Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone stimulation
(CRH)

Sample type:

Plasma EDTA.

Uses :

The CRH stimulation test has been used to identify the source of excess ACTH in ACTH-dependent Cushing syndrome.

Precautions

1. Patients should be fasting from midnight (water only).

2. Patients should bring all their usual medication with them to take after the test and for documentation.

3. Estrogen-containing medications, including the contraceptive pill and hormone replacement therapy, should be stopped for six weeks prior to measuring serum cortisol.

4. Any steroid-containing medications should also be avoided, as they may interfere with the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis, or cross react with the cortisol assay.

Interfering factors:

Prior administration of estrogens, spironolactone, cortisone, and hydrocortisone (cortisol) can all interfere with the ACTH stimulation test by causing abnormally high baseline cortisol levels.

Pre analytical errors:

Not fasting before the test

Taking medications containing Estrogen or steroid.

Corrective action

Apply the fasting Do not take medications containing Estrogen or steroid.

Post analytical errors

Software errors

Wrong result assignation

Corrective action

Avoid Software errors

paying attention in writing the result assignation

Reference range :

0.77-2.5 pmol/l