Sample type: Serum

Test name: Chromogranin A a.k.a. cga

Condition / Indication: Monitoring Neuroendocrine tumours

Special precautions & notes: Send immediately to the lab. Samples should be separated within 3 hours of collection. This assay is used only for monitoring patients. To request Chromogranin A for other reasons see 'Gut Hormones' for details of special sample requirements.

Reference range: 0 - 6.0 nmol/L, Chromogranin A concentrations >10.0 nmol/L indicates strong suspicion of neuroendocrine tumour. Increased levels can also be seen in patients with decreased renal function, patients with atrophic gastritis and patients with ongoing treatments with proton-pump inhibitory drugs.

Container: Serum (Gold top)

Alternative container: Li heparin (green top), or EDTA (Lavender top)

Ideal volume (mL): 5 mL

Referred outside NBT for analysis? Yes

Discipline: Clinical Biochemistry

Turnaround time: 14 days

Referral location: Immunology Department and Protein Reference Unit Sheffield ,P.O Box 894, Sheffield, S5 7YT

Method:

Competitive Radioimmunoassay.

Further information: Sample should be separated within 3 hours of collection and stored frozen, send to referral lab by first class post.