Prolactin
| Category | Biochemistry |
|---|---|
| Test background |
Prolactin, a pituitary hormone, is essential for normal lactation following childbirth and is under tonic inhibitory control by dopamine. Hyperprolactinaemia caused by a pituitary adenoma or due to drugs which alter idopamine turnover, can result in infertility due to suppression of gonadal steroids. It also rises in profound stress and has occasional use in confirming epileptic seizures. |
| Clinical Indications |
Diagnosis of hyperprolactinaemia. Symptoms can include: oligomenorrhoea, amenorrhoea, galactorrhoea or infertility in women; hypogonadism, impotence or infertility in men. |
| Reference range | Male: 70-400 mU/L |
| Sample & container required | SST (gold top) or serum (red top) |
| Sample volume | 0.5 mL |
| Turnaround time | 1 day |