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Comparison of chromogranin A (CgA) levels in serum and plasma (EDTA2K) and the respective reference ranges in healthy males
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Abstract
Introduction: Chromogranin A (CgA) is a major, nonspecific marker of neuroendocrine tumours (NET). There are a few routinely used assays for the measurement of CgA concentration in serum or plasma. These assays differ in analytical techniques (radioimmunoassay, ELISA, CLIA, TRACE), have different calibrators, and use different antibodies which recognise different epitopes of CgA molecule. Our study was designed to confirm the noted earlier differences in CgA levels measured in serum and plasma, and to establish respective reference ranges in a group of healthy males.
Material and methods: In 145 male blood donors (age 19–61 years, mean = 35.7), blood was collected into two tubes: one with EDTA2K (plasma) and one with clot activator (serum). Chromogranin A was measured by immunoradiometric kit (CIS bio, France).
Results: In blood donors, the median (and the range) of CgA concentration were as follows for serum samples — 42.0 ng/mL (16–108 ng/mL) and for plasma (EDTA2K) samples — 58.0 ng/mL (23–153 ng/mL). The differences between serum and plasma ranged 15–75% (median 26%). Plasma CgA levels were significantly higher in relation to serum CgA levels (p < 0.0001). Correlation of CgA in serum and plasma was r = 0.8493; p < 0.01. The reference ranges for CgA measured in serum and plasma in males, expressed as 2.5 to 97.5 percentiles, were: 21.0–108.0 ng/mL and 31.0–153.0 ng/mL respectively.
Conclusions:
1. Significant differences in the concentrations of CgA measured in plasma and in serum demand the application of separate reference ranges adjusted to the type of investigated material.
2. Each laboratory should recommend only one sort of sample material for CgA assay.
Abstract
Introduction: Chromogranin A (CgA) is a major, nonspecific marker of neuroendocrine tumours (NET). There are a few routinely used assays for the measurement of CgA concentration in serum or plasma. These assays differ in analytical techniques (radioimmunoassay, ELISA, CLIA, TRACE), have different calibrators, and use different antibodies which recognise different epitopes of CgA molecule. Our study was designed to confirm the noted earlier differences in CgA levels measured in serum and plasma, and to establish respective reference ranges in a group of healthy males.
Material and methods: In 145 male blood donors (age 19–61 years, mean = 35.7), blood was collected into two tubes: one with EDTA2K (plasma) and one with clot activator (serum). Chromogranin A was measured by immunoradiometric kit (CIS bio, France).
Results: In blood donors, the median (and the range) of CgA concentration were as follows for serum samples — 42.0 ng/mL (16–108 ng/mL) and for plasma (EDTA2K) samples — 58.0 ng/mL (23–153 ng/mL). The differences between serum and plasma ranged 15–75% (median 26%). Plasma CgA levels were significantly higher in relation to serum CgA levels (p < 0.0001). Correlation of CgA in serum and plasma was r = 0.8493; p < 0.01. The reference ranges for CgA measured in serum and plasma in males, expressed as 2.5 to 97.5 percentiles, were: 21.0–108.0 ng/mL and 31.0–153.0 ng/mL respectively.
Conclusions:
1. Significant differences in the concentrations of CgA measured in plasma and in serum demand the application of separate reference ranges adjusted to the type of investigated material.
2. Each laboratory should recommend only one sort of sample material for CgA assay.
Keywords
chromogranin A; CgA; neuroendocrine tumour; NET
About this articleTitle
Comparison of chromogranin A (CgA) levels in serum and plasma (EDTA2K) and the respective reference ranges in healthy males
Journal
Issue
Article type
Original paper
Pages
53-56
Published online
2015-03-02
Page views
1825
Article views/downloads
4719
DOI
10.5603/EP.2015.0009
Pubmed
Bibliographic record
Endokrynol Pol 2015;66(1):53-56.
Keywords
chromogranin A
CgA
neuroendocrine tumour
NET
Authors
Piotr Glinicki
Wojciech Jeske
Renata Kapuścińska
Wojciech Zgliczyński
