BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuPorphyrins blood testProtoporphyrin levels; Porphyrins - total; Coproporphyrin levels; PROTO testPorphyrins help form many important substances in the body. One of these is hemoglobin. This is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen in the blood.Porphyrins can be measured in the blood or the urine. This article discusses the blood test.UrinePorphyrins are natural chemicals in the body that help form many important substances in the body. One of these is hemoglobin, the protein in red bl...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How the Test is Performed A blood sample is needed.Blood sampleVenipuncture is the collection of blood from a vein. It is most often done for laboratory testing.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The sample is then placed in ice and taken immediately to the laboratory. Three porphyrins can normally be measured in small amounts in human blood. They are:Coproporphyrin Protoporphyrin (PROTO) Uroporphyrin Protoporphyrin is normally found in the highest amount. More tests are needed to show the levels of specific porphyrins. How to Prepare for the Test You should not eat for 12 to 14 hours before this test. You may drink water right before the test. Your test results may be affected if you do not follow these instructions. How the Test will Feel When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or slight bruising. This soon goes away. Why the Test is Performed This test is used to diagnose porphyrias. This is a group of rare disorders often passed down through family members.PorphyriasPorphyrias are a group of rare inherited disorders. An important part of hemoglobin, called heme, is not made properly. Hemoglobin is a protein in ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article It may also be used along with other tests to diagnose lead poisoning and certain nervous system and skin disorders. Normal Results This test specifically measures total porphyrin levels. But, reference values (a range of values seen in a group of healthy people) for the individual components are also included:Total porphyrin levels: 0 to 1.0 mcg/dL (0 to 15 nmol/L) Coproporphyrin level: <2 mcg/dL (<30 nmol/L) Protoporphyrin level: 16 to 60 mcg/dL (0.28 to 1.07 µmol/L) Uroporphyrin level: <2 mcg/dL (<2.4 nmol/L) Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results. What Abnormal Results Mean Increased levels of coproporphyrins may be a sign of:Congenital erythropoietic porphyria Congenital erythropoietic porphyriaPorphyrias are a group of rare inherited disorders. An important part of hemoglobin, called heme, is not made properly. Hemoglobin is a protein in ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hepatic coproporphyria Sideroblastic anemia Variegate porphyriaAn increased protoporphyrin level may be a sign of:Anemia of chronic disease Anemia of chronic diseaseAnemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. There are man...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Congenital erythropoietic protoporphyria Erythropoietic protoporphyriaPorphyrias are a group of rare inherited disorders. An important part of hemoglobin, called heme, is not made properly. Hemoglobin is a protein in ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Increased erythropoiesis Infection Iron deficiency anemia Iron deficiency anemiaAnemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. There are man...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Lead poisoning Lead poisoningLead is a very strong poison. When a person swallows an object that has lead in it or breathes in lead dust, some of the poison can stay in the body...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Sideroblastic anemia Thalassemia ThalassemiaThalassemia is a blood disorder passed down through families (inherited) in which the body makes an abnormal form or inadequate amount of hemoglobin....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Variegate porphyriaAn increased uroporphyrin level may be a sign of:Congenital erythropoietic porphyria Porphyria cutanea tarda Risks There is little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another, and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight, but may include:Excessive bleeding Fainting or feeling lightheaded Multiple punctures to locate veins Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin) Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)Open ReferencesReferencesAmerican porphyria foundation website. Tests for Porphyria Diagnosis. porphyriafoundation.org/for-patients/about-porphyria/testing-for-porphyria/tests-for-porphyria-diagnosis/. Accessed March 27, 2023.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.AllVideoImagesTogBlood test - illustration Blood is drawn from a vein (venipuncture), usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. Preparation may vary depending on the specific test.Blood testillustrationBlood test - illustration Blood is drawn from a vein (venipuncture), usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. Preparation may vary depending on the specific test.Blood testillustration Tests for Porphyrins blood test Porphyrins blood testPorphyrins urine testPBG urine testRelated Information Porphyrins urine test(Medical Test)Porphyria(Condition)Anemia(Condition)Thalassemia(Condition)Lead poisoning(Poison)Iron deficiency anemia(Condition)Anemia - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 2/2/2023 Reviewed By: Mark Levin, MD, Hematologist and Oncologist, Monsey, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. 