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Geisinger Medical Laboratories Test Catalog
ALPHA MELANOCYTE STIMULATING HORMONE |
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Geisinger Epic Procedure Code: LAB1163
Geisinger Epic ID: 52577
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SPECIMEN COLLECTION |
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Specimen type: |
Plasma | |
Preferred collection container: |
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Specimen required: |
3 mL frozen plasma; minimum 1 mL. | |
| SPECIMEN PROCESSING |
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Specimen processing instructions: |
Centrifuge and aliquot. | |
Transport temperature: |
Frozen. | |
Specimen stability: |
Room temperature: Not stable. Refrigerated: 6 hours. Frozen: 90 days. | |
Rejection criteria: |
Received room temperature • Received refrigerated | |
TEST DETAILS |
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Additional information: |
This test was developed and its analytical performance characteristics have been determined by Pan Laboratories. This assay has been validated pursuant to the CLIA regulations. It has not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. | |
CPT code(s): |
83520 | |
| Note: The billing party has sole responsibility for CPT coding. Any questions regarding coding should be directed to the payer being billed. The CPT codes provided by GML are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. | ||
Methodology: |
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) Extraction |
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Synonyms: |
Quest test code 91898, Alpha Melano
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Clinical significance: |
Alpha MSH is a 13 amino acid peptide (1665 kD) with serine at the N terminal end and amidated valine at the C terminal end. Alpha MSH is derived from pro-opiomelanocorticotropin, a precursor protein which contains within its structure, the sequence of ACTH, beta MSH and gamma MSH. The amino acid sequence of alpha MSH is identical to ACTH 1-13 in humans. Alpha MSH stimulates melanosome dispersion within dermal melanocytes and melanin biosynthesis within epidermal melanocytes. It also stimulates aldosterone synthesis. Plasma alpha MSH increases in humans with high fever due to endotoxin. Average plasma alpha MSH has been found higher in AIDS patients and also in obese men with insulin resistance. | |