Geisinger Medical Laboratories/Geisinger Proven Diagnostics Test Catalog
ADRENOCORTICOTROPIC HORMONE |
||
ORDERING INFORMATION: |
Geisinger Epic Procedure Code: LAB1531 Geisinger Epic ID: 6418 | |
SPECIMEN COLLECTION |
||
Specimen type: |
Plasma | |
Preferred collection container: |
||
Alternate Collection Container: |
Lavender-top (K2 EDTA) microcollection tube
|
|
Specimen required: |
1 mL aliquot frozen plasma; minimum 0.5 mL. Please submit a separate frozen aliquot for this test. It may not be combined with any other test requiring a frozen aliquot. | |
Special notes: |
Inpatients: Collect in iced EDTA tubes only and transport in ice bath to lab for processing (cup with water and a small amount of ice will work well). If off-site, separate plasma from cells and submit 1 mL aliquot frozen. Plasma levels of ACTH exhibit significant diurnal variation. Because of this, collection is recommended at approximately 9 a.m. If collecting specimen in microcollection tubes, collect 3 FULL lavender microcollection tubes. | |
SPECIMEN PROCESSING |
||
Specimen processing instructions: |
Centrifuge, remove plasma, and freeze immediately. Submit 1 mL aliquot of plasma. | |
Transport temperature: |
Frozen. | |
Specimen stability: |
30 days at -20°C. | |
Rejection criteria: |
Frozen EDTA plasma is the ONLY suitable specimen. Any other specimen will be rejected. Specimens will also be rejected for hemolysis, icteremia, and lipemia. | |
TEST DETAILS |
||
Reference interval: |
<46 pg/mL for a.m. draws. | |
CPT code(s): |
82024 | |
Note: The billing party has sole responsibility for CPT coding. Any questions regarding coding should be directed to the payer being billed. The CPT codes provided by GML are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. | ||
Test includes: |
Adrenocorticotropic hormone value. | |
Methodology: |
Chemiluminescence Immunoassay |
|
Synonyms: |
Adrenocorticotropic hormone, ACTH, CORTICOTROPIN, ADRENAL CORTICOTROPIN, CORTROSYN
|
|
Clinical significance: |
ACTH determinations are valuable in the differential diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency and hypersecretion. In primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease), elevated levels of ACTH are typical, while low levels are the rule when adrenal insufficiency is secondary to pituitary dysfunction. ACTH may also be used to identify the cause of cortisol hypersecretion in Cushing's syndrome. | |
Doctoral Director(s:) |
Hoi-Ying Elsie Yu, PhD, DABCC Stacy Kenyon, PhD, DABCC |
|
Review Date: | 12/02/2020 |