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Prolactin
minimum sample volume required ~ 5ml
Test Code: PRL
Tube type: SST
Other acceptable tube types
Lithium heparin (pale green)
Special instructions
Please give clinical details including drug history (particularly for anti-psychotic medication)
Time limit for add on
24 hours post collection
Action Limit
>700
Units
mIU/L
Turnaround Time
7
days
Department: Biochemistry
Clinical Application
Prolactin is useful in the investigation of amenorrhea, infertility, hypogonadism and suspected prolactinoma.
Raised prolactin may arise from normal pregnancy and lactation, PCOS, many drugs, particularly anti-psychotic medication, stress, renal failure, hypothyroidism and other pituitary disease.
Rarely, a biologically inactive form of immunoglobulin bound prolactin can interfere in our routine assay and cause falsely raised results. All raised prolactin results are reviewed clinically and an in-house screening test to exclude interference is performed if appropriate. If this interference is present, the bioactive prolactin will be reported and is the result that should be used clinically.
Please contact a Biochemist should you wish to discuss prolactin interference studies (x4050).
