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Immunoassay reagents intended to perform qualitative and/or quantitative analyses on a body fluid sample (e.g., blood, urine, bile, feces) to determine porphyrin derivatives (commonly abbreviated as porphyrins). There are many kinds of porphyrins, but only three (uroporphyrin, coproporphyrin, and protoporphyrin) are clinically important. The isomer protoporphyrin IX containing iron is known as heme; uroporphyrin and coproporphyrin type III isomers are the only ones that contribute to heme synthesis. High levels of porphyrins are found in toxic (acquired) porphyrias caused by one or more of a group of toxic agents (e.g., ethanol, hydrogenated hydrocarbons). Some dietary products, metabolic diseases, and hereditary deficiencies (i.e., inherited porphyrias) may also cause abnormal porphyrin levels.
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