Renin Activity
| Label Mnemonic: | REN |
| Epic code: | LAB532 |
| Downtime form: | A-1a Doctor/Provider Orders - Pathology Core and Specialty Care Nursery |
Commercial Mailout Laboratory
6240-8 RCP
356-8593
6240-8 RCP
356-8593
Specimen(s):
Plasma
Specimen
Instructions:
Patient Prep: The plasma renin activity cannot be interpreted if the patient is being treated with spironolactone (Aldactone). Spironolactone should be discontinued for 4 to 6 weeks before testing.
Collection Medium:
 |
| Pink top tube 6 mL (K2-EDTA) |
Minimum:
Preferred Minimum: 2 mL EDTA plasma in a pink top tube.
Absolute Minimum: 1.5 mL EDTA plasma in a pink top tube.
1. Draw blood in a chilled syringe from a patient in a seated position; place specimen in a chilled, lavender-top (EDTA) tube; and mix.
2. Alternatively, draw blood directly in a chilled, lavender top (EDTA) tube.
3. Immediately place EDTA tube into an ice-water bath until thoroughly cooled.
4. Refrigerate specimen during centrifugation and immediately transfer plasma to plastic vial. (If a refrigerated centrifuge is unavailable, chill the centrifuge carriers. Centrifuge specimen for < or =5 minutes, then promptly transfer plasma.)
5. Immediately freeze plasma.
Absolute Minimum: 1.5 mL EDTA plasma in a pink top tube.
1. Draw blood in a chilled syringe from a patient in a seated position; place specimen in a chilled, lavender-top (EDTA) tube; and mix.
2. Alternatively, draw blood directly in a chilled, lavender top (EDTA) tube.
3. Immediately place EDTA tube into an ice-water bath until thoroughly cooled.
4. Refrigerate specimen during centrifugation and immediately transfer plasma to plastic vial. (If a refrigerated centrifuge is unavailable, chill the centrifuge carriers. Centrifuge specimen for < or =5 minutes, then promptly transfer plasma.)
5. Immediately freeze plasma.
Delivery Instructions:
Deliver to laboratory immediately after collection. Critical frozen.Testing Schedule:
Monday-Friday
Turn Around
Time:
2 days upon receipt at reference laboratory
Reference Range:
0-2 years: 4.6 ng/mL/hour (mean)* Range: 1.4-7.8 ng/mL/hour
3-5 years: 2.5 ng/mL/hour (mean)* Range: 1.5-3.5 ng/mL/hour
6-8 years: 1.4 ng/mL/hour (mean)* Range: 0.8-2.0 ng/mL/hour
9-11 years: 1.9 ng/mL/hour (mean)* Range: 0.9-2.9 ng/mL/hour
12-17 years: 1.8 ng/mL/hour (mean)* Range: 1.2-2.4 ng/mL/hour
Mean data not standardized as to time of day or diet. Infants were supine, children sitting.
Na-depleted, upright (peripheral vein specimen)
18-39 years: 10.8 ng/mL/hour (mean)
2.9-24.0 ng/mL/hour (range)
> or =40 years: 5.9 ng/mL/hour (mean)
2.9-10.8 ng/mL/hour (range)
Na-replete, upright (peripheral vein specimen)
18-39 years: 1.9 ng/mL/hour (mean)
< or =0.6-4.3 ng/mL/hour (range)
> or =40 years: 1.0 ng/mL/hour (mean)
< or =0.6-3.0 ng/mL/hour (range)
*Stalker HP, Holland NH, Kotchen JM, Kotchen TA: Plasma renin activity in healthy children. J Pediatr 1976;89:256-258.
3-5 years: 2.5 ng/mL/hour (mean)* Range: 1.5-3.5 ng/mL/hour
6-8 years: 1.4 ng/mL/hour (mean)* Range: 0.8-2.0 ng/mL/hour
9-11 years: 1.9 ng/mL/hour (mean)* Range: 0.9-2.9 ng/mL/hour
12-17 years: 1.8 ng/mL/hour (mean)* Range: 1.2-2.4 ng/mL/hour
Mean data not standardized as to time of day or diet. Infants were supine, children sitting.
Na-depleted, upright (peripheral vein specimen)
18-39 years: 10.8 ng/mL/hour (mean)
2.9-24.0 ng/mL/hour (range)
> or =40 years: 5.9 ng/mL/hour (mean)
2.9-10.8 ng/mL/hour (range)
Na-replete, upright (peripheral vein specimen)
18-39 years: 1.9 ng/mL/hour (mean)
< or =0.6-4.3 ng/mL/hour (range)
> or =40 years: 1.0 ng/mL/hour (mean)
< or =0.6-3.0 ng/mL/hour (range)
*Stalker HP, Holland NH, Kotchen JM, Kotchen TA: Plasma renin activity in healthy children. J Pediatr 1976;89:256-258.
Interpretive Data:
A high ratio of serum aldosterone (SA) in ng/dL to plasma renin activity (PRA) in ng/mL per hour, is a positive screening test result, a finding that warrants further testing. A SA:PRA ratio > or =20 and SA of > or =15 ng/dL indicates probable primary aldosteronism.
Renal disease, such as unilateral renal artery stenosis, results in elevated renin and aldosterone levels. Renal venous catheterization may be helpful. A positive test is a renal venous renin ratio (affected:normal) above 1.5.
Renal disease, such as unilateral renal artery stenosis, results in elevated renin and aldosterone levels. Renal venous catheterization may be helpful. A positive test is a renal venous renin ratio (affected:normal) above 1.5.
Comments:
Useful For: Investigation of primary aldosteronism (eg, adrenal adenoma/carcinoma and adrenal cortical hyperplasia) and secondary aldosteronism (renovascular disease, salt depletion, potassium loading, cardiac failure with ascites, pregnancy, Bartter syndrome).
Not useful for determination of plasma renin concentration.
Cautions: Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have the potential to "falsely elevate" PRA. Therefore, in a patient treated with an ACE-inhibitor, the findings of a detectable PRA level or a low SA:PRA ratio do not exclude the diagnosis of primary aldosteronism. In addition, a strong predictor for primary aldosteronism is a PRA level undetectably low in a patient taking an ACE-inhibitor.
Not useful for determination of plasma renin concentration.
Cautions: Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have the potential to "falsely elevate" PRA. Therefore, in a patient treated with an ACE-inhibitor, the findings of a detectable PRA level or a low SA:PRA ratio do not exclude the diagnosis of primary aldosteronism. In addition, a strong predictor for primary aldosteronism is a PRA level undetectably low in a patient taking an ACE-inhibitor.
Methodology:
Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
CPT Code:
84244