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Test Code APOLB Apolipoprotein B, Serum


Specimen Required


Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum gel

Acceptable: Red top

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into plastic vial. Send refrigerated.


Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send 1 of the following with the specimen:

-Cardiovascular Test Request Form (T724)

-General Test Request (T239)

Secondary ID

614544

Useful For

Assessment of cardiovascular risk

 

Follow-up studies in individuals with basic lipid measures inconsistent with risk factors or clinical presentation

 

Definitive studies of cardiac risk factors in individuals with significant family histories of coronary artery disease or other increased risk factors

 

Confirmation of suspected abetalipoproteinemia or hypobetalipoproteinemia

Method Name

Automated Turbidimetric Immunoassay

Reporting Name

Apolipoprotein B, S

Specimen Type

Serum

Specimen Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Refrigerated (preferred) 8 days
  Frozen  60 days
  Ambient  24 hours

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis Reject
Gross lipemia OK
Gross icterus Reject

Clinical Information

Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) is the primary protein component of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). LDL contains a variable amount of cholesterol, but each LDL contains exactly one ApoB protein. Therefore, ApoB is a more reliable indicator of circulating LDL compared to LDL cholesterol (LDL-C). ApoB has been demonstrated to perform equally with LDL particles measured by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.(1)

 

ApoB is strongly associated with increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) and often outperforms LDL-C at predicting risk of coronary heart disease.(2-4) Patients with acceptable non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) or LDL-C but elevated ApoB remain at higher risk of developing CVD; conversely, patients with acceptably low ApoB but moderate non-HDL-C or LDL-C elevations are at a reduced risk for CVD.(5,6)

 

Finally, in 7 different placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials, on-statin reduction of ApoB was more closely related to CVD risk reduction than non-HDL-C or LDL-C.(7)

Reference Values

Less than 2 years: Not established

 

2-17 years:

Acceptable: <90 mg/dL

Borderline high: 90-109 mg/dL

High: ≥110 mg/dL

 

Greater than 18 years:

Desirable: <90 mg/dL

Above Desirable: 90-99 mg/dL

Borderline high: 100-119 mg/dL

High: 120-139 mg/dL

Very high: ≥140 mg/dL

Interpretation

Elevated apolipoprotein B (ApoB) confers increased risk of coronary artery disease. ApoB can be used as a therapeutic target analogous to non-HDL-C and LDL-C.

 

Extremely low values of ApoB (<48 mg/dL) are related to malabsorption of food lipids and can lead to polyneuropathy.

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Sunday

Report Available

1 to 3 days

Specimen Retention Time

7 days

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Test Classification

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

82172

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
APOLB Apolipoprotein B, S 1884-6

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
APOLB Apolipoprotein B, S 1884-6