Vitamin C, Serum (Referred Out) - Saskatoon

Overview

Description

Test ordering requirements

Preferred Specimen Collection

• Refer patient to Patient Service Centre or Hospital Test Centre able to process specimens within required time frame

Alias

• Ascorbic acid

Specimen Information

Specimen types accepted

• Serum

Specimen collection container

• Preferred Collection Container: Gold (gel) 5.0 mL
• Alternative Collection Container: Red (no additive) 6.0 mL

Collection procedure

• Specimen must be centrifuged, aliquotted into amber tube and frozen within 45 minutes of collection

Required volume

• Optimal Volume: 4.5 mL Full collection tube
• Minimum Volume: 2 mL serum

(Submitting the minimum volume makes it impossible to repeat the test or perform confirmatory/reflex testing. In some situations, a minimum volume may require a second collection)

Transport and stability

• Serum aliquot must be frozen or on ice pack within 45 minutes of collection

Rejection criteria

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

Testing Information

Clinical interpretation

• Result interpretation should be correlated with clinical and other laboratory findings.

Performance

Days/times performed

Availability	Shipped overnight Mondays and Wednesdays 9 day turnaround time once received at testing laboratory
Testing site	Referred out by St. Paul’s Hospital Laboratory to Dynacare, London, ON

 

Maximum laboratory time

Results reporting

• 9 day turnaround time by testing laboratory
• Shipped overnight Mondays and Wednesdays
   

Other information

Additional comments

• Used in evaluating vitamin C deficiency 

Last Updated: March 18, 2026