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Plasma amino acids

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Amino acids

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Plasma amino acids

Definition:

Plasma amino acids is a screening test performed on infants that detects problems with amino acid metabolism.

Alternative Names:
Amino acids - plasma

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How the test is performed:

The area (usually the heel) is cleansed with antiseptic and the skin is punctured with a sharp needle or a lancet. The blood may be collected in a pipette (small glass tube), on a slide, onto a test strip, or into a small container. Cotton or a bandage may be applied to the puncture site if there is any continued bleeding.

Chromatography is then used to analyze the amino acids in your child's blood.

How to prepare for the test:

Infant should not be fed for 4 hours before the test, or the test results may be altered and invalidated.

How the test will feel:

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain, while others feel only a prick or stinging sensation.

The needle insertion will probably make your infant cry briefly.

Why the test is performed:

Amino acids are the building blocks for proteins in the body. Accumulation of amino acids can occur due to abnormalities in the normal mechanisms for their metabolism or elimination. The increased levels show up in plasma (the liquid portion of blood) and urine.

If the test to identify and measure their quantities is performed early enough on an infant with an inherited defect in amino acid metabolism, treatment can often be administered to prevent the severe mental retardation that may otherwise result.

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