ACTH Stimulation Test, Prolonged Synonyms Cortrosyn® Test; Cosyntropin Test; Synacthen Test

Laboratory Specialty Laboratory

Request Form Routine Blood Requisition

Phone (212) 305-2722

Availability Mon-Fri, 8 AM - 4 PM

Turnaround Time Same day if in lab by 10 AM

Special Instructions Precisely record time blood is drawn.

Specimen Blood

Volume 6 mL

Minimum Volume 2 mL serum

Container Gold top tube

Collection Draw 6 mL blood into gold top tube at 8 AM. Infuse 25 units ACTH in 500 mL dextrose water over a 4-hour period, from 8 AM - noon. Patients suspected of adrenal hypofunction should receive the ACTH in dextrose-saline. Draw another 6 mL blood into gold top tube at noon.

Storage Instructions Label pre- and post-ACTH. Send to the laboratory for cortisol determination.

Patient Preparation ACTH is administered intravenously over 6-8 hours on 2-3 successive days.

Reference Range Pre-ACTH: 5-25

g/dL; post-ACTH: 25-50

g/dL

Use Diagnose Addison's disease vs hypopituitarism

Methodology Chemiluminescent immunoassay