| Specimen requirement | Adult patient:
Minimum blood volume: 3 mL |
| Paediatric patient: Paediatric EDTA tube (in ice bath) Number of vials: 2 Minimum blood volume: 2.6 mL |
|
| Authorisation code required | No |
| 24 Hr available service | No |
| Precaution | Collect blood by
venipuncture into pre-chilled EDTA tubes. Sample tubes should be immersed in an ice bath following blood collection. |
| Method | Immunoassay |
| Reference interval | < 10.2 pmol/L (Source: from manufacturer's kit insert) |
| Clinical indication | Investigation of the aetiology of corticosteroid excess or deficiency, as a baseline or as part of a suppression test (e.g. dexamethasone, in conjunction with serum and / or urine cortisol). |
| Result interpretation | Corticosteroid excess
may be associated with high ACTH levels (ectopic or pituitary source) or low
levels (adrenal tumour). Corticosteroid deficiency may be associated with high ACTH levels (primary adrenal insufficiency) or low levels (secondary to pituitary dysfunction). |
| Measurement of uncertainty | See table. |
| Frequency of measurement | 1 - 2 weeks |
EDTA tube (in ice bath)