Deliver it to the laboratory or your health care provider as soon as possible upon completion. No special preparation is necessary for this test, but if the collection is being taken from an infant, a couple of extra collection bags may be necessary. How the Test will Feel This test involves only normal urination, and there is no discomfort. This test may be performed when porphyria or another disorder associated with abnormal PBG level is suspected. The most important function of porphyrins is as components of heme.
Oxygen binds to the iron in the heme molecules.
Various kinds of porphyrins exist with the same basic structure, but with slightly different chemical appearance. The major biochemical pathway includes conversions from porphyrins to delta-ALA , then to PBG, then uroporphyrin , then coproporphyrin, then protoporphyrin, and finally into the end product, heme. Each step requires the presence of an enzyme. PBG Please read this Important notice .