Test Code CPK Creatine Kinase (CK), Total
Specimen and Container/Tube
Specimen Type: Plasma
Preferred Specimen: Li-Heparin Mint Green Top
Other Acceptable specimens: Serum/Gold Top, Serum/Red Top
Volume
Preferred Volume: 0.5 mL
Minimum Volume: 0.2 mL
Specimen Stability
Storage Temperature |
Stability |
Room Temperature |
2 days |
Refrigerated |
7 days |
Frozen |
4 weeks |
Collection Instructions
Collect specimen per standard laboratory collection procedures.
Specimen Handling and Transport Instructions
UCMC Onsite Instructions:
- Collect specimen per standard collection procedure and send to laboratory immediately.
UCMC Offsite and UC MedLab Outreach Instructions:
- Samples should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection.
- Centrifuge specimens at >2500 x g for 10 minutes at room temperature.
- Aliquot sample into plastic transport tube containing a minimum of 0.2 mL of specimen.
- Samples must be sent refrigerated at 15-25oC.
Rejection Criteria
- Common specimen rejected situations include: incorrect specimen type, insufficient volume, missing or incomplete specimen identifiers, incorrect specimen transport, or specimens outside stability limits.
- Specimens that are clotted or grossly hemolyzed.
- Specimens that were transported unspun/whole blood and draw time is greater than 6 hours
Reference Values
Test |
Age |
Sex |
Reference Range |
Creatine Kinase |
All |
All |
9 - 185 U/L |
Note: Reference range based on in-house studies, recommendations from Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry, and Roche product literature.
Critical Values
Not applicable
Turnaround Time
Turnaround times are relative to the time the specimen is received in the test laboratory.
STAT Turnaround Time: 1 hour
Routine Turnaround Time: 4 hours
Testing Schedule: 24/7
Clinical Indications
The determination of CK and CK-isoenzyme activities is utilized in the diagnosis and monitoring of myocardial infarction and myopathies such as the progressive Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Test Components
Creatine Kinase
Methodology
Spectrophotometric (Activation by NAC) (Roche Diagnostics)
CPT Codes
82550
LOINC Codes
2157-6
Synonyms/Keyword Search
CK, CPK, Creatine Phosphokinase
Additional Information
- Results should always be assessed in conjunction with patient's medical history, clinical examination and other findings.
- Following injury to the myocardium, such as occurs with acute myocardial infarcation, CK is released from the damaged myocardial cells. In early cases, a rise in the CK-activity can be found just 4 hours after an infarction. The CK-activity reaches a maximum after 12-24 hours and then falls back to the normal range after 3-4 days.
- Cyanokit (hydroxocobalamin) at therapeutic concentrations interferes with the result.
- CK varies with physical activity level and race in healthy individuals.
Last Review Date
8/19/2024