Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Synonyms ACTH; Adrenal Corticotropin; Corticotropin

Laboratory Core Laboratory

Referral to Reference Laboratory

Request Form Routine Blood Requisition

Phone (212) 305-8600

Availability Daily, 24 hours

Turnaround Time 5-7 days

Specimen Blood

Volume 6 mL

Minimum Volume 2 mL plasma

Container Lavender top (EDTA) tube

Collection Place tubes on ice immediately.

Storage Instructions Transport specimen to the laboratory immediately. Separate plasma and freeze immediately in a plastic vial.

Patient Preparation NPO after midnight. Patient must avoid having radioisotope scan administered 24 hours prior to venipuncture.

Causes for Rejection Specimen more than 30 minutes in transit to the laboratory, specimen not received on ice, recently administered radioisotopes

Reference Range <70 pg/mL

Use Pituitary function test useful in the differential diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome, the ectopic ACTH syndrome (eg, carcinoma of lung, islet cell tumors, carcinoid tumors, medullary carcinoma of thyroid), adrenal insufficiency, Addison's disease, hypopituitarism, ACTH-producing pituitary tumors (eg, Nelson's syndrome), and androgenital syndrome

Methodology Immunoassay