Ordering Guidance

This test primarily serves as a second-tier assay to be used by newborn screening programs to screen for metachromatic leukodystrophy when first tier sulfatide analysis is abnormal. The test can also be used to screen patients at risk for metachromatic leukodystrophy.

Specimen Required

Supplies: Card-Blood Spot Collection (Filter Paper) (T493)

Container/Tube:

Preferred: Card-Blood Spot Collection (Filter Paper)

Acceptable: PerkinElmer 226 filter paper, Munktell filter paper, Whatman protein Saver 903 paper, local newborn screening card, or blood collected in tubes containing EDTA (preferred) or heparin and dried on filter paper

Specimen Volume: 2 Blood spots

Collection Instructions:

1. Completely fill at least 2 circles on the filter paper card (approximately 100 microliters blood per circle).

2. Let blood dry on filter paper at ambient temperature in a horizontal position for a minimum of 3 hours.

3. Do not expose specimen to heat or direct sunlight.

4. Do not stack wet specimens.

5. Keep specimen dry and freeze (with desiccant if necessary).

Additional Information:

1. For collection instructions, see Blood Spot Collection Instructions

2. For collection instructions in Spanish, see Blood Spot Collection Card-Spanish Instructions (T777)

3. For collection instructions in Chinese, see Blood Spot Collection Card-Chinese Instructions (T800)