Test Overview
Chemiluminescence
Evaluate the role of renin in the differential diagnosis of hypertension.
Upright: <= 40 years, 4.0 - 44.0 pg/mL; > 40 years, 4.0 - 60 pg/mL
Supine (more than 30 minutes): <= 40 years; 3.0 - 30 pg/mL; > 40 years, 3.0 - 42.0 pg/mL. Contact the MLabs Client Services Center for interpretation by the Hypertension Unit (936-4790).
Test Details
8 hours
Specimen Requirements
Collect specimen in a lavender top tube (EDTA). Centrifuge, aliquot plasma into a plastic vial, and freeze within 1 hour. Do not refrigerate the sample.
Additional Information
When screening for primary hyperaldosteronism, both renin and aldosterone are best interpreted together.
1) If plasma renin mass is less than 8 pg/mL and:
· aldosterone of less than 10 ng/dL: Unlikely primary aldosteronism
· aldosterone of 10 to 20 ng/dL: Possible primary aldosteronism
· aldosterone of greater than 20 ng/dL: Suggestive of primary aldosteronism
2) If plasma renin mass is greater than or equal to 8 pg/mL and:
· the ratio of aldosterone to plasma renin mass is greater than 2.6 (ng/dL:pg/mL), findings are suggestive of primary aldosteronism
Multiple factors including medications, sodium status, and other causes may influence these values and could potentially lead to false-positive or false-negative results; these factors should be considered in interpretation as noted in Endocrine Society guidelines [Funder JW et al. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2016, 101(5):1889-1916].