Porphobiligen (PBG) - Urine
Porphobilinogen (PBG) is one of several types of porphyrins found in your body. Porphyrins help form many important substances in the body. One of these is hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen in the blood. Porphyrins usually leave your body through urine or stools. If this process does not occur, porphyrins such as PBG can build up in your body. Raised levels of porphobilinogen in urine is characteristic of an attack of acute porphyria
This Test Includes
Urine Porphobilinogen (PBG)
Test Instructions
Total parameters available: 1
Parameter Names:
- Porphobiligen (PBG) - Urine
Test Instructions/Precautions:
- Alcohol: Please abstain from alcohol before the test
- Medication :Any pre-existing medication should only be stopped after consultation with the referring Physician
- Fluids Allowed : Water only
Reports
Soft Copy (Portal/Email) : If the sample is collected before 12 noon then the report will get delivered as per Reporting Time / Maximum TAT (Turn Around Time) indicated with the test. For samples collected after 12 Noon, 12 hours may be added to the Report Turn Around TimeHard Copy : Delivered at home upon request. A small convenience fee may apply.
Why it is Done
The test is performed when either porphyria or an associated disorder is suspected due to the presence of certain symptoms such as pain in the limbs, backache, abdominal pain, rapid heart-beat, nausea and vomiting.
What is this test
Haemoglobin protein in red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen in blood is a type of porphyrin which is formed from the intermediate Porphobilinogen (PBG). Porphyrins do not accumulate in the body and get excreted via urine or stool. In case they are not released from the body, there is a signal where they are getting accumulated. Hence, the PBG qualitative test diagnoses porphyria in the urine.