Specimen Collection

Sample stability:

• 2 days at 20-25 ^o C
• 7 days at 4-8 ^o C
• 4 weeks at -20 ^o C

4.5 mL PST Blood (Preferred)

0.5 mL Paediatric Micro-PST Blood (Preferred)

5 mL Heparin Blood

4 mL Plain Blood

3.5 mL SST Blood

0.5 mL Paediatric Microsample Blood

0.5 mL Paediatric Micro-heparin Blood
Reference Intervals

Units: U/L

Reference Interval:

Male:	60 - 220
Female:	30 - 180

Males have a higher reference interval than females because of their higher muscle mass. Subjects with very high muscle mass may have normal values above the upper limit of the quoted interval.

Uncertainty of Measurement: 5%

Turnaround Time: Within 3 hours
Assay Method

Principle: Colorimetric

Reagents: Roche CK kit

Analyser: Cobas c502

Diagnostic Use and Interpretation

The activity of total CK in plasma is increased by damage to skeletal or cardiac muscle: trauma (including intramuscular injections), surgery, infarction, inflammation (myositis), rhabdomyolysis, muscular dystrophies, hyperthermia, severe or unaccustomed exercise, hyperpyrexia, or convulsions