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Delta-ALA urine test

Definition

Delta-ALA is a protein (amino acid) produced by the liver. A test can be done to measure the amount of this substance in the urine.

Alternative Names

Delta-aminolevulinic acid

How the Test is Performed

Your health care provider will ask you to collect your urine at home over 24 hours. This is called a 24-hour urine sample. Your provider will tell you how to do this. Follow instructions exactly.

How to Prepare for the Test

Your provider may tell you to temporarily stop taking any medicines that can affect test results. Be sure to tell your provider about all the medicines you take. These include:

  • Penicillin (an antibiotic)
  • Barbiturates (medicines to treat anxiety)
  • Birth control pills
  • Griseofulvin (medicine to treat fungal infections)

How the Test will Feel

The test involves only normal urination. There is no discomfort.

Why the Test is Performed

This test looks for an increased level of delta-ALA. It may be used to help diagnose a blood disorder called porphyria.

Normal Results

Normal value range for adults is 1.0 to 7.0 mg (7.6 to 53.3 mol/L) over 24 hours.

Normal value ranges may vary slightly from one lab to another. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results.

What Abnormal Results Mean

An increased level of urinary delta-ALA may indicate:

  • Lead poisoning
  • Porphyria (several types)

A decreased level may occur with chronic (long-term) liver disease.

Risks

There are no risks with this test.

Gallery

Urine sample
A clean-catch urine sample is performed by collecting the sample of urine in midstream. Men or boys should wipe clean the head of the penis. Women or girls need to wash the area between the lips of the vagina with soapy water and rinse well. A small amount of urine should initially fall into the toilet bowl before it is collected (this clears the urethra of contaminants). Then, in a clean container, catch about 1 to 2 ounces of urine and remove the container from the urine stream. The container is then given to the health care provider.

References

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. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 38.

Squires JE, Balistreri WF. Other inherited metabolic disorders of the liver. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 77.

Last reviewed January 19, 2021 by Todd Gersten, MD, Hematology/Oncology, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, Wellington, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team..

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