What is a carnitine total and free plasma test?

Also known as: total and free carnitine, plasma carnitine, quantitative plasma carnitine.

Carnitine is a compound in the body that helps your body digest fats for energy. A carnitine deficiency is related to a number of different medical problems. A carnitine total and free plasma test is a blood test that measures the amount of carnitine in the blood. It examines that amount of usable, or free, carnitine and compares it with the total amount of carnitine.


What happens during the procedure?

A routine blood draw is required in order to perform the carnitine total and free plasma test. The blood sample is then taken to a laboratory for testing and analysis.


Is any special preparation needed?

In most cases, no special preparation is needed for the test.


What are the risk factors?

Infection, bleeding and damage to surrounding organs and tissues are potential risks of the test.


Reviewed by: Paul Cardenas, MD

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM

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