Test Catalog

Test Id : BHYD

Beta-Hydroxybutyrate, Serum

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Monitoring therapy for diabetic ketoacidosis

 

Investigating the differential diagnosis of any patient presenting to the emergency room with hypoglycemia, acidosis, suspected alcohol ingestion, or an unexplained increase in the anion gap

 

In pediatric patients, the presence or absence of ketonemia/uria is an essential component in the differential diagnosis of inborn errors of metabolism

 

Serum beta-hydroxybutyrate is a key parameter monitored during controlled 24-hour fasts

Method Name
A short description of the method used to perform the test

Photometric, B-Hydroxybutyrate Dehydrogenase (B-HBDH)

NY State Available
Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.

Yes

Reporting Name
Lists a shorter or abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test

Beta-Hydroxybutyrate, S

Aliases
Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching

B-hydroxybutyrate, Serum

Beta-Hydroxy Butyric Acid, Serum

Hydroxybutyrate, Beta

Ketone Bodies

Specimen Type
Describes the specimen type validated for testing

Serum

Specimen Required
Defines the optimal specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing

Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum gel

Acceptable: Red top

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Serum gel tubes should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection.

2. Red-top tubes should be centrifuged, and the serum aliquoted into a plastic vial within 2 hours of collection.

Specimen Minimum Volume
Defines the amount of sample necessary to provide a clinically relevant result as determined by the Testing Laboratory

0.25 mL

Reject Due To
Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected

Gross hemolysis Reject

Specimen Stability Information
Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the performing laboratory, alternate acceptable temperatures are also included

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Frozen (preferred) 7 days
Refrigerated 7 days

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Monitoring therapy for diabetic ketoacidosis

 

Investigating the differential diagnosis of any patient presenting to the emergency room with hypoglycemia, acidosis, suspected alcohol ingestion, or an unexplained increase in the anion gap

 

In pediatric patients, the presence or absence of ketonemia/uria is an essential component in the differential diagnosis of inborn errors of metabolism

 

Serum beta-hydroxybutyrate is a key parameter monitored during controlled 24-hour fasts

Clinical Information
Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test

Beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) is 1 of 3 sources of ketone bodies. Its relative proportion in the blood (78%) is greater than the other 2 ketone bodies, acetoacetate (20%) and acetone (2%). During carbohydrate deprivation (starvation, digestive disturbances, frequent vomiting), decreased carbohydrate utilization (diabetes mellitus), glycogen storage diseases, and alkalosis, acetoacetate production increases. The increase may exceed the metabolic capacity of the peripheral tissues. As acetoacetate accumulates in the blood, a small amount is converted to acetone by spontaneous decarboxylation. The remaining and greater portion of acetoacetate is converted to BHB.

Reference Values
Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.

<0.4 mmol/L

Interpretation
Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results

The beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB)/acetoacetate ratio is typically between 3:1 and 7:1 in severe ketotic states.

 

Serum BHB increases in response to fasting, but should not exceed 0.4 mmol/L following an overnight fast (up to 12 hours).

 

In pediatric patients, a hypo- or hyper-ketotic state (with or without hypoglycemia) may suggest specific groups of metabolic disorders.

Cautions
Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances

Twenty four-hour fasting tests should not be performed in patients <2 years of age.

 

Dipstick serum ketone determination using nitroprusside reagent is often used to estimate ketone body status, but that method has inherent problems. The dipstick does not measure beta-hydroxybutyrate, the most abundant of the physiological ketone bodies; the nitroprusside reagent only reacts with acetoacetate and acetone.

Clinical Reference
Recommendations for in-depth reading of a clinical nature

1. Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry. Edited by CA Burtis, ER Ashwood. Philadelphia, WB Saunders Co. 1999

2. Vassault A, Bonnefont JP, Specola N, et al: Lactate, pyruvate, and ketone bodies. In Techniques in Diagnostic Human Biochemical Genetics - A Laboratory Manual. Edited by F Hommes. New York, Wiley-Liss, 1991

3. Bonnefont JP, Specola NB, Vassault A, et al: The fasting test in paediatrics: application to the diagnosis of pathological hypo- and hyperketotic states. Eur J Pediatr 1990;150:80-85

Method Description
Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference

D-3-hydroxybutyrate in the presence of NAD is converted to acetoacetate and NADH at pH 8.5 by D-3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase. At this pH the reaction is favored to the right. The NADH is converted to a colored compound using INT and Diaphorase.(Package insert: Stanbio Beta-hydroxybutyrate LiquiColor Procedure No. 2440; DN: RBR.2440.00, 4/16/2002)

PDF Report
Indicates whether the report includes an additional document with charts, images or other enriched information

No

Day(s) Performed
Outlines the days the test is performed. This field reflects the day that the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means that assays are performed multiple times during the day.

Monday through Sunday

Report Available
The interval of time (receipt of sample at Mayo Clinic Laboratories to results available) taking into account standard setup days and weekends. The first day is the time that it typically takes for a result to be available. The last day is the time it might take, accounting for any necessary repeated testing.

Same day/1 to 2 days

Specimen Retention Time
Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded

1 week

Performing Laboratory Location
Indicates the location of the laboratory that performs the test

Rochester

Fees
Several factors determine the fee charged to perform a test. Contact your U.S. or International Regional Manager for information about establishing a fee schedule or to learn more about resources to optimize test selection.

  • Authorized users can sign in to Test Prices for detailed fee information.
  • Clients without access to Test Prices can contact Customer Service 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Prospective clients should contact their account representative. For assistance, contact Customer Service.

Test Classification
Provides information regarding the medical device classification for laboratory test kits and reagents. Tests may be classified as cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used per manufacturer instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR) product.

This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

CPT Code Information
Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Clinic Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.

CPT codes are provided by the performing laboratory.

82010

LOINC® Information
Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the order and results codes of this test. LOINC values are provided by the performing laboratory.

Test Id Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
BHYD Beta-Hydroxybutyrate, S 6873-4
Result Id Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
Applies only to results expressed in units of measure originally reported by the performing laboratory. These values do not apply to results that are converted to other units of measure.
BHYD Beta-Hydroxybutyrate, S 6873-4

Test Setup Resources

Setup Files
Test setup information contains test file definition details to support order and result interfacing between Mayo Clinic Laboratories and your Laboratory Information System.

Excel | PHP Pdf | CMS Pdf

Sample Reports
Normal and Abnormal sample reports are provided as references for report appearance.

Normal Reports | Abnormal Reports

SI Sample Reports
International System (SI) of Unit reports are provided for a limited number of tests. These reports are intended for international account use and are only available through MayoLINK accounts that have been defined to receive them.

SI Normal Reports | SI Abnormal Reports