Porphobilinogen levels in the urine should be measured during acute attacks of abdominal pain, extremity pain or paresthesias, tachycardia, nausea and vomiting, neurologic abnormalities, and to investigate characterized by urinary excretion of porphobilinogen and δ-aminolevulinic acid during acute attacks. Increased urinary excretion of porphobilinogen may be caused also by acute attacks of variegate porphyria or of hereditary coproporphyria, and also in lead poisoning (rarely). In lead poisoning, urinary δ-aminolevulinic acid measurement is more useful.
Specimen Type
Urine
Container
24hr Ur No Light
Collection Instructions
Container/Tube: 24-hr Urine container Specimen: 3 mL 24 urine (1 mL min) No preservative- Protect from light Transport Temperature: Frozen Stability: Refrigerated: 1 days Frozen: 30 days Collection: Instruct the patient to void at 8 AM (or 8 PM) and discard the specimen. Then collect all the urine, including the final specimen voided at the end of the 24-hour collection period (ie, 8 AM [or 8 PM] the following day), in the 24-hour collection container. Specimen must be kept refrigerated during collection.
