Category
SPECIAL CHEMISTRY.
Sub Category
ENDOCRINE
Synonyms/Aliases
N/A.
Abbreviations
PRL.
Type
INDIVIDUAL TEST
3 HOURS
RESULTS READY/ REPORTED IN 3 HOURS.
Method
IMMUNOASSAY.
Temp
AMBIENT, REFRIGERATED (PREFERRED) OR FROZEN.
Setup
DAILY.
Components Parameters
NOT APPLICABLE.
PRE-ANALYTIC CONSIDERATIONS
Test Ordering Instructions
FILL OUT TEST REQUEST FORM FULLY & LEGIBLY.
Patient preparation
STRENOUS EXERCISE SHOULD BE AVOIDED PRIOR TO COLLECTION & PATIENT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AWAKE FOR AT LEAST 2 HOURS.
Sample type
SERUM. HEPARIN PLASMA IS AN ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATE SPECIMEN.
Container/ preservative
SERUM SEPARATOR TUBE (SST/ GEL) OR PLAIN (RED TOP) VACUTAINER.
Sample volume
AT LEAST 2ML.
Rejection criteria
LABELING ISSUE (UNLABELED/ MISLABELED); MISSING REQUEST FORM; MISMATCH BETWEEN REQUEST FORM & SAMPLE DETAILS; MISSING AGE/ GENDER; WRONG SAMPLE TYPE; INSUFFICIENT SAMPLE.
Other Instructions
CENTRIFUGE SST (SERUM GEL TUBES) WITHIN 1-2 HOURS OF COLLECTION. CENTRIFUGE RED TOP VACUTAINERS AND ALIQUOT SERUM WITHIN 1-2 HOURS OF COLLECTION. THE SEPARATION VIAL MUST BE LABELED WITH AT LEAST 2 PATIENT IDENTIFIERS AND THE SAMPLE TYPE. PHYSIOLOGIC INCREASES OCCUR WITH SLEEP, PREGNANCY, LACTATION, NIPPLE STIMULATION.
Reference intervals
AGE & GENDER APPROPRIATE VALUES ARE PROVIDED ON THE REPORT.
Clinical Utility
EVALUATION OF GALACTORRHEA, AMENORRHEA, INFERTILITY & IMPOTENCE. DIAGNOSIS AND MONITORING OF PROLACTINOMAS (PROLACTIN PRODUCING PITUITARY ADENOMAS) & DISEASES OF THE HYPOTHALAMUS.
Test Limitations/ Confounders
FALSELY INCREASED LEVELS CAN OCCUR DUE TO MACROPROLACTINEMIA (MACROPROLACTIN IS A PROLACTIN-IMMUNOGLOBULIN COMPLEX THAT IS BIOLOGICALLY INACTIVE) & THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN PATIENTS WHO HAVE ELEVATED PROLACTIN LEVELS BUT ARE ASYMPTOMATIC & HAVE NEGATIVE IMAGING. LOWER THAN EXPECTED RESULTS CAN OCCUR DUE TO HIGH DOSE HOOK EFFECT AND IF THIS IS SUSPECTED, THE LAB SHOULD BE INFORMED. IMMUNOASSAY INTERFERENCE CAN GIVE RISE TO SPURIOUS RESULTS. SUCH INTERFERENCE CAN ARISE FROM PRESENCE OF HETEROPHILE ANTIBODIES, ANTI-ANIMAL ANTIBODIES, AUTOANTIBODIES, PARAPROTEINS, BIOTIN ETC. RESULTS SHOULD ALWAYS BE CORRELATED WITH CLINICAL FINDINGS. INCREASED LEVELS CAN BE SEEN IN RENAL DISEASE & HYPOTHYROIDISM. DRUGS CAN ALTER LEVELS E.G. OCPs, ANTIDEPRESSANTS, ANTIPSYCHOTICS, DOPAMINE, L-DOPA, METOCLOPRAMIDE ETC.