Turnaround times
The quoted turnaround time is from sample receipt in the laboratory, to results authorisation in the Laboratory Information Management system. The times do not include transport of specimen to the laboratory or the administrative process to print and post/email reports. Service users must allow for transport and reporting time when ordering tests.
Clinical background:
Human bone is continuously remodelled through a process of bone formation and resorption.
Approximately 90% of the organic matrix of bone is type I collagen, a helical protein that is crosslinked at the N- and C-terminal ends of the molecule.
During bone resorption, osteoclasts degrade the collagen fibrils into molecular fragments including C-terminal telopeptide (CTx). Beta-CTx is released into the bloodstream during bone resorption and serves as a specific marker for the degradation of mature type I collagen.
Many diseases, in particular hyperthyroidism, all forms of hyperparathyroidism, most forms of osteomalacia and rickets, hypercalcemia of malignancy, Pagets disease, multiple myeloma, and bone metastases, as well as various congenital diseases of bone formation and remodelling, can result in accelerated and unbalanced bone turnover. Unbalanced bone turnover is also found in age-related and postmenopausal osteopenia and osteoporosis. Disease-associated bone turnover abnormalities should normalize in response to effective therapeutic interventions, which can be monitored by measurement of serum bone resorption markers.
Specimen container paediatric:
EDTA plasma
Specimen container adult:
EDTA plasma
Minimum volume paediatric:
1ml
Minimum volume adult:
1ml
Special requirements:
Fasting sample is preferred
Sample stability:
Before separation: 2 days
After separation:
+20° to +25°C- 24 hours
+2° to +8°C- 8 days
-15° to -25°C- 3 months
Availability:
Assayed once per week, analysed at RVI
Reference ranges:
Males:
Age 30 years – 50 years: <0.58 ug/LAge
51 years – 70 years: <0.70 ug/LAge
71 years and over: <0.85 ug/L
Females:Premenopausal: <0.57 ug/L
Postmenopausal <1.01 ug/L
Interpretation:
Normal level suggests no excessive bone turnover
Elevated levels may be seen in conditions such as osteoporosis, hyperparathyroidism, Paget’s disease of bone, osteomalacia, metastatic bone disease, untreated thyrotoxicosis, myeloma, Cushing’s syndrome or high doses of glucocorticoids.
When used to monitor anti-resorptive therapy, decreasing levels over time reflect a response to therapy.