Delta Aminolevulinic Acid, Urine - Saskatoon

Overview

Description

Test ordering requirements

Preferred specimen collection

• 24 hour urine must be refrigerated during collection and immediately submitted to laboratory for aliquotting and freezing
• Submit 24 hour collection to laboratory able to aliquot and freeze specimen (a  Laboratory Health Service Centre or  a Hospital Test Centre)
   

Alias

• Aminolevulinic Acid
• ALA
• DALA
   

Specimen Information

Specimen types accepted

• 24 hour urine

Specimen collection container

• Preferred Collection Container: Aliquot into sterile pink top container;
• Alternative Collection Container: If submitting entire 24 hour collection, submit in 24 hour urine container, protected from light
   

Collection procedure

• See Patient instructions for 24 hour urine collection
• Refrigerate and protect from light during collection
• Wrap specimen container with foil to protect from light
• Freeze immediately after pouring aliquot

Required volume

• Optimal Volume: 50 mL aliquot of 24 hour collection

Testing Information

Relevant clinical history

• Specimens received where the collection protocols were not followed
• Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Acceptance and Rejection Criteria
   

Clinical interpretation

• Used in the differential diagnosis of porphyrias  

Performance

Days/times performed

Availability	Shipped  Mondays and Wednesdays
Testing site	Referred out by St. Paul’s Hospital Laboratory to Dynacare, London, ON

 

Maximum laboratory time

Results reporting

• 8 day turnaround time by testing laboratory

Last Updated: March 11, 2026