Test Id : VITB2
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Plasma
Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful
Assessment of riboflavin (vitamin B2) status
Assisting in the diagnosis of suspected vitamin B2 deficiency
Monitoring of vitamin B2 therapy
Method Name
A short description of the method used to perform the test
Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
Portions of this test are covered by patents held by Quest Diagnostics
NY State Available
Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.
Reporting Name
Lists a shorter or abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test
Aliases
Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching
Riboflavin
Vitamin B2
Specimen Type
Describes the specimen type validated for testing
Plasma Heparin
Shipping Instructions
Specimen Required
Defines the optimal specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing
Patient Preparation:
Fasting: 12 hours, required; Infants should have specimen collected before next feeding
Supplies: Amber Frosted Tube, 5 mL (T915)
Collection Container/Tube:
Preferred: Green top (sodium or lithium heparin)
Acceptable: Light-green top (sodium or lithium heparin plasma gel)
Submission Container/Tube: Amber vial
Specimen Volume: 2 mL Plasma
Collection Instructions: Within 2 hours of collection, centrifuge and aliquot plasma into a amber vial.
Specimen Minimum Volume
Defines the amount of sample necessary to provide a clinically relevant result as determined by the testing laboratory. The minimum volume is sufficient for one attempt at testing.
Plasma: 0.5 mL
Reject Due To
Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected
| Gross hemolysis | OK |
| Gross lipemia | Reject |
| Gross icterus | OK |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plasma Heparin | Refrigerated (preferred) | 28 days | LIGHT PROTECTED |
| Ambient | 72 hours | LIGHT PROTECTED | |
| Frozen | 28 days | LIGHT PROTECTED |
Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful
Assessment of riboflavin (vitamin B2) status
Assisting in the diagnosis of suspected vitamin B2 deficiency
Monitoring of vitamin B2 therapy
Clinical Information
Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test
Riboflavin, which is commonly known as vitamin B2, is a water-soluble vitamin that is the precursor to the coenzymes flavin mononucleotide and flavin adenine dinucleotide. These coenzymes play a pivot role in a plethora of oxidation-reduction reactions, energy production, and metabolism of fats, drugs, and steroids.
Deficiency of riboflavin (ariboflavinosis) is characterized by sore throat, cheilosis (lesions on the lips), angular stomatitis (lesions on the angles of the mouth), glossitis (fissured and magenta-colored tongue), corneal vascularization, dyssebacia (red, scaly, greasy patches on the nose, eyelids, scrotum, and labia), and normocytic, normochromic anemia associated with pure red blood cell aplasia of the bone marrow. Riboflavin coenzymes play a key role in metabolism of vitamin B9 and vitamin B12, the activation of vitamin B6, and the conversion of tryptophan to vitamin B3. Therefore, deficiency of vitamin B2 can cause issues associated with other B vitamins as well. Early-stage symptoms of deficiency typically respond well to supplementation, but later stage anatomical changes cannot be reversed with therapy alone. Those at risk for vitamin B2 deficiency include those that are malnourished, vegan or vegetarian, individuals with hypothyroidism or adrenal insufficiency, pregnant and lactating women and their infants, and those on drugs with similar chemical structures such as tricyclic antidepressants.
In addition to dietary deficiency, there are rare inborn errors of metabolism, primarily involving loss of function of riboflavin transporters, which result in functional vitamin B2 deficiency. Many of these cases present with neurodegenerative features and/or hearing loss, which if left untreated can be fatal. In these cases, high-dose riboflavin supplementation is critical.
Riboflavin has a low level of toxicity and no case of riboflavin toxicity in humans has been reported. The limited absorptivity of riboflavin and its ready excretion in the urine normally precludes a health problem due to increased intake of riboflavin.
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.
1-19 mcg/L
Interpretation
Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results
Low concentrations of vitamin B2 in the plasma are indicative of nutritional deficiency. Concentrations below 1 mcg/L are indicative of deficiency.
Cautions
Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances
Testing of nonfasting specimens or the use of dietary riboflavin (vitamin B2) supplementation can result in elevated plasma vitamin B2 concentrations. Reference intervals were established using specimens from individuals who were fasting.
Clinical Reference
Recommendations for in-depth reading of a clinical nature
1. Sodi R, Taylor A. Vitamins and trace elements. In: Rifai N, Horvath AR, Wittwer CT, eds. Tietz Fundamentals of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics. 8th ed. Elsevier; 2020:466-487
2. Riboflavin- Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. US Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. Updated May 11, 2022. Accessed March 17, 2026. Available at https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Riboflavin-HealthProfessional/
3. Hustad S, McKinley MC, McNulty H, et al. Riboflavin, flavin mononucleotide, and flavin adenine dinucleotide in human plasma and erythrocytes at baseline and after low-dose riboflavin supplementation. Clin Chem. 2002;48(9):1571-1577
4. Balasubramaniam S, Christodoulou J, Rahman S. Disorders of riboflavin metabolism. J Inherit Metab Dis. 2019;42(4):608-619. doi:10.1002/jimd.12058
5. Suwannasom N, Kao I, Pruss A, Georgieva R, Baumler H. Riboflavin: the health benefits of a forgotten natural vitamin. Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(3):950. doi:10.3390/ijms21030950
6. O'Callaghan B, Bosch AM, Houlden H. An update on the genetics, clinical presentation, and pathomechanisms of human riboflavin transporter deficiency. J Inherit Metab Dis. 2019;42(4):598-607. doi:10.1002/jimd.12053
Method Description
Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference
Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is extracted from plasma specimens with internal standard and then analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.(Unpublished Mayo method)
PDF Report
Indicates whether the report includes an additional document with charts, images or other enriched information
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, Wednesday, Friday
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.
Specimen Retention Time
Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded
Performing Laboratory Location
Indicates the location of the laboratory that performs the test
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.
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- 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 was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.
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.
CPT codes are provided by the performing laboratory.
84252
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 |
|---|---|---|
| VITB2 | Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), P | 2924-9 |
| 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.
|
|---|---|---|
| 61637 | Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), P | 2924-9 |