including tauro- and glycol-conjugates of cholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid, deoxycholic acid, and ursodeoxycholic acid are individually summed and reported.

Testing Algorithm
Delineates situations when tests are added to the initial order. This includes reflex and additional tests.

Special Instructions
Library of PDFs including pertinent information and forms related to the test

Method Name
A short description of the method used to perform the test

Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

NY State Available
Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.

Yes

Reporting Name
Lists a shorter or abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test

Bile Acids, Fractionated and Tot, S

Aliases
Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching

Bile Acid

Testing Algorithm
Delineates situations when tests are added to the initial order. This includes reflex and additional tests.

Specimen Type
Describes the specimen type validated for testing

Serum

Ordering Guidance

This test is useful in diagnosing intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy and does not support the assessment of either peroxisomal biogenesis disorders or inborn errors of bile acid metabolism.

 

For diagnostic testing for peroxisomal biogenesis disorders, order BAIPD / Bile Acids for Peroxisomal Disorders, Serum.

Specimen Required
Defines the optimal specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing

Patient Preparation: Patient must be fasting for 12 to 14 hours.

Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Red top

Acceptable: Serum gel

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL

Special Instructions
Library of PDFs including pertinent information and forms related to the test

Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Gastroenterology and Hepatology Client Test Request (T728) with the specimen.

Specimen Minimum Volume
Defines the amount of sample necessary to provide a clinically relevant result as determined by the Testing Laboratory

0.3 mL

Reject Due To
Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected

Gross hemolysis OK
Gross lipemia OK

Specimen Stability Information
Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the performing laboratory, alternate acceptable temperatures are also included

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Refrigerated (preferred) 90 days
Ambient 90 days
Frozen 90 days

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Measuring tauro- and glycol-conjugated and unconjugated bile acid constituents in serum

 

Monitoring patients receiving bile acid therapy, such as cholic acid, deoxycholic acid, or ursodeoxycholic acid

 

Aiding in the evaluation of liver function; evaluation of liver function changes before the formation of more advanced clinical signs of illness such as icterus

 

Determining hepatic dysfunction as a result of chemical and environmental injury

 

Indicating hepatic histological improvement in chronic hepatitis C patients responding to interferon treatment

 

Indicating intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

 

This assay is not useful for the diagnosis of peroxisomal biogenesis disorders or inborn errors of bile acid metabolism.

Testing Algorithm
Delineates situations when tests are added to the initial order. This includes reflex and additional tests.

Clinical Information
Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test

Bile acids are formed in the liver from cholesterol, conjugated primarily to glycine and taurine, stored and concentrated in the gallbladder, and secreted into the intestine after the ingestion of a meal. In the intestinal lumen, the bile acids serve to emulsify ingested fats and thereby promote digestion. During the absorptive phase of digestion, approximately 90% of the bile acids are reabsorbed.

 

The efficiency of the hepatic clearance of bile acids from portal blood maintains serum concentrations at low levels in normal persons. An elevated fasting level, due to impaired hepatic clearance, is a sensitive indicator of liver disease. Following meals, serum bile acid levels have been shown to increase only slightly in normal persons, but markedly in patients with various liver diseases, including cirrhosis, hepatitis, cholestasis, portal-vein thrombosis, Budd-Chiari syndrome, cholangitis, Wilson disease, and hemochromatosis. No increase in bile acids will be noted in patients with intestinal malabsorption. Metabolic hepatic disorders involving organic anions (eg, Gilbert disease, Crigler-Najjar syndrome, and Dubin-Johnson syndrome) do not cause abnormal serum bile acid concentrations.

Reference Values
Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.

Total cholic acid: < or =5.00 nmol/mL

Total chenodeoxycholic acid: < or =6.00 nmol/mL

Total deoxycholic acid: < or =6.00 nmol/mL

Total ursodeoxycholic acid: < or =2.00 nmol/mL

Total bile acids: < or =19.00 nmol/mL

Interpretation
Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results

Total bile acids are metabolized in the liver and can serve as a marker for normal liver function. Increases in serum bile acids are seen in patients with acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, liver sclerosis, liver cancer, and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

Cautions
Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances

This test does not measure sulfated bile acids.

Clinical Reference
Recommendations for in-depth reading of a clinical nature

1. Marschall HU: Management of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2015;9(10):1273-1279

2. Ducroq DH, Morton MS, Shadi N, et al: Analysis of serum bile acids by isotope dilution-mass spectrometry to assess the performance of routine total bile acid methods. Ann Clin Biochem. 2010 Nov;47(Pt 6):535-540

3. Piechota J, Jelski W: Intrahepatic cholestasis in pregnancy: Review of the literature. J Clin Med. 2020 May 6;9(5):1361. doi: 10.3390/jcm9051361.

Special Instructions
Library of PDFs including pertinent information and forms related to the test

Method Description
Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference

Bile acid concentrations in serum are measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry stable isotope dilution analysis. Serum is mixed with isotopically labeled internal standards of selected bile acids and then subjected to protein precipitation. Sample preparation is semi-automated using a liquid handler. Reverse-phase liquid chromatography is performed using mobile phases to separate free bile acids, their respective tauro- and glyco-conjugates, and 2 bile acid precursors.(Unpublished Mayo method)

PDF Report
Indicates whether the report includes an additional document with charts, images or other enriched information

No

Day(s) Performed
Outlines the days the test is performed. This field reflects the day that the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means that assays are performed multiple times during the day.

Monday through Friday

Report Available
The interval of time (receipt of sample at Mayo Clinic Laboratories to results available) taking into account standard setup days and weekends. The first day is the time that it typically takes for a result to be available. The last day is the time it might take, accounting for any necessary repeated testing.

2 to 5 days

Specimen Retention Time
Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded

1 month

Performing Laboratory Location
Indicates the location of the laboratory that performs the test

Rochester

Fees
Several factors determine the fee charged to perform a test. Contact your U.S. or International Regional Manager for information about establishing a fee schedule or to learn more about resources to optimize test selection.

  • 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.

Test Classification
Provides information regarding the medical device classification for laboratory test kits and reagents. Tests may be classified as cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used per manufacturer instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR) product.

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.

CPT Code Information
Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Clinic Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.

CPT codes are provided by the performing laboratory.

82542

LOINC® Information
Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the order and results codes of this test. LOINC values are provided by the performing laboratory.

Test Id Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
BAFS Bile Acids, Fractionated and Tot, S 43130-4
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.
35796 Total Cholic acid 30518-5
35797 Total Chenodeoxycholic acid 30519-3
35798 Total Deoxycholic acid 30520-1
35799 Total Ursodeoxycholic acid 55159-8
35800 Total bile acids 14628-2

Test Setup Resources

Setup Files
Test setup information contains test file definition details to support order and result interfacing between Mayo Clinic Laboratories and your Laboratory Information System.

Excel | Pdf

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