1. Will latent porphyria affect my health?
In most cases, the answer is no, and the porphyria remains dormant. It is important, however, to have your latent porphyria identified if you have a family history so that your doctor can tailor any medical treatments to avoid drugs and situations that might trigger your porphyria.
2. Can porphyrin tests be done at home?
No. They require specialized equipment to perform and care in interpretation. Some may be performed in a local hospital laboratory while others may need to be sent to a reference laboratory.
3. Why does the doctor need a 24-hour urine sample if a random sample has already been tested?
The rate of production and excretion of the porphyrins may vary and may or may not be elevated in a random sample. A 24-hour urine sample allows the evaluation of all of the porphyrin that is excreted in a 24-hour period.
