Aldosterone

Referred to Berkshire & Surrey Pathology Services, Frimley Park Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Portsmouth Road, Frimley, Surrey GU16 7UJ
 

Alternative names, keywords

 

Samples required

● EDTA blood (purple cap/ yellow cap ring, 4 mL tube). Smaller tubes are available for paediatric samples.

Bring to lab for immediate attention (plasma must be separated within 4h). Renin and aldosterone can both be done on the same EDTA sample.

State drug treatment, BP, recumbency if known.

Test indications

Useful to investigate hypertension, especially resistant hypertension, in younger patients, and with hypokalaemia, although note that Conn’s may lack these features.

Click here for renin.

Reference range

Supine 100 - 450 pmol/L
Erect 100 - 800 pmol/L

Aldosterone/renin ratio:
<80     Conn's unlikely
80 - 200     Conn's not excluded
>200     Conn's likely
 

Please note that due to a change of provider at our referral laboratory the method for this test will change from 13 July 2026. New reference range for aldosterone will be 90-700 pmol/L.

Units for renin will change from mass units (mU/L) to renin activity measured in nmol/L/h. Results will not be comparable with previous.
 

Turnaround time

Referral lab quotes turnaround time of 13 days, however additional time must be allowed for packing, dispatch and delivery of sample, and return and processing of results.

Enquiries

Biochemistry (Referrals)

 

Details