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HelpTest ID: PMSBB Postmortem Screening, Bile and Blood Spot
Reporting Name
Postmortem ScreeningUseful For
Postmortem evaluation of individuals at any age who died suddenly or unexpectedly; testing is particularly recommended under the following circumstances (risk factors):
-Family history of sudden infant death syndrome or other sudden unexpected deaths at any age
-Family history of Reye syndrome
-Maternal complications of pregnancy (acute fatty liver pregnancy, HELLP syndrome [hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count])
-Lethargy, vomiting, fasting in the 48 hours prior to death
-Allegation of child abuse (excluding obvious cases of trauma, physical harm)
Macroscopic findings at autopsy:
-Fatty infiltration of the liver
-Dilated or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
-Autopsy evidence of infection that routinely would not represent a life-threatening event
Testing Algorithm
For more information see Postmortem Screening Algorithm for Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorders and Organic Acidurias.
Specimen Type
Whole bloodNecessary Information
Request the original newborn screening card from the state laboratory where the decedent was born. See Request for Original Newborn Screening Card. Provide patient name, date and time of birth and death, suspected cause of death, circumstances of death, relevant family history, and date and time of sample collection.
Biochemical Genetics Patient Information (T602) is recommended, but not required, to be filled out and sent with the specimen to aid in the interpretation of test results.
Specimen Required
Both bile and blood spots are required.
Supplies: Card-Postmortem Screening (Filter Paper) (T525)
Container/Tube:
Preferred: Card-Postmortem Screening Card (Filter Paper)
Acceptable: Whatman Protein Saver 903 paper or local newborn screening card
Specimen Volume: Properly completed screening card
Collection Instructions:
1. Collect blood in a heparin-containing tube and drop 25 mcL of blood onto the 2 circles labeled Blood.
2. Collect bile by direct puncture of the gallbladder and drop 25 mcL of bile onto the 2 circles labeled Bile.
3. Allow to dry at ambient temperature in a horizontal position for a minimum of 3 hours.
4. Fill out information on page 2 of collection card.
5. Do not expose specimen to heat or direct sunlight.
6. Do not stack wet specimens.
7. Keep specimen dry.
Specimen Minimum Volume
Bile spot: 1; Blood spot: 1
Specimen Stability Information
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole blood | Ambient (preferred) | FILTER PAPER | |
| Frozen | FILTER PAPER | ||
| Refrigerated | FILTER PAPER | ||
Reference Values
Quantitative results are compared to a constantly updated range which corresponds to the 5 to 95 percentile interval of all postmortem cases analyzed in our laboratory.
Day(s) Performed
Wednesday
Test Classification
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
83789
LOINC Code Information
| Test ID | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| PMSBB | Postmortem Screening | In Process |
| Result ID | Test Result Name | Result LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| 22675 | Specimen | 31208-2 |
| 22676 | Specimen ID | 57723-9 |
| 22677 | Source | 31208-2 |
| 22678 | Order Date | 82785-7 |
| 22679 | Reason For Referral | 42349-1 |
| 22680 | Method | 85069-3 |
| 22684 | Results | In Process |
| 81931 | Interpretation | 59462-2 |
| 22681 | Amendment | 48767-8 |
| 22682 | Reviewed By | 18771-6 |
| 22683 | Release Date | 82772-5 |
Genetics Test Information
Acylcarnitine analysis in blood and bile specimens to evaluate cases of sudden or unexpected death. Confirmatory enzymatic and molecular studies of cultured fibroblasts may be recommended.
Clinical Information
Postmortem screening involves acylcarnitine analysis in blood and bile specimens to evaluate cases of sudden or unexpected death. Acylcarnitine analysis can diagnose disorders of fatty acid oxidation and several organic acidurias, as relevant enzyme deficiencies cause the accumulation of specific acyl-CoAs measured by this assay.(1) Fatty acid oxidation (FAO) plays a major role in energy production during periods of fasting. When the body's supply of glucose is depleted, fatty acids are mobilized from adipose tissue, taken up by the liver and muscles, and oxidized to acetyl-CoA. In the liver, acetyl-CoA is the building block for the synthesis of ketone bodies, which enter the blood stream and provide an alternative substrate for production of energy in other tissues when the supply of glucose is insufficient to maintain a normal level of energy. The acyl groups are conjugated with carnitine to form acylcarnitines, which are measured by tandem mass spectrometry. Diagnostic results are usually characterized by a pattern of significantly elevated acylcarnitine species compared to normal and disease controls.
