List All Test Names Beginning With:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Microbiology Sources | Microbiology Tests | Anatomic Pathology | Cytopathology

Aldosterone/Renin Ratio

Source Blood
Mnemonic ALDOS/REN

Order ALDOS/REN if:
1)  Aldosterone and Renin are ordered together, or
2)  Aldosterone/Renin Ratio or PRA Ratio is written on the requisition
 
Prompts:
Position - is the patient upright or lying down?  For PSC and outpatients, enter "Upright".
Minutes in Position - how many minutes has the patient been in this position?  For PSC and outpatients, calculate how many minutes the patient has been awake. If patient is unavailable to confirm and if not indicated on requisition, enter "0".

If physician has provided salt intake information or Lasix information, add as an order note.

Both aldosterone and renin will be ordered and must be collected at the same time.


Specimen Requirements Collections performed at acute care (RRL) sites and all PSCs.
Cannot be collected by Mobile Collection Service (MCS).

Collect specimens before 10:00 due to fluctuations in renin levels throughout the day.

Aldosterone  1 x 3.5 mL gold top SST tube
                        1.5 mL serum

Renin              1 x 4 mL lavender top EDTA tube
                         2 x 1.5 mL plasma

Minimum Whole Blood Volumes for Micro-Collections using Microtainers

Store tubes for renin collection at 4ºC (refrigerator)
Collect blood in chilled (4ºC) tube. DO NOT use tourniquet.



Specimen Handling Aldosterone: Use label indicating GOLD SST with ALIQ/-/FRZ handling.

PSC & RRL:
Centrifuge, pour off and transport serum to DSC.

Extra-regional:
Centrifuge and freeze serum prior to transport to DSC.

DSC:
Freeze specimens upon receipt in lab; ensure frozen specimens do not thaw.



Renin:  Use the 2 labels indicating SEE GTS.

Mix and chill immediately after collection. 
Centrifuge at 4ºC + 2ºC ASAP.
Remove plasma to 2 chilled plastic tubes. 

RRL and extra-regional:
Process and transport frozen to DSC.

PSC:
Process and transport frozen or attached to ice pack to DSC.

DSC:
Freeze specimens upon receipt in lab; ensure frozen specimens do not thaw.


Additional Information
Testing Location Immunochemistry
Testing Frequency Weekly
Alternate Name(s) PRA (Plasma Renin Activity), PRA Ratio
Reference Interval Definition of a positive screening test for hyperaldosteronism: plasma aldosterone/renin activity ratio greater than 550 aldosterone (pmol/L) / renin (ng/mL/h) according to the Canadian Hypertension Education Program guidelines (http://www.hypertension.ca/chep-recommendations and http://www.hypertension.ca/iframes/cheptables/table6t.html?ml=1).