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Aldolase, Blood (Referred Out)- Saskatoon

Discipline

Biochemistry

Overview

Description

NOT recommended to measure aldose activity in serum of patients with suspected muscle disease because the test result DOES NOT add information to that available more readily from measurement of other enzymes, especially CK.
Before specimen collection, please have test cleared by clinical biochemist on-call through RUH switch board.

Specimen Information

Specimen types accepted

Serum

Specimen collection container

Preferred collection container: Red (no additive) 6 mL

Required volume

Optimal volume: Full 4.5 mL collection tube
Minimum volume: 1.0 mL

(Submitting the minimum volume makes it impossible to repeat the test or perform confirmatory/reflex testing. In some situations, a minimum volume may require a second collection.)

Pediatric volume: 0.5 mL

Transport and stability

Frozen: 60 days
Refrigerated: 7 days

Rejection criteria

Specimens received where the proper collection protocols were not followed
Gross hemolysis, lipemia, icterus
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Acceptance and Rejection Criteria

Performance

Methodology

Photometric

Days/times performed

Availability	Shipped overnight Tuesdays Three day turnaround time once received at testing laboratory
Testing site	Referred out by St. Paul’s Hospital Laboratory to Mayo Medical Laboratories (Rochester, MN)

Maximum laboratory time

Three day turnaround time by testing laboratory
Shipped overnight Tuesdays

Other information

Serum aldolase has some clinical interest in primary disease of skeletal muscle, such as progressive muscular dystrophy and polymyositis; some researcher reported that increased aldolase activity is useful in distinguishing neuromuscular atrophies from myopathies in combination with the CK and AST. However, it does not add additional information to CK activity measurement clinically. Laboratory discourages serum aldolase activity measurement.

Last Updated: October 3, 2024