Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Level
(ACE)

Sample type:

Blood sample from vein (Serum)

Uses:

High in sarcoidosis, more often when the disease is active. Of value in assessing the response of sarcoidosis to corticosteroid therapy. Changes in serum ACE correlate with clinical status and results of gallium scans (which reflect presence and activity of inflammatory granulomatous lesions). Falling ACE level is a favorable prognostic sign. Rising levels may reflect activity uncontrolled by therapy.

Precautions:

• Follow your health care provider’s instructions for not eating or drinking for up to 12 hours before the test.

• Stop administration of captopril, enalapril, or lisinopril for 12 hours prior to venipuncture (reduces ACE activity).

• Specimen Type Serum Refrigerated (preferred) 7 days Frozen180 days Ambient24 hours.

Interference factor:

• If you are on steroid medicine, ask your provider if you need to stop the medicine before the test, because steroids can decrease ACE levels. DO NOT stop any medicine before talking to your provider.

• Granulomas, fibrosis and elevated ACE levels may also be seen with infectious disorders, such as leprosy and tuberculosis .

Pre-analytical errors:

Gross hemolysis ,lipemia, icterus,Specimen not serum.

The corrective action:

sample must be rejected and another sample be obtained.

Post analytical errors:

write the wrong name in the report or the wrong results.

The corrective action:

If the report is not delivered to the patient and this error is discovered, the correct result or the correct name must be written, but if the report is delivered to the patient, you must communicate with him, apologise to him, and tell him that an error has occurred and replace it with the correct report.

Reference Range:

Male/Female

Less than 18 years old: 29 to 112 U/L

Greater than or equal to 18 years old: 16 to 85 U/L

Reference Interval

Pediatric and adults:

0 to 2 years: 18−95 units/L

3 to 14 years: 22−108 units/L

15 years or older: 14−82 units/