EDTA tube
Number of vials: 2
Minimum blood volume: 6 mL
Paediatric EDTA tube
Number of vials: 3
Minimum blood volume: 3.9 mL
- Patient should sit for 15 min before and remain in sitting position during blood taking.
- Send specimen to the laboratory immediately.
- Do not keep these samples in refrigerator or ice-bath to prevent cryo-activation of pro-renin, leading to falsely high plasma renin activity.
Refer to protocol for investigation of primary hyperaldosteronism (renin-aldosterone test) for patient preparations.
| Age | ng/mL/Hr | Source of Reference Intervals |
| 0 – 30 days | 2.00 - 35.0 | Tietz Clinical Guide to Laboratory Test 2006 (Fourth edition) P. 947 [Normal sodium diet, supine] |
| 1 – 12 months | 2.40 - 37.0 | |
| 1 – < 3 years | 1.70 - 11.2 | |
| 3 – < 5 years | 1.00 - 6.50 | |
| 5 – < 10 years | 0.50 - 5.90 | |
| 10 – < 15 years | 0.50 - 3.30 | |
| ≥ 15 years | 0.08 - 3.84 | Reference range established from local normotensive healthy subjects in sitting position for 15 min before and during blood taking. |
Investigation of hypertension when primary hyperaldosteronism or unilateral renal disease is suspected.
Assessing adequacy of mineralocorticoid replacement
Management of congenital adrenal hyperplasiaThe plasma aldosterone / renin ratio is of greater diagnostic value than either test alone.
A high aldosterone / renin ratio suggests a mineralocorticoid abnormality.
Elevation of both aldosterone and renin to a similar extent suggests a renal abnormality.
Lateralising studies are done in suspected unilateral renal ischaemia or renal artery stenosis.
In congenital adrenal hyperplasia, excessive levels indicate inadequate mineralocorticoid replacement.