Creatine kinase, serum
Clinical Background:
Creatine kinase (CK) is an intracelluar enzyme found in heart muscle, brain and skeletal muscle. It is principally used to assess skeletal muscle damage with significant elevations seen in rhabdomy...
Creatine kinase (CK) is an intracelluar enzyme found in heart muscle, brain and skeletal muscle. It is principally used to assess skeletal muscle damage with significant elevations seen in rhabdomyolysis and muscular dystrophies. While also elevated in myocardial infarction Troponin T should be used to assess cardiac muscle damage.
Test Details
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Discipline:
Biochemistry
Biochemistry
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Specimen Container Adult:
Serum (SST or plain tube)
Serum (SST or plain tube)
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Specimen Container Paediatric:
Serum (SST or plain tube)
Serum (SST or plain tube)
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Minimum Volume Adult:
1 mL blood
1 mL blood
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Minimum Volume Paediatric:
0.5 mL blood
0.5 mL blood
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Sample Stability:
Unseparated sample: 3 days
Separated sample:
- 2 days at 15-25C
- 7 days at 4C
- 4 weeks at -20C
Unseparated sample: 3 days
Separated sample:
- 2 days at 15-25C
- 7 days at 4C
- 4 weeks at -20C
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Interpretation:
Marked increase elevations are seen in myocardial infarction, muscular dystrophies and rhabdomyolysis.
Moderate increases may be seen due to less severe muscle injury, after surgery, in some cases ...Read MoreMarked increase elevations are seen in myocardial infarction, muscular dystrophies and rhabdomyolysis.
Moderate increases may be seen due to less severe muscle injury, after surgery, in some cases of cerebrovascular accident and head injury and in some patients predisposed to malignant hyperpyrexia. Severe physical exertion, hypothyroidism, alcoholism and acute psychotic episodes may also cause an elevation in CK.
Physiological increases are seen post-partum and in the neonatal period, and artefactually high levels may occur in haemolysed samples. -
Reference Ranges:
Up to 4 weeks: 0 – 900 IU/L
4 weeks and over (Male): 40 – 320 IU/L
4 weeks and over (Female): 25 – 200 IU/L
These ranges only apply to white Caucasian. Other ethnic groups may have higher values.
...Read MoreUp to 4 weeks: 0 – 900 IU/L
4 weeks and over (Male): 40 – 320 IU/L
4 weeks and over (Female): 25 – 200 IU/L
These ranges only apply to white Caucasian. Other ethnic groups may have higher values.
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Routine Contact Name:
Duty biochemist
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Routine Telephone:
Freeman: 0191 244 8889
RVI: 0191 282 9719
Freeman: 0191 244 8889
RVI: 0191 282 9719
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Routine Email: