Mass Spectrometry

This assay is intended for the in vitro quantitative determination of homocysteine (HCY) in human serum or plasma as an aid in clinical diagnosis.
Homocysteine is a sulfur-containing intermediate amino acid formed during the metabolism of methionine to cysteine. Hyperhomocysteinemia, characterized by elevated plasma or serum homocysteine concentrations, may result from inherited metabolic disorders as well as nutritional deficiencies, renal dysfunction, or other acquired conditions.
Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated that elevated homocysteine levels are closely associated with abnormalities in lipid metabolism and with the development, progression, prognosis, and complications of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Increasing evidence further indicates that even mild hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic vascular disease and recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE).
Accurate and reliable quantification of serum or plasma homocysteine is therefore of significant clinical value for risk assessment, disease monitoring, and patient management.