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Order Code LAB1382 Renin Activity, Plasma

Important Note

Draw 2 Lavender or one Pink EDTA to assure enough plasma for testing.

 

Must CHILL specimen during centrifugation and freeze plasma immediately- read specimen requirements carefully for processing information.

Additional Codes

Mayo Test ID
PRA

Reporting Name

Renin Activity, P

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)

 

This test is not useful for determination of plasma renin concentration.

Specimen Type

Plasma EDTA


Specimen Required


Patient Preparation: For 4 to 6 weeks before specimen collection, spironolactone (Aldactone) should be discontinued, as plasma renin activity cannot be interpreted if the patient is being treated with spironolactone.

Supplies: Sarstedt Aliquot Tube, 5 mL (T914)

Collection Container/Tube: Chilled, lavender top (EDTA)

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 0.8 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Draw blood in a chilled syringe from a patient in a seated position; place specimen in a chilled, 3-mL lavender-top (EDTA) tube and mix well. Alternatively, draw blood directly in a chilled, EDTA tube.

2. Immediately place EDTA tube into an ice-water bath until thoroughly cooled.

3. Immediately centrifuge using a refrigerated centrifuge and aliquot plasma into a plastic vial.

Note: If a refrigerated centrifuge is unavailable, chill the centrifuge carriers before use. Centrifuge specimen for 5 minutes or less, then promptly aliquot plasma into a plastic vial.

4. Immediately freeze plasma.


Specimen Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Plasma EDTA Frozen 14 days

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis Reject
Gross lipemia OK
Gross icterus OK

Reference Values

0-2 years: 4.6 ng/mL/h (mean)* Range: 1.4-7.8 ng/mL/h

3-5 years: 2.5 ng/mL/h (mean)* Range: 1.5-3.5 ng/mL/h

6-8 years: 1.4 ng/mL/h (mean)* Range: 0.8-2.0 ng/mL/h

9-11 years: 1.9 ng/mL/h (mean)* Range: 0.9-2.9 ng/mL/h

12-17 years: 1.8 ng/mL/h (mean)* Range: 1.2-2.4 ng/mL/h

Mean data not standardized as to time of day or diet. Infants were supine, children sitting.

*Stalker HP, Holland NH, Kotchen JM, Kotchen TA. Plasma renin activity in healthy children. J Pediatr. 1976;89(2):256-258

 

Na-depleted, upright (peripheral vein specimen)

18-39 years: 10.8 ng/mL/h (mean)

2.9-24.0 ng/mL/h (range)

≥40 years: 5.9 ng/mL/h (mean)

2.9-10.8 ng/mL/h (range)

 

Na-replete, upright (peripheral vein specimen)

18-39 years: 1.9 ng/mL/h (mean)

≤0.6-4.3 ng/mL/hour (range)

≥40 years: 1.0 ng/mL/h (mean)

≤0.6-3.0 ng/mL/h (range)

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Friday, Sunday

Method Name

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

Portions of this test are covered by patents held by Quest Diagnostics

CPT Code Information

84244

Special Instructions

Method Description

The renin in plasma is allowed to act on the plasma's endogenous substrate, angiotensinogen, producing angiotensin I. This is measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Renin activity is expressed in nanograms (ng) of angiotensin produced per mL of plasma per hour of incubation. The primary metabolite of renin activity, angiotensin I, is cleaved by converting enzyme to angiotensin II.

 

By inhibiting the action of converting enzyme and the angiotensinases with EDTA, dimercaprol (BAL) and 8-hydroxyquinoline, it is possible to indirectly measure the activity of renin during a controlled incubation by measuring the concentration (in ng) of angiotensin I that is generated.

 

It has been demonstrated that maximum renin activity occurs at a generation system pH of 5.5-6.0. Therefore, generation conditions are adjusted to this pH range.

 

Using the Hamilton STAR, EDTA Plasma is mixed with generation buffer in the 0° C generation tray. The sample/buffer mix is transferred to a 37° C generation tray. The 37° C tray is incubated in a shaking waterbath for 1 hour. During that incubation time, the 0° C tray has internal standard (IS) added and is crashed, then placed on a titer plate shaker for a minimum of 15 minutes. Once the hour incubation is complete, the 37° C tray also has IS and crash solution added and is shaken for 15 minutes. The plates are then centrifuged and placed back on the Hamilton STAR. The supernatant layer is transferred to the designated 0° C and 37° C round bottom DW96 collection plates. The plates are dried down under nitrogen, reconstituted and analyzed for AngI by LC-MS/MS.

 

Transitions for LC-MS/MS

AngI-1 analyte: 433.1 m/z to 513.4 m/z; Internal standard: 435.1 m/z to 519.4 m/z

AngI-2 analyte: 433.1 m/z to 647.4 m/z; Internal standard: 435.1 m/z to 647.4 m/z

(Unpublished Mayo Method)

Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send 1 of the following forms with the specimen:

-General Request (T239)

-Cardiovascular Test Request (T724)