Porphyrin tests measure the level of porphyrins in your blood, urine (pee), or stool (poop). Your body uses porphyrins to make heme. Heme is part of hemoglobin, which is a protein in your red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body.

Porphyrin tests are used to help diagnose or to monitor all types of porphyria.

Source: MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine