Specimen Requirements
Title
ALDOSTERONE, SERUM
Specimen Requirement
1-SST/1.0mL serum. Spin, separate and send refrigerated.
Methodology
Stability
Refrigerated 5 days, Frozen 14 days
Reference Range
By report*
Turnaround
4 days Performed Mon, Wed, Thurs
Clinical Use
Aldosterone is the main sodium-retaining hormone produced by the adrenal glands. It increases the reabsorption of sodium and water along with the excretion of potassium in the distal tubules of the kidneys. This action raises blood pressure. Serum aldosterone levels are affected by the sodium intake and whether the patient’s position (upright vs. supine). The upright value (obtained after 2 hours of upright posture) should be about 2 to 5 times the supine value obtained from recumbent patient in early am before arising from bed. Patients on a low sodium diet will also have a 2 to 5 fold increase in aldosterone levels over those on a normal “ad lib”” sodium diet
Test Code
hence reference values are quite variable and difficult to establish for each patient condition. Serum aldosterone is useful to evaluate patients with hard-to-control blood pressure