Test Catalog

Test Id : PRA

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Renin Activity, Plasma

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Overview

Test Catalog

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

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.

Method Name
A short description of the method used to perform the test

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

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

NY State Available
Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.

Yes

Reporting Name
Lists a shorter or abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test

Renin Activity, P

Aliases
Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching

PRA (Plasma Renin Activity)

Specimen Type
Describes the specimen type validated for testing

Plasma EDTA

Specimen Required
Defines the optimal specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing

Patient Preparation: The plasma renin activity cannot be interpreted if the patient is being treated with spironolactone (Aldactone). Spironolactone should be discontinued for 4 to 6 weeks before testing.

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

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 2 mL

Collection Instructions:

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

2. Alternatively, draw blood directly in a chilled, EDTA tube.

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

4. Refrigerate specimen during centrifugation and immediately transfer plasma to plastic vial. (If a refrigerated centrifuge is unavailable, chill the centrifuge carriers. Centrifuge specimen for less than or equal to 5 minutes, then promptly transfer plasma.)

5. Immediately freeze plasma.

Additional Information: See Renin-Aldosterone Studies  for further information.

Special Instructions
Library of PDFs including pertinent information and forms related to the test

Forms

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

-General Request (T239)

-Cardiovascular Test Request (T724)

Specimen Minimum Volume
Defines the amount of sample necessary to provide a clinically relevant result as determined by the Testing Laboratory

1.15 mL

Reject Due To
Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected

Gross hemolysis Reject
Gross lipemia OK
Gross icterus OK

Specimen Stability Information
Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the performing laboratory, alternate acceptable temperatures are also included

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Plasma EDTA Frozen 14 days

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

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.

Clinical Information
Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test

The renal juxtaglomerular apparatus generates renin, an enzyme that converts angiotensinogen to angiotensin I. The inactive angiotensin I is enzymatically converted to the active octapeptide angiotensin II, a potent vasopressor responsible for hypertension of renal origin. Angiotensin II also stimulates the zona glomerulosa of the adrenal cortex to release aldosterone.

 

Renin secretion by the kidney is stimulated by a fall in glomerular blood pressure, by decreased sodium concentration at the macula densa at the distal tubule, or by stimulation of sympathetic outflow to the kidney, such as in renal vascular diseases.  

Reference Values
Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Na-depleted, upright (peripheral vein specimen)

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

2.9-24.0 ng/mL/hour (range)

> or =40 years: 5.9 ng/mL/hour (mean)

2.9-10.8 ng/mL/hour (range)

 

Na-replete, upright (peripheral vein specimen)

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

< or =0.6-4.3 ng/mL/hour (range)

> or =40 years: 1.0 ng/mL/hour (mean)

< or =0.6-3.0 ng/mL/hour (range)

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

Interpretation
Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results

A high ratio of serum aldosterone (SA) 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. A SA:PRA ratio > or =20 and SA of > or =15 ng/dL indicates probable primary aldosteronism.

 

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

 

See Renin-Aldosterone Studies.

Cautions
Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have the potential to falsely elevate plasma renin activity (PRA). Therefore, in a patient treated with an ACE-inhibitor, the findings of a detectable PRA level or a low serum aldosterone PRA ratio do not exclude the diagnosis of primary aldosteronism. In addition, a strong predictor for primary aldosteronism is a PRA level undetectably low in a patient taking an ACE-inhibitor.

Clinical Reference
Recommendations for in-depth reading of a clinical nature

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

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

Method Description
Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference

The renin in plasma is allowed to act on the plasma's endogenous substrate, angiotensinogen, producing angiotensin I. This is measured by mass spectrometry. Renin activity is expressed in nanograms of angiotensin produced per milliliter of plasma per hour of incubation.(Fredline VF, Kovacs EM, Taylor PJ, Johnson AG: Measurement of plasma renin activity with use of HPL celectrospray-tandem mass spectrometry. Clin Chem. 1999 May;45[5]:659-664)

PDF Report
Indicates whether the report includes an additional document with charts, images or other enriched information

No

Day(s) Performed
Outlines the days the test is performed. This field reflects the day that the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means that assays are performed multiple times during the day.

Monday through Friday

Report Available
The interval of time (receipt of sample at Mayo Clinic Laboratories to results available) taking into account standard setup days and weekends. The first day is the time that it typically takes for a result to be available. The last day is the time it might take, accounting for any necessary repeated testing.

2 to 5 days

Specimen Retention Time
Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded

14 days

Performing Laboratory Location
Indicates the location of the laboratory that performs the test

Rochester

Fees
Several factors determine the fee charged to perform a test. Contact your U.S. or International Regional Manager for information about establishing a fee schedule or to learn more about resources to optimize test selection.

  • Authorized users can sign in to Test Prices for detailed fee information.
  • Clients without access to Test Prices can contact Customer Service 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Prospective clients should contact their account representative. For assistance, contact Customer Service.

Test Classification
Provides information regarding the medical device classification for laboratory test kits and reagents. Tests may be classified as cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used per manufacturer instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR) product.

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
Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Clinic Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.

CPT codes are provided by the performing laboratory.

84244

LOINC® Information
Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the order and results codes of this test. LOINC values are provided by the performing laboratory.

Test Id Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
PRA Renin Activity, P 2915-7
Result Id Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
Applies only to results expressed in units of measure originally reported by the performing laboratory. These values do not apply to results that are converted to other units of measure.
8060 Renin Activity, P 2915-7

Test Setup Resources

Setup Files
Test setup information contains test file definition details to support order and result interfacing between Mayo Clinic Laboratories and your Laboratory Information System.

Excel | PHP Pdf | CMS Pdf

Sample Reports
Normal and Abnormal sample reports are provided as references for report appearance.

Normal Reports | Abnormal Reports

SI Sample Reports
International System (SI) of Unit reports are provided for a limited number of tests. These reports are intended for international account use and are only available through MayoLINK accounts that have been defined to receive them.

SI Normal Reports | SI Abnormal Reports