24 hours urinary aldosterone excretion rate

How the Test is Performed:
A 24-hour urine sample is needed.
The health care provider will instruct you, if necessary, to discontinue drugs that may interfere with the test.
  • On day 1, urinate into the toilet upon arising in the morning.
  • Collect all subsequent urine (in a special container) for the next 24-hours.
  • On day 2, urinate into the container in the morning upon arising.
  • Cap the container. Keep it in the refrigerator or a cool place during the collection period. Label the container with your name, the date, the time of completion, and return it as instructed.

Infant:
Thoroughly wash the area around the urethra. Open a urine collection bag (a plastic bag with an adhesive paper on one end), and place it on your infant. For males, the entire penis can be placed in the bag and the adhesive attached to the skin. For females, the bag is placed over the labia. Place a diaper over the infant (bag and all). The infant should be checked frequently and the bag changed after the infant has urinated into the bag. For active infants, this procedure may take a couple of attempts--lively infants can displace the bag, causing an inability to obtain the specimen. The urine is drained into the container for transport to the laboratory.

Deliver it to the laboratory or your health care provider as soon as possible upon completion.

The lab analyzes the sample for the amount of aldosterone.

How to Prepare:
No special preparation is necessary for this test, but if the collection is being taken from an infant, a couple of extra collection bags may be necessary.

How it Feels:
The test involves only normal urination, and there is no discomfort.

Risks:
There are no risks.

Why this Test is Performed:
The test evaluates the excretion of aldosterone in the urine.

Renin is an enzyme released into the blood by the juxtaglomerular cells of the kidney, in response to sodium depletion and/or low blood volume. Renin converts angiotensinogen (a protein secreted into the blood by the liver) to angiotensin I. Angiotensin I is converted to angiotensin II by an enzyme in the veins of the lungs. Angiotensin II acts on the adrenal cortex to stimulate the release of aldosterone . Aldosterone increases the reabsorption of sodium and excretion of potassium in the distal tubules of the kidneys. The reabsorption of sodium is accompanied by the reabsorption of water, which raises blood pressure .

Normal Values:
6 to 25 mcg/24-hours (This depends on the amount of sodium excreted by the body. The greater the amount of sodium, the lower the level of aldosterone .)

Note: mcg/24 hr = micrograms per 24-hours

Abnormal Results:
Greater than normal levels of aldosterone may indicate: