metabolic question-urine organic acids or acylcarnitine profile?

[snadaska]

When looking into possible metabolic disorder which test is more sensitive or just a better indicator of whether or not something is wrong, the urine organic acid test or the acylcarnitine profile?

[sbgrace]

You know, I think it would really depend on both the disorder specifics and the child! For Andrew it was the acytyl carnitine that was grossly abnormal but his organic acids weren't normal either. I think I would have a normal acytl-carntine profile (carnitine was normal anyway) but my urine had a marker (my coq10 was extremely low, my son's normal). Presumably he got his issue from me. So even with the same thing it might vary based on the particular person and how it presents and affects their body.

I don't know of any metabolics specialists who would run one and not the other if they suspected metabolics...why does it need to be only one? If safe most doctors will do both of those fasting by the way.