CortIicotropin Releasing Hormone Test

Purpose
To investigate corticotropic function using CRH or CRF (Corticotropin Releasing Factor)

Subject preparation
Subject fasting for 12 hours and lying down for 30 minutes.

Product
CRH

Dose
1 μg/kg body weight (do not exceed 75 μg).

Protocol
- The challenge must be administered at 9 a.m.
- Commence the perfusion of normal saline 30 minutes before the challenge.
- Samples (dry tubes for the cortisol and EDTA for the ACTH) at time intervals: - 15 min (T-15) and 0 (T0).
- IV injection of the correct dose of CRH over one minute.
- Samples at time intervals T+15, T+30, T+60 and T+120 min.

Assays
ACTH and Cortisol