ACTH, Plasma

Message

For Specimen Integrity during Extreme Weather see the “Lockbox Usage in Extreme Weather” document at the top of this page.

Test Code

ACTH

Alias/See Also

211, ACTH

CPT Codes
82024

Preferred Specimen

1.5 mL plasma collected in an EDTA (lavender-top) tube

Patient Preparation
Draw specimen between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. If drawn during any other time, the reference ranges do not apply.

Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Other Acceptable Specimens

PPT potassium EDTA (white-top) tube

Instructions

Draw specimens between 7AM and 10AM. If drawn during any other time, the reference ranges do not apply. Centrifuge immediately. Transfer the plasma to a plastic transport tube and ship frozen. Do not thaw. (If unable to centrifuge immediately, specimen must be kept on ice and spun within 1 hr of collection).
Specimen cannot be shared, draw a separate tube for any other plasma testing.

Transport Temperature

Frozen

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: 16 hours
Refrigerated: 24 hours
Frozen: 28 days

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

Lavender top received on ice more than 1 hr post collection or received room temperature. Quest will reject if plasma received room temperature or refrigerated.

Methodology
Immunoassay (IA)

Setup Schedule

Set up: Mon-Sat; Report available: Same day

Limitations

With patients receiving more than 5mg/day of biotin, a sample should be taken no sooner than eight hours after previous dose. Patients treated with monoclonal mouse antibodies may have inaccurate results. High titer of antibodies such as streptavidin and ruthenium may cause interference. Due to its correlation with cortisol levels, ACTH concentration is affected by stress. Any single measure may be within the reference range for patients with increased production (Cushing's disease) or minimal production of ACTH.

Reference Range

<3 Years	Not established
3-17 Years	9-57 pg/mL
≥18 Years	6-50 pg/mL

Clinical Significance

Determination of ACTH is useful in differentiating between primary and secondary adrenocortical hypo- and hyperfunctional disorders: Addison's Disease, Cushing's Syndrome, Adrenal Carcinoma, Ectopic ACTH Syndrome, Nodular Hyperplasia.

Performing Laboratory
Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute
14225 Newbrook Drive
Chantilly, VA 20153

Last Updated: May 16, 2024

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.