Prolactin ELISA from BIOSERV Diagnostics
Prolactin is a peptide hormone produced in the eosinophil cells of the anterior lobe of the pituitary. It consists of 198 amino acids and has a molecular weight of about 23.000 Dalton. The secretion of prolactin is stimulated by the thyreotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and inhibited by dopamine.
In the mammary gland prolactin stimulates lactation. The plasma levels of prolactin are about one and a half times higher than in men. In both sexes a circadian rhythm peaking in the early morning hours is observed.
With this Prolactin test prolactin is detected in human serum.
The Prolactin ELISA from BIOSERV is a ready-to-use kit.
To order the test please refer to the BIOSERV catalogue number BS - 85 - 25.
For further information please send us an e-mail: info@bioserv-diagnostics.com
EU registration number
DE/CA80/IVD1719
Detailed information on the Prolactin ELISA from BIOSERV Diagnostics
Stimuli leading to an elevated release of prolactin are, among others, estrogens, hypoglycaemia, bacterial and viral diseases and mental stress. Drugs influencing the hypothalamic and suprarenalic function may also cause a hyperprolactinemia. In patients ending oral contraception the prolactin serum levels may increase until shortly after having ended the contraception.
During pregnancy the secretion of prolactin is elevated physiologically up to 20fold compared to the normal values. In breast-feeding women a tactil stimulus (suckling) of the mechanoreceptors in the mamillae.
A pathological hyperprolactinemia is found in several clinical pictures. The most frequent form of hormonally active pituitary tumors are prolactin-secreting adenomata. In women these adenomata cause symptoms like galactorrhea, primary or secondary amenorrhea and infertility. In men prolactin-secreting adenomata may cause impotence, infertility and, in some cases, gynecomasty and galactorrhea.
Prolactin titers of more than 300 ng/ml serum normally are indicative of a prolactin-secreting pituitary adenom.
A deficiency in prolactin becomes manifest in the absence of lactation in women in childbed. Such a deficiency may also be the first sign of a panhypopituitarism (generalized anterior pituitary insufficiency). In most cases low prolactin titers are not of any clinical significance.
Fields of application
– pituitary tumors
– a primary and secondary amenorrhea
– an infertility in women and in men
– atypical physical alterations in women
Sample material: serum
Reference value range for the prolactin concentration in serum
Reference: 2. IRP 83/562 of the WHO standard
| Age | female | male |
| 5 days | 102-496 | 102-496 |
| 2-12 months | 5,3-63,3 | 5,3-63,3 |
| 2-3 years | 4,4-29,7 | 4,4-29,7 |
| 4-11 years | 2,6-21,0 | 2,6-21,0 |
| 12-13 years | 2,5-16,9 | 1,8-24,01 |
| 14-18 years | 4,2-39,0 | 2,8-16,2 |
| Adults | 3,8-23,2 | 3,0-14,7 |
For further information please send us an e-mail: info@bioserv-diagnostics.com
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