| Definition: |
A test to measure the amount of the enzyme aldolase in serum (blood).
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| How the test is performed: |
Adult or child:
Blood is drawn from a vein (venipuncture), usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The puncture site is cleaned with antiseptic, and a tourniquet (an elastic band) or blood pressure cuff is placed around the upper arm to apply pressure and restrict blood flow through the vein. This causes veins below the tourniquet to distend (fill with blood). A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. During the procedure, the tourniquet is removed to restore circulation. Once the blood has been collected, the needle is removed, and the puncture site is covered to stop any bleeding.
Infant or young child:
The area is cleansed with antiseptic and punctured with a sharp needle or a lancet. The blood may be collected in a pipette (small glass tube), on a slide, onto a test strip, or into a small container. Cotton or a bandage may be applied to the puncture site if there is any continued bleeding. |
| How to prepare for the test: |
Fasting may be required up to 6 hours before the test. Medications that interfere with the test will be monitored and may be discontinued shortly before the test under the direction of the health care provider.
Infants and children:
The physical and psychological preparation you can provide for this or any test or procedure depends on your child's age, interests, previous experience, and level of trust. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics as they correspond to your child's age:
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| How the test will feel: |
| When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain, while others feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing. |
| Why the test is performed: |
This test is an indicator of muscle damage.
Aldolase is an enzyme that is involved in the breakdown of glucose, fructose, and galactose, a process used by cells to generate energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate). Aldolase is in a particularly high concentration in muscle. |
| Normal Values: |
A typical reference range is 1.0 to 7.5 U/L. There are slight differences between men and women. The testing laboratory should be consulted for normal values of their test.
Note: U/L = units per liter |
| What abnormal results mean: |
| Greater-than-normal levels of aldolase may indicate:Additional conditions under which the test may be performed:
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| What the risks are: |
- excessive bleeding
- fainting or feeling lightheaded
- hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
- infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)
- multiple punctures to locate veins
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| Special considerations: |
| Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others. |
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Review Date: 2/17/2002
Reviewed By: Michael C. Milone, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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