Prolactin is a hormone released by the pituitary gland. The prolactin test measures the amount of prolactin in the blood.
A blood sample is needed. For information on how this is done, see: Venipuncture
No special preparation is necessary.
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.
Prolactin is a hormone released by the pituitary gland that stimulates breast development and milk production in women. There is no known normal function for prolactin in men.
Prolactin is usually measured when checking for pituitary tumors and the cause of:
The normal values for prolactin are:
The examples above are common measurements for results for these tests. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some lab use different measurements or may test different specimens.Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.
Note: ng/mL = nanograms per milliliter
People with the following conditions may have high prolactin levels:
Certain medications can also raise prolactin levels, including:
If your prolactin levels are high, the test may be repeated in the early morning after an 8-hour fast.
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.
Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight but may include:
The following can temporarily increase prolactin levels:
PRL
Melmed S, Kleinberg D. Anterior pituitary. In: Kronenberg HM, Melmed S, Polonsky KS, Larsen PR, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 8.
Molitch ME. Anterior pituitary. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 231.
Updated by: Louis S. Liou, MD, PhD, Chief of Urology, Cambridge Health Alliance, Visiting Assistant Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School. Previously reviewed by Nancy J. Rennert, MD, Chief of Endocrinology & Diabetes, Norwalk Hospital, Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network (12/11/2011).
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