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Porphyrins blood testProtoporphyrin levels; Porphyrins - total; Coproporphyrin levels; PROTO testPorphyrins help form many important substances in the body. One of these is hemoglobin. This is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen in the blood.Porphyrins can be measured in the blood or the urine. This article discusses the blood test.UrinePorphyrins are natural chemicals in the body that help form many important substances in the body. One of these is hemoglobin, the protein in red bl...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How the Test is Performed A blood sample is needed.Blood sampleVenipuncture is the collection of blood from a vein. It is most often done for laboratory testing.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The sample is then placed in ice and taken immediately to the laboratory. Three porphyrins can normally be measured in small amounts in human blood. They are:Coproporphyrin Protoporphyrin (PROTO) Uroporphyrin Protoporphyrin is normally found in the highest amount. More tests are needed to show the levels of specific porphyrins. How to Prepare for the Test You should not eat for 12 to 14 hours before this test. You may drink water right before the test. Your test results may be affected if you do not follow these instructions. How the Test will Feel When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or slight bruising. This soon goes away. Why the Test is Performed This test is used to diagnose porphyrias. This is a group of rare disorders often passed down through family members.PorphyriasPorphyrias are a group of rare inherited disorders. An important part of hemoglobin, called heme, is not made properly. Hemoglobin is a protein in ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article It may also be used along with other tests to diagnose lead poisoning and certain nervous system and skin disorders. Normal Results This test specifically measures total porphyrin levels. But, reference values (a range of values seen in a group of healthy people) for the individual components are also included:Total porphyrin levels: 0 to 1.0 mcg/dL (0 to 15 nmol/L) Coproporphyrin level: <2 mcg/dL (<30 nmol/L) Protoporphyrin level: 16 to 60 mcg/dL (0.28 to 1.07 µmol/L) Uroporphyrin level: <2 mcg/dL (<2.4 nmol/L) Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results. What Abnormal Results Mean Increased levels of coproporphyrins may be a sign of:Congenital erythropoietic porphyria Congenital erythropoietic porphyriaPorphyrias are a group of rare inherited disorders. An important part of hemoglobin, called heme, is not made properly. Hemoglobin is a protein in ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hepatic coproporphyria Sideroblastic anemia Variegate porphyriaAn increased protoporphyrin level may be a sign of:Anemia of chronic disease Anemia of chronic diseaseAnemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. There are man...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Congenital erythropoietic protoporphyria Erythropoietic protoporphyriaPorphyrias are a group of rare inherited disorders. An important part of hemoglobin, called heme, is not made properly. Hemoglobin is a protein in ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Increased erythropoiesis Infection Iron deficiency anemia Iron deficiency anemiaAnemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. There are man...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Lead poisoning Lead poisoningLead is a very strong poison. When a person swallows an object that has lead in it or breathes in lead dust, some of the poison can stay in the body...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Sideroblastic anemia Thalassemia ThalassemiaThalassemia is a blood disorder passed down through families (inherited) in which the body makes an abnormal form or inadequate amount of hemoglobin....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Variegate porphyriaAn increased uroporphyrin level may be a sign of:Congenital erythropoietic porphyria Porphyria cutanea tarda Risks There is little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another, and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight, but may include:Excessive bleeding Fainting or feeling lightheaded Multiple punctures to locate veins Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin) Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)Open ReferencesReferencesAmerican porphyria foundation website. Tests for Porphyria Diagnosis. porphyriafoundation.org/for-patients/about-porphyria/testing-for-porphyria/tests-for-porphyria-diagnosis/. Accessed March 27, 2023.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.