Prolactin

Test Code

PROLA

Alias/See Also

Epic: LAB531

PRL (Prolactin)

Preferred Specimen

Specimen Type: Serum
Collection Container: Serum gel
Specimen Volume: 3 mL

Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Instructions

Centrifuge and separate cells after clot formation and within 4 hours of collection. Remove serum if testing will be delayed more than 24 hours

Transport Container

Plastic vial

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated (on gel): 24 hours
Refrigerated (off gel): 7 days
Frozen: 12 months

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Samples stored on gel >24 hours, unlabeled, mislabeled, wrong tube type, hemolyzed, QNS, exceeds specimen stability requirements.

Methodology

Chemiluminescent Micro-particle Immunoassay (CMIA)

Setup Schedule

Daily

Report Available

Same day

Limitations

If the prolactin results are inconsistent with clinical evidence, additional testing is supposed to confirm the results.
Patients receiving mouse monoclonal antibodies for diagnosis or treatment may develop Human anti-mouse antibodies (HAMA). HAMA may cause falsely elevated or decreased values when tested with assay kits which employ mouse monoclonal antibodies. Additional information may be required for diagnosis.
Heterophilic antibodies in human serum can react with reagent immunoglobulins, interfering with in vitro immunoassays.
Gross hemolysis, icterus and lipemia have <10% interference with the Prolactin assay

Reference Range

Males: 3.5 - 19.4 ng/mL
Females: 5.2 - 26.5 ng/mL

Clinical Significance

Prolactin is produced by the anterior pituitary and its secretion is regulated physiologically by inhibitory and releasing factors of the hypothalamus. Prolactin appears in the blood promptly after administration of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). The major physiologic action of prolactin is the initiation and maintenance of lactation in women. Hyperprolactinemia has been established as a common cause of infertility and gonadal disorders in men and women. Prolactin has been shown to inhibit the secretion of ovarian steroids and to interfere with follicle maturation and the secretion of LH and FSH in the human female. Measurement of elevated serum prolactin levels may provide the first quantitative evidence of pituitary dysfunction. Quantitation of prolactin levels is also of interest in the evaluation and management of patients with amenorrhea and galactorrhea.

Performing Laboratory

Inova Laboratories

2832 Juniper Street

Fairfax, VA 22031

Last Updated: March 8, 2023
Last Review: N. Wolford, March 8, 2023

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.