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Test Code PALD Aldosterone, Plasma


Specimen Required


Collection Container/Tube: Lavender top (EDTA)

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 2 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. See Renin-Aldosterone Studies for detailed instructions.

2. The recommended collection time is 8 a.m., after the patient is active for approximately 2 hours. Try to collect the specimen as close to that time as possible and no later than 10 a.m.

3. Centrifuge and aliquot plasma into a plastic vial.


Useful For

Investigation of primary aldosteronism (eg, adrenal adenoma/carcinoma and adrenal cortical hyperplasia) and secondary aldosteronism (renovascular disease, salt depletion, potassium loading, cardiac failure with ascites, pregnancy, Bartter syndrome) using plasma specimens

Testing Algorithm

For more information see Steroid Pathways.

Method Name

Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

Reporting Name

Aldosterone, P

Specimen Type

Plasma EDTA

Specimen Minimum Volume

1.2 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Plasma EDTA Frozen (preferred) 30 days
  Refrigerated  28 days
  Ambient  4 days

Reference Values

0-30 days: 17-154 ng/dL*

31 days-11 months: 6.5-86 ng/dL*

1-10 years:

≤40 ng/dL (supine)*

≤124 ng/dL (upright)*

≥11 years: ≤21 ng/dL (a.m. peripheral vein specimen)

 

*Loeuille GA, Racadot A, Vasseur P, Vandewalle B. Blood and urinary aldosterone levels in normal neonates, infants and children. Pediatrie. 1981;36(5):335-344

 

For International System of Units (SI) conversion for Reference Values, see www.mayocliniclabs.com/order-tests/si-unit-conversion.html.

Interpretation

A high ratio of plasma aldosterone (PA) in ng/dL to plasma renin activity (PRA) in ng/mL per hour, is a positive screening test result, a finding that warrants further testing. An PA/PRA ratio greater than or equal to 20 is only interpretable with an PA greater than or equal to 15 ng/dL and indicates probable primary aldosteronism.

 

Kidney disease, such as unilateral renal artery stenosis, results in elevated renin and aldosterone levels. Renal venous catheterization may be helpful. A positive test is a renal venous renin ratio (affected/normal) greater than 1.5.

 

Note: Advice on stimulation or suppression tests is available from Mayo Clinic's Division of Endocrinology and may be obtained by calling 800-533-1710.

Clinical Reference

1. Young WF Jr. Primary aldosteronism: A common and curable form of hypertension. Cardiol Rev. 1999;7(4):207-214

2. Young WF Jr. Pheochromocytoma and primary aldosteronism: diagnostic approaches. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 1997;26(4):801-827

3. Hurwitz S, Cohen RJ, Williams GH. Diurnal variation of aldosterone and plasma renin activity: timing relation to melatonin and cortisol and consistency after prolonged bed rest. J Appl Physiol. 2004;96(4):1406-1414

4. Inoue K, Goldwater D, Allison M, Seeman T, Kestenbaum BR, Watson KE. Serum aldosterone concentration, blood pressure, and coronary artery calcium: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. [published correction appears in Hypertension. 2021 Mar 3;77(3):e34]. Hypertension. 2020;76(1):113-120. doi:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.120.15006

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Friday

Report Available

2 to 5 days

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Test Classification

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

CPT Code Information

82088

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
PALD Aldosterone, P 1763-2

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
65424 Aldosterone, P 1763-2