In general, more than 20 inborn errors of metabolism can be identified using this method, including FAO disorders and organic acidurias. The major clinical manifestations associated with individual FAO disorders include hypoketotic hypoglycemia, variable degrees of liver disease and failure, skeletal myopathy, dilated/hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and sudden or unexpected death. Organic acidurias also present as acute life-threatening events early in life with metabolic acidosis, increased anion gap, and neurologic distress. Patients with any of these disorders are at risk of developing fatal metabolic decompensations following the acquisition of even common infections. Once diagnosed, these disorders can be treated by avoidance of fasting, special diets, and cofactor and vitamin supplementation.
Analysis of acylcarnitines in blood and bile spots represents the first level of evaluation of a complete postmortem investigation of a sudden or unexpected death of an individual. Urine organic acids can also be analyzed from urine spotted on filter paper, see OAUS / Organic Acids Screen, Urine Spot. Additional confirmatory testing is recommended. The diagnosis of an underlying FAO disorder or organic aciduria allows genetic counseling of the family, including the possible option of future prenatal diagnosis, and testing of at-risk family members of any age.
Disorders Detectable by Acylcarnitine Analysis*
Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorders:
-Short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency
-Medium/Short-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency
-Medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency
-Long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency and trifunctional protein deficiency
-Very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency
-Carnitine palmitoyl transferase type II deficiency
-Carnitine-acylcarnitine translocase deficiency
-Electron-Transferring Flavoproteins (ETF) deficiency, ETF-dehydrogenase deficiency (multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency; glutaric acidemia type II)
Organic Acid Disorders:
-Glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (glutaric acidemia type I)
-Propionic acidemia
-Methylmalonic acidemia
-Isovaleric acidemia
-3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA carboxylase deficiency
-3-Methylcrotonyl carboxylase deficiency
-Biotinidase deficiency
-Multiple carboxylase deficiency
-Isobutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency
-2-Methylbutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency
-Beta-ketothiolase deficiency
-Malonic aciduria
-Ethylmalonic encephalopathy
*Additional confirmatory testing is required for most of these conditions because an acylcarnitine profile can be suggestive of more than one condition.
For more information see Postmortem Screening Algorithm for Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorders and Organic Acidurias.
Interpretation
Reports of abnormal acylcarnitine profiles will include an overview of the results and of their significance, a correlation to available clinical information, possible differential diagnoses, recommendations for additional biochemical testing and confirmatory studies (enzyme assay, molecular analysis) as indicated, name and phone number of contacts who may provide these studies, and a phone number to reach one of the laboratory directors in case the referring physician has additional questions.
Abnormal results are not always sufficient to conclusively establish a diagnosis of a particular disease. To verify a preliminary diagnosis based on an acylcarnitine analysis, independent biochemical (eg, FAO / Fatty Acid Oxidation Probe Assay, Fibroblast Culture) or molecular genetic analyses are required using additional tissue such as skin fibroblasts from the deceased patient. If not available, molecular genetic analysis of a patient's parents may enable the confirmation of a diagnosis.
Clinical Reference
1. Miller MJ, Cusmano-Ozog K, Oglesbee D, Young S. ACMG Laboratory Quality Assurance Committee. Laboratory analysis of acylcarnitines, 2020 update: a technical standard of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG). Genet Med. 2021;23(2):249-258
2. Rinaldo P, Matern D, Bennet BJ. Fatty acid oxidation disorders. Ann Rev Physiol. 2002;64:477-502
3. Rashed MS, Ozand PT, Bennett MJ, et al. Inborn errors of metabolism diagnosed in sudden death cases by acylcarnitine analysis of postmortem bile. Clin Chem. 1995;4(8 Pt 1):1109-1114
4. Pryce JW, Weber MA, Heales S, et al. Tandem mass spectrometry findings at autopsy for detection of metabolic disease in infant deaths: postmortem changes and confounding factors. J Clin Pathol. 2011;64(11):1005-1009. doi:10.1136/jclinpath-2011-200218
5. van Rijt WJ, Koolhaas GD, Bekhof J, et al. Inborn errors of metabolism that cause sudden infant death: A systematic review with implications for population neonatal screening programmes. Neonatology. 2016;109(4):297-302
Report Available
7 to 16 daysMethod Name
Flow Injection Analysis-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (FIA-MS/MS)
Forms
If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Biochemical Genetics Test Request (T798) with the specimen.
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