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Lab Dept:
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Chemistry
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Test Name:
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ACTH
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General Information
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Lab Order Codes:
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ADCO
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Synonyms:
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Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH), Plasma; Corticotropin; Cushing’s Disease
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CPT Codes:
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82024 – Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
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Test Includes:
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ACTH level reported in pg/mL.
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Logistics
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Test Indications:
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Useful for determining the cause of hypercortisolism and hypocortisolism states.
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Lab Testing Sections:
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Chemistry - Sendouts
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Referred to:
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Mayo Medical Laboratories (Test# 8411)
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Phone Numbers:
Minneapolis:
Saint Paul:
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612-813-6280
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651-220-6550
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Test Availability:
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Daily, 24 hours
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Turnaround Time:
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1 – 3 days, test set up Monday - Saturday
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Special Instructions:
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See Collection
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Specimen
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Specimen Type:
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Whole blood
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Container:
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Lavender top (EDTA) tube (MUST be ice cooled)
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Draw Volume:
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3.0 mL blood
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Processed Volume:
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1.0 mL (Minimum: 0.5 mL) plasma
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Collection:
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Morning (6 a.m. – 10 a.m.) specimens are desirable. Draw in an ice-cooled, lavender top (EDTA) tube
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Special Processing:
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Lab Staff: Centrifuge specimen in a refrigerated centrifuge, remove plasma aliquot as soon as possible from cells. Place plasma aliquot in a screw-capped round bottom plastic vial. Store and ship and frozen temperatures. Forward promptly.
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Patient Preparation:
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None
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Sample Rejection:
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Specimens other than EDTA plasma, warm specimens, mislabeled or unlabeled specimens
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Interpretive
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Reference Range:
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Pediatrics:
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Pediatric reference values are the same as adults, as confirmed by peer reviewed literature.
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Adults:
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10 – 60 pg/mL (a.m. draws)
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No established reference values for p.m. draws
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Critical Values:
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N/A
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Limitations:
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In very rare circumstances of the ectopic ACTH syndrome, the elevated ACTH may be biologically active but not detected by the immunometric assay.
Patients taking glucocorticoids may have suppressed levels of ACTH with an apparent high level of cortisol. This may be due to cross-reactivity with the cortisol immunoassays. If exogenous Cushing’s is suspected, a cortisol level determined by high-performance liquid chromatography should be used with the ACTH level for the interpretation.
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Methodology:
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Automated Chemiluminescent Immunometric Assay
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Contraindications:
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N/A
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References:
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Mayo Medical Laboratories Web Page (February 2010)
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