Prolactin

PROLACTIN

Chemistry

Gold Top Tube

1 mL

Refrigerate

Refrigerated (2-8°C): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C or colder):1 year
If testing will be delayed > 24 hours remove from clot/gel
Avoid multiple freeze/thaw cycles

M - F

TAT 1 - 7 days

• Results should be used in conjunction with other data; e.g., symptoms, results of other tests, and clinical impressions.
• If the prolactin results are inconsistent with clinical evidence, additional testing is recommended.
• Specimens from patients who have received preparations of mouse monoclonal antibodies for diagnosis or therapy may contain human anti-mouse antibodies (HAMA). Such specimens may show either falsely elevated or depressed values when tested with assay kits such as Alinity i Prolactin that employ mouse monoclonal antibodies. Additional information may be required for diagnosis.18, 19
• Heterophilic antibodies in human serum can react with reagent immunoglobulins, interfering with in vitro immunoassays. Patients routinely exposed to animals or to animal serum products can be prone to this interference, and anomalous values may be observed. Additional information may be required for diagnosis.20
• Prolactin may exist in alternate structural forms (e.g. macroprolactin) which may exhibit variable levels of physiological activity. In patients with elevated prolactin results, additional information may be required for diagnosis. 21, 22, 23, 24, 25

Gender/Stage	Reference range	Units
Male	3 - 20	ng/mL
Female pre-menopausal	3 - 27	ng/mL
Female post-menopausal	2 - 20	ng/mL

During pregnancy and postpartum lactation, serum prolactin can increase 10- to 20-fold. Exercise, stress, and sleep also cause transient increases in prolactin levels. Consistently elevated serum prolactin levels (>30 ng/mL), in the absence of pregnancy and postpartum lactation, are indicative of hyperprolactinemia. Hypersecretion of prolactin can be caused by pituitary adenomas, hypothalamic disease, breast or chest wall stimulation, renal failure or hypothyroidism. A number of drugs, including many antidepressants, are also common causes of abnormally elevated prolactin levels. Hyperprolactinemia often results in galactorrhea, amenorrhea, and infertility in females, and in impotence and hypogonadism in males. Renal failure, hypothyroidism, and prolactin-secreting pituitary adenomas are also common causes of abnormally elevated prolactin levels.