Porphyrins urine test

After you provide a urine sample, it is tested in the lab. This is called a random urine sample. If needed, your health care provider may ask you to collect your urine at home over 24 hours . This is called a 24-hour urine sample. Your provider will tell you how to do this. Follow instructions exactly so that the…

Your provider may tell you to temporarily stop taking medicines that may affect the test results. These may include: Antibiotics and anti-fungal drugs Anti-anxiety drugs Birth control pills Diabetes medicines Pain medicines Sleep medicines Do not stop taking any medicine without first talking to your provider.

This test involves only normal urination and there is no discomfort.

Your provider will order this test if you have signs of porphyria or other disorders that can cause abnormal urine porphyrins.

Normal results vary depending on the type of porphyrin tested. In general, for a 24-hour urine test of total porphyrins, the range is about 20 to 120 µg/L (25 to 144 nmol/L). Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or may test different specimens. Talk…

Abnormal results may be due to: Liver cancer Hepatitis Lead poisoning Porphyria (several types)

There are no risks with this test.

Fuller SJ, Wiley JS. Heme biosynthesis and its disorders: porphyrias and sideroblastic anemias. In: Hoffman R, Benz EJ, Silberstein LE, et al, eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice . 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 39. Hift RJ. The porphyrias. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil…