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Aldosterone/Renin Panel, Plasma (Referred Out) - Saskatoon

Discipline

Biochemistry

Overview

Description

Ordering recommendation

  • ​Patient Preparation:  Collect blood between 7am - 10am after patient has been sitting, standing, or walking for at least 30 minutes and seated for 5 - 15 minutes (in upright position).  Fasting specimens preferred but not required.

​​Test ordering requirements

Preferred specimen collection
  • Refer patient to a Laboratory Health Services Centre or a Hospital Test Centre able to process specimens within required time frame

Alias

  • Aldosterone
  • ​Renin 

Specimen Information

Specimen types accepted

  • Plasma

Specimen collection container

Collection procedure

  • Freeze plasma as soon as possible after collection.
  • If specimen thaws, it is unsuitable for analysis

Required volume

  • ​Optimal volume: One 4.0 mL Full collection tube
  • Minimum volume: 2 mL plasma
  • Pediatric volume: 1 mL plasma

(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.)

Rejection criteria

Performance

Days/times performed

Availability
  • Shipped Monday to Sunday
Testing site
  • Referred out by St. Paul’s Hospital Laboratory to the Roy Romanow Provincial Laboratory

Maximum laboratory time

Results reporting
  • 6 day turn around time by testing laboratory

Other information

Additional comments
  • Reference Range for Aldosterone:
    • Upright Posture: 110 - 860 pmol/L
    • Reference ranges provided are based on the 2.5th - 97.5th percentile.
  • Reference Range for Renin (Direct):
    • Upright Posture: <55 ng/L
    • Reference ranges provided are based on the 2.5th - 97.5th percentile.
  • Aldosterone/Renin Ratio:

    • <50:  Aldosteronism is unlikely when the ARR is less than 50

  • The testing results are affected by posture, sodium intake, diuretics and hypertensive medication
  • All reference ranges assume normokalemic ambulatory patients with normal salt intake, not on hypertension medication

Last Updated: October 21, 2024