Turnaround times
The quoted turnaround time is from sample receipt in the laboratory, to results authorisation in the Laboratory Information Management system. The times do not include transport of specimen to the laboratory or the administrative process to print and post/email reports. Service users must allow for transport and reporting time when ordering tests.
Clinical background:
For investigation of suspected metabolic disorders of creatine biosynthesis or transport. These disorders cause intellectual disability, speech impairment and epilepsy due to cerebral creatine deficiency.
Specimen container paediatric:
Urine
Specimen container adult:
Urine
Minimum volume paediatric:
1 mL
Minimum volume adult:
1 mL
Special requirements:
Freeze as soon as possible, within 2 hours if possible.
Transport requirements:NuTH Trust users: send sample to the laboratory to arrive within 2 hours. External users: freeze the urine sample within 2 hours of collection and keep frozen during transport.
NuTH Trust users: send sample to the laboratory to arrive within 2 hours. External users: freeze the urine sample within 2 hours of collection and keep frozen during transport.
Reference ranges:Creatine
Creatine
< 5 years 6 – 1303 µmol/mmol creatinine
5 – 12 years 9 – 617 µmol/mmol creatinine
> 12 years 5 – 58 µmol/mmol creatinine Guanidinoacetate
< 4 years 19 – 210 µmol/mmol creatinine
4 – 12 years 10 – 125 µmol/mmol creatinine
> 12 years 10 – 69 µmol/mmol creatinineFactors affecting result:
Creatine is produced by metabolism of creatinine in urine at ambient temperature which may result in falsely elevated results if samples are not frozen promptly.