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HelpTest Code ALAV Aldosterone, Left Adrenal Vein, Serum
Reporting Name
Aldosterone, LAVPerforming Laboratory
Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester
Specimen Type
SerumSpecimen Required
Patient Preparation: Spironolactone (Aldactone) should be discontinued for 4 to 6 weeks before testing. The plasma renin activity cannot be interpreted if the patient is being treated with spironolactone.
Collection Container/Tube:
Preferred: Red top
Acceptable: Serum gel
Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial
Specimen Volume: 1.8 mL
Collection Instructions:
1. See Renin-Aldosterone Studies for detailed instructions.
2. The recommended collection time is 8 a.m., after the patient is active for approximately 2 hours. Try to collect the specimen as close to that time as possible and no later than 10 a.m.
3. Centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial.
Specimen Minimum Volume
1 mL
Specimen Stability Information
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serum | Refrigerated (preferred) | 28 days | |
| Frozen | 30 days | ||
| Ambient | 4 days |
Special Instructions
Reference Values
No established reference values.
Day(s) Performed
Monday through Friday
Test Classification
This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.CPT Code Information
82088
LOINC Code Information
| Test ID | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| ALAV | Aldosterone, LAV | 1763-2 |
| Result ID | Test Result Name | Result LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| 6349 | Aldosterone, LAV | 1763-2 |
Report Available
2 to 5 daysSpecimen Retention Time
14 daysReject Due To
| Gross hemolysis | OK |
| Gross lipemia | OK |
| Gross icterus | OK |
Cautions
Late p.m. levels can be up to 30% lower than early a.m. levels. Supine values are on average 50% lower than upright collections. Sodium-deplete patients have significantly elevated serum aldosterone (SA) levels, potentially exceeding the upper limit of the salt replete upright reference range by several fold. To account for these variables, at least in part, it is recommended that plasma renin activity (PRA) is measured concomitantly. In situations of physiological variability, PRA should be altered in the same direction as aldosterone. For more information see Renin-Aldosterone Studies.
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, in a patient taking an ACE inhibitor, an undetectably low PRA level is a strong predictor for primary aldosteronism.
Method Name
Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
Useful For
Investigation using left adrenal vein specimen for:
-Primary aldosteronism (eg, adrenal adenoma/carcinoma and adrenal cortical hyperplasia)
-Secondary aldosteronism (renovascular disease, salt depletion, potassium loading, cardiac failure with ascites, pregnancy, Bartter syndrome)
Clinical Information
Aldosterone stimulates sodium transport across cell membranes, particularly in the distal renal tubule where sodium is exchanged for hydrogen and potassium. Secondarily, aldosterone is important in the maintenance of blood pressure and blood volume.
Aldosterone is the major mineralocorticoid and is produced by the adrenal cortex.
The renin-angiotensin system is the primary regulator of the synthesis and secretion of aldosterone. Likewise, increased concentrations of potassium in the plasma may directly stimulate adrenal production of the hormone. Under physiologic conditions, pituitary adrenocorticotropic hormone is not a major factor in regulating aldosterone secretion.
For more information see Steroid Pathways.
Interpretation
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. An SA:PRA ratio of 20 or higher is only interpretable with an SA of 15 ng/dL or higher and indicates probable primary aldosteronism.
Kidney 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.
Note: Advice on stimulation or suppression tests is available from Mayo Clinic's Division of Endocrinology and may be obtained by calling 800-533-1710.
Clinical Reference
1. Young WF Jr: Primary aldosteronism: A common and curable form of hypertension. Cardiol Rev. 1999 Jul-Aug;7(4):207-214
2. Young WF Jr: Pheochromocytoma and primary aldosteronism: diagnostic approaches. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 1997 Dec;26(4):801-827
3. Hurwitz S, Cohen RJ, Williams GH: Diurnal variation of aldosterone and plasma renin activity: timing relation to melatonin and cortisol and consistency after prolonged bed rest. J Appl Physiol. 2004 Apr;96(4):1406-1414
Method Description
Aldosterone-d6 is added to serum and plasma samples as an internal standard. Aldosterone and aldosterone-d6 are extracted from the specimens using a Strata X cartridge. The eluate is dried down under nitrogen, reconstituted with 70/30 methanol/water containing estriol and analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry using multiple reaction monitoring in the negative mode.(Fredline VF, Taylor PJ, Dodds HM, Johnson AG: A reference method for the analysis of aldosterone in blood by high-performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-tandem mass spectrometry. Anal Biochem. 1997 Oct 15;252[2]:308-313)