Test Mnemonic
PROLM
CPT Codes
Includes
Performing Laboratory
LabCorp
Specimen Requirements
| Volume |
Type |
Container |
Collect Temperature |
Transport Temperature |
Special Instructions |
| 1.5 mL | Serum | SST (Gold) | | Refrigerated | Separate serum from cells and transfer into standard aliquot tube. |
Alternate Specimen Requirements
| Volume |
Type |
Container |
Collect Temperature |
Transport Temperature |
Special Instructions |
| 1.5 mL | Plasma | Lithium heparin PST (Lt. Green) | | Refrigerated | Separate plasma from cells and transfer into standard aliquot tube. |
| 1.5 mL | Serum | No additive (Red) | | Refrigerated | Separate serum from cells and transfer into standard aliquot tube. |
Minimum Specimen Requirements
| Volume |
Type |
Container |
Collect Temperature |
Transport Temperature |
Special Instructions |
| 1 mL | | | | | |
Stability
| Environmental Condition |
Description |
| Frozen | After separation from cells: 14 days (3 freeze/thaw cycles) |
| Refrigerated | After separation from cells: 14 days |
| Ambient | After separation from cells: 7 days |
Days Performed
Varies
Turnaround Time
4 - 5 days
Methodology
| Name |
Description |
| Electro Chemiluminescence Immunoassay (ECLIA) | |
Reference Range
| Prolact Macroadenoma |
| Sex |
Age From |
Age To |
Type |
Range |
Range Unit |
| | | | | Male: 4.0−15.2 ng/mL | |
| | | | Female: 4.8−23.3 ng/mL | |
Clinical Info
This test is useful for quantifying prolactin in serum specimens where the high-dose hook effect is suspected (e.g., presence of pituitary tumor with symptoms of prolactinoma and lower than expected serum prolactin concentration).
