Vitamin E, Serum (Referred Out) - Saskatoon

Overview

Description

Ordering recommendations

• ​Fasting specimen preferred; collect after a 12 hour fast
• Patient should be without vitamin supplements for 24 hours prior to testing

Specimen Information

Specimen types accepted

• Serum

Specimen collection container

• Preferred collection container: Gold (gel) 5 mL

• Alternative collection container: Red (clot activator) 4.0 mL

Collection procedure

• Specimen must be centrifuged, aliquotted into amber tube (light sensitive) and frozen within 60 minutes of collection.

Required volume

• Optimal volume: 5 mL full collection tube
• Minimum volume: 1 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)

Rejection criteria

• Receipt of specimen not protected from light
• Specimens received where the collection protocols were not followed
• ​Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Acceptance and Rejection Criteria

Testing Information

Clinical interpretation

•  Evaluate vitamin E deficiency in patients with motor and sensory neuropathies, and  individuals with intestinal malabsorption of lipids

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

• 7 day turnaround time by testing laboratory

Other information

Additional comments

• As a result of method re-standardization, results will be increased by approximately 40% (on average) versus those obtained prior to August 9, 2017. The reference interval has been revalidated. 

Last Updated: January 8, 2026