Preferred Specimen(s): 1 mL serum
Minimum Volume: 0.5 mL
Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and transfer serum specimens to clean, plastic, screw-cap vial(s).
Specimen Container: Plastic screw-cap vial
Transport Temperature: Refrigerated (cold packs)
Specimen Stability:
- Room temperature 21 days
- Refrigerated 21 days
- Frozen 30 days
Reject Criteria: Gross hemolysis
Methodology: Kinetic Spectrophotometric
Limitations: Results may be depressed in patients who consume oral contraceptives. Hepatic disease may cause up to a 70% decrease in enzyme levels. Cholinesterase may be slightly elevated in patients with obesity or diabetes.
Reference Range(s)
| Male | 3342-7586 IU/L |
| Female | 2673-6592 IU/L |
Clinical Significance: Approximately 1 in every 2500 individuals has inherited a defective enzyme or a deficiency of the enzyme (Pseudocholinesterase) that metabolizes succinylcholine (an anesthetic agent). With a “normal” dosage, these individuals have prolonged apnea. Such individuals are responsive at much smaller concentrations of this anesthetic agent than the general population. Low concentrations of Pseudocholinesterase are observed in individuals exposed to organophosphorous insecticides and in patients with hepatic dysfunction.