Delta Aminolevulinic Acid Test- Why am I having this test?
Delta aminolevulinic acid (ALA) test may be done to help diagnose porphyria, which is a form of liver disease.
This test can also be used to check for lead poisoning in children or in the evaluation of a condition called diabetic ketoacidosis.
What is being tested?
This test measures the amount of ALA in your urine over a 24-hour period. ALA is a molecule that the body needs in order to make hemoglobin in blood cells.
What kind of sample is taken?
A urine sample is required for this test. It is collected in a sterile container that is given to you by the lab.
How do I collect samples at home?
You will be asked to collect urine samples at home over a 24-hour period. Follow instructions from your health care provider about how to collect the samples.
When collecting a urine sample at home, make sure you:
- Use supplies and instructions that you received from the lab.
- Urinate and collect urine before having a bowel movement so you don’t contaminate the specimen.
- Do notlet any toilet paper or stool (feces) get mixed in your urine.
- Collect urine only in the germ-free (sterile) jug that you received from the lab.
- Keep the plastic jug cool in an ice chest or keep it in the refrigerator during the test.
- Return the samples to the lab as instructed.
Tell a health care provider about:
- All medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbs, eye drops, creams, and over-the-counter medicines.
How are the results reported?
Your test results will be reported as values. Your health care provider will compare your results to normal ranges that were established after testing a large group of people (reference ranges). Reference ranges may vary among different labs and hospitals. For this test, a common reference range is:
- 1.5–7.5 mg in 24 hours or 11–57 micromoles in 24 hours (SI units).
What do the results mean?
Results within the reference range are considered normal. Levels above the reference range may indicate:
- Porphyria.
- Lead poisoning.
- Diabetic ketoacidosis.
- Diseases caused by long-term use of alcohol.
Talk with your health care provider about what your results mean.
Questions to ask your health care provider
Ask your health care provider, or the department that is doing the test:
- When will my results be ready?
- How will I get my results?
- What are my treatment options?
- What other tests do I need?
- What are my next steps?
Summary
- The delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) test may be done to help diagnose porphyria, which is a form of liver disease.
- This test can also be used to check for lead poisoning in children or in the evaluation of a condition called diabetic ketoacidosis.
- This test measures the amount of ALA in your urine over a 24-hour period.
- Talk with your health care provider about what your results mean.
