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Collection Requirements

**Not available

Tube Colour

**Not available

Requires own tube?

No

Department

Biochemistry

Reference Interval

N/A

Availability

Unavailable

Reference Laboratory

Royal Brisbane Hospital, Pathology Specimen Reception, Block 7, Level 3 Herston Road, Herston, QLD, 4029.

Notes

VCGS ceased offering Pyruvate on 31 Dec 2021. There is no alternative lab and this is now unavailable for request. Pyruvate, in association with lactate/pyruvate ratios, has been used to assist with the diagnosis of PDH deficiency, mitochondrial disorders and other conditions. However, it has relatively poor diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for these conditions; genetic testing now offers much greater clinical utility. Blood pyruvate collections also require a special tube containing acid that has an associated safety risk. Other pathology laboratories around Australia have already stopped offering pyruvate testing for these reasons.
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