PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - A C Deacon
AU  - G H Elder
TI  - ACP Best Practice No 165
AID  - 10.1136/jcp.54.7.500
DP  - 2001 Jul 01
TA  - Journal of Clinical Pathology
PG  - 500--507
VI  - 54
IP  - 7
4099  - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/54/7/500.short
4100  - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/54/7/500.full
SO  - J Clin Pathol2001 Jul 01; 54
AB  - The porphyrias are uncommon disorders of haem biosynthesis and their effective management requires prompt and accurate diagnosis. This article describes methods for the determination of urinary porphobilinogen, urinary and faecal total porphyrins, and total porphyrins in erythrocytes and plasma that are suitable for use in non-specialist laboratories. The selection and interpretation of these methods, and the indications for further, more specialised, investigation are discussed.