Thiamine
Also known as : [Red Cell Thiamine],[transketolase],[Vitamin B1]

Whole Blood
Test performed by: LabPLUS Support Services transport this to a 3rd party for testing

Thiamine concentrations are not offered as a routine test.

Prior approval of a Chemical Pathologist is required.

Samples from outside Auckland City Hospital: sample preparation must be done by the referring laboratory. Labplus will not undertake preparation of these samples.

Thiamine can be measured at Christchurch Hospital laboratory if required in exceptional cases, but only after consultation with a Chemical Pathologist. Special sample preparation and transport is required. The turnaround time may be several weeks.

In New Zealand, thiamine deficiency is seen almost exclusively in patients with malabsorption due to gastrointestinal disease, eating disorders and in alcoholics. In this setting thiamine deficiency occurs in combination with multiple other vitamin deficiencies (e.g. pyridoxine, pantothenic acid, biotin, riboflavin etc.). It is rarely helpful to test blood levels of specific vitamins, as the turnaround time is slow (several weeks) and the results are poorly correlated with the clinical response to multivitamin therapy.

Assessment of the clinical response to thiamine therapy is usually a more appropriate way of making the diagnosis of thiamine deficiency.

Transketolase activity was previously used as an index of thiamine status; this test is no longer available.

Specimen Reception

Canterbury Health Laboratories

Christchurch Hospital

Corner of Hagley and Tuams Street

Christchurch

Specimen Collection
This test may be vetted by a pathologist.

The clinical information for the test must be clearly written on the request form. If clinical information is not provided, or does not provide sufficient justification for the test, the test may be declined.

Declined tests :

If a test is declined, the specimen will be held for a reasonable period (usually 3 weeks but dependant on the stability of the sample). Medical practitioners seeking approval for a declined test should email the on-call Chemical Pathologist ( chemicalpathologist@adhb.govt.nz ) , giving the patient's name and NHI number and the clinical justification for the test. If unable to email, call the on-call Chemical Pathologist via Lablink (09-3078995) and identify yourself as a doctor.
Test vetting policy
LABPLUS SPECIMEN SERVICES STAFF

ADHB Specimens - DO NOT centrifuge or separate the specimen. Refer to Laboratory Notes for instructions

1.5 mL Paediatric Heparin Blood (Preferred)
3 full microtainers minimum

4 mL Heparin Blood
Turnaround Time: Within 1 week
Assay Method
Principle : High performance liquid chromatography

Specimen Transport Instructions for Referring Laboratories

Specimen Transport Instructions for Referring Laboratories

Centrifuge the sample at 3000 rpm for 5 minutes.
After centrifugation use a Pasteur pipette to remove and discard the plasma and buffy coat layer.
The red cells are washed by adding an equivalent volume of isotonic saline (9 g/L NaCl) and mixing thoroughly.
Centrifuge the sample at 3000 rpm for 5 min.
Label a plastic tube suitable for transport, with the patient surname and laboratory number.
After centrifugation use a Pasteur pipette to remove the top saline layer and 1 mm of red cells. Discard, leaving behind the washed red cells.
To the labelled tube add 1 mL of washed packed red blood cells (RBC) from the middle of the washed cells.
Using the same pipette tip, draw up 1 mL of distilled water and add this to the cells in the labelled tube.
Stopper, mix thoroughly by rolling the haemolysate around the inside of the tube.
Place the tube inside a plastic bag and freeze.
Transport the haemolysate with the request form at -20C to LabPLUS.

Samples from outside Auckland City Hospital: sample preparation must be done by the referring laboratory. LabPLUS will not undertake preparation of these samples.

Last updated at 14:31:30 02/11/2020