Test Overview of Urine Amino Acid Panel
Measurement of amino acids and derivatives in the urine can help evaluate nutritional status, the presence of inborn errors of metabolism, urea cycle defects, digestive and GI status, detoxification status, and neurological indicators.Test Indications of Urine Amino Acid Panel
- Supplementary test for evaluating Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), Asperger's Syndrome, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD, ADHD), learning disability, depression, anxiety, seizure disorders, sleep and mood disorders.
- Supplementary test for evaluating environmental heavy metal toxicity.
- Evaluation of urea-cycle defects (inborn errors of metabolism).
- Evaluation of nutritional defects including maldigestion, malabsorption, imbalanced protein intake.
- Evaluation of renal tubular defects leading to loss of amino acids.
- Headaches.
- Chronic fatigue and Fibromyalgia.
- Chronic illness and cancer.
Sample Collection for Urine Amino Acid Panel
- Your doctor will provide you with the sample collection kit that includes sample container, gel-pack, and shipping materials.
- Avoid amino acid supplements and unusually large protein meals for 24 hours before collecting urine.
- Place gel-pack in the freezer the night before sample collection.
- Collect at least 15 mL of FIRST MORNING URINE, before eating or drinking (or use special pediatric collection bag overnight if patient is not potty trained).
- Refrigerate sample (do not freeze) until ready to send to lab.
- The sample must be sent via overnight FedEx directly to the lab on a Monday through Thursday using the prepaid mailer provided.
- Detailed instructions are in the sample collection kit.
Your doctor or lab may have different instructions that supersede the above.
CPT CODES for Urine Amino Acid Panel
| CPT-Code | Description | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 82139 | Amino Acids, 6 or more | |
| 82140 | Ammonia |
Labs Performing Urine Amino Acid Panel Test
| Name of Lab | Lab Code | Estimated Cost | Processing Time | Comments |
|---|
Costs cited are subject to change and may be reduced by insurance or cash discounts and increased by sample collection fees.
Theory of Urine Amino Acid Panel
Depressed levels of all or many amino acids in the urine suggests low protein intake, digestion (low HCl or proteases), or absorption, or dysbiosis.Elevated levels of all or many amino acids in the urine suggests high protein intake, renal tubular defect (genetic defect or toxicity).
Alanine
- Nonessential
- Elevated level suggests urea cycle defect.
L-alpha-amino-N-butyric Acid
- B vitamin marker
Alpha-Aminoadipic Acid
- GI marker
- B vitamin marker
Ammonia
- GI marker
- Neurological marker
- Elevated level suggests urea cycle defect.
Anserine
- GI marker
Arginine
- Essential or conditionally indispensable
- Elevated level suggests urea cycle defect.
Asparagine
- Nonessential
- Urea cycle metabolite
Aspartic Acid
- Nonessential
- Detoxification marker
- Urea cycle metabolite
Beta-Alanine
- GI marker
- B vitamin marker
- Neurological marker
L-beta-aminoisobutyric Acid
- GI marker
- B vitamin marker
Carnosine
- GI marker
Citrulline
- Magnesium marker
- Elevated level suggests urea cycle defect.
Creatinine
- Used to normalize calculations of concentration.
Cystathionine
- B vitamin marker
- Neurological marker
Cysteine
- Essential or conditionally indispensable
- B vitamin marker
- Detoxification marker
Cystine
- Nonessential
Ethanolamine
- GI marker
- Magnesium marker
Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
- GI marker
Glutamic Acid
- Nonessential
- Excitatory neurotransmitter - associated with chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, seizures, attention deficit, and brain cancer.
- Found in monosodium glutamate (MSG) and aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal).
Glutamine
- Nonessential
- Detoxification marker
- Neurological marker
- Elevated level suggests urea cycle defect.
Glycine
- Nonessential
- Detoxification marker
Histidine
- Essential or conditionally indispensable
Homocysteine
- B vitamin marker
L-hydroxyproline
- GI marker
Isoleucine
- Essential or conditionally indispensable
Leucine
- Essential or conditionally indispensable
Lysine
- Essential or conditionally indispensable
Methionine
- Essential or conditionally indispensable
- Detoxification marker
Methionine Sulfoxide
- Magnesium marker
1-methylhistidine
- B vitamin marker
3-Methylhistidine
- B vitamin marker
Ornithine
- Elevated level suggests urea cycle defect.
Phenylalanine
- Essential or conditionally indispensable
- Neurological marker
Phosphoethanolamine
- Magnesium marker
Phosphoserine
- Magnesium marker
Proline
- Nonessential
Sarcosine
- B vitamin marker
Serine
- Nonessential
- Magnesium marker
- B vitamin marker
Taurine
- Essential or conditionally indispensable
- GI marker
- Magnesium marker
- Detoxification marker
- Neurological marker
Threonine
- Essential or conditionally indispensable
- GI marker
Tryptophan
- Essential or conditionally indispensable
- GI marker
- Neurological marker
Tyrosine
- Nonessential
- Neurological marker
Urea
- Depressed level suggests urea cycle defect.
Valine
- Essential or conditionally indispensable
References regarding Urine Amino Acid Panel
[GP2008] Great Plains Laboratory, William Shaw, Lori Knowles, Kurt Woeller.
Physician Practitioner Training (Autism) Lecture Notes and Documentation.
Tempe, AZ (8/23/2008 - 8/24/2008). Full text: 
https://www.greatplainslaboratory.com
https://www.greatplainslaboratory.com
Unless specifically noted above, references used in the construction of this web page include the following:
[FMU] Lecture notes from Functional Medicine University.
[SCNM] Lecture notes from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine.
[UT] Lecture notes from the University of Tennessee graduate programs in Chemistry, Microbiology, and Biochemistry.