AMINOLEVULINIC ACID (ALA):
Why Amino-Levulinic Acid test?
CLINICAL INFORMATION:
AMINO-LEVULINIC ACID (ALA) or delta-aminolevulinic acid or 5--aminolevulinic acid is an amino acid synthesized by the liver. This the first compound in the porphyrin synthesis pathway that leads to heme biosynthesis. ALA test is to measure this substance excreted in the urine. Higher quantities of ALA are found in the urine in inherited acute porphyrias or due to inhibition of ALA dehydratase. Moreover, 5ALA being a precursor of protoporphyrin-IX which is a photosensitizer is used as an add-on agent for photodynamic therapy in diagnosis (fluorescence imaging) and treatment of cancers (photosensitizer molecules) by computer simulations can be able to penetrate tumor cell membranes. The principle behind it is that cancer cells lack or have reduced ferrochelatase activity and hence it results in the accumulation of protoporphyrin-IX (its metabolic pathway precursor), a fluorescent substance that can be visualized.
General instructions:
Sample Requirement: Specimen - Blood sample collected from the vein/24 hrs. Specimens of either urine (and/or) fresh stool (As directed by the physician or suggested by the pathologist). Test Preparation: None.
NOTE - Sample for specimen collections may vary based on the patient’s condition/cases according to the patient’s presentingcomplaints / signs or symptoms:
SPECIMENREQUIREMENT (Special or Rare Cases) - As instructed and guided by Physician / Clinician / Pathologist / as per Laboratory’s requirements, according to procedures and protocols.
This Multi-Specialty Clinical Referral Laboratory RTDIAGNOSTICS provides precise and accurate tests with an extensive range of testing services to the medical centers to help in the diagnosis and identification of pathology in the test specimens for infectious diseases and also to evaluate the function of organ systems of the patient. It prevents further complications and helps to stabilize and restore health to near normalcy at the earliest without delay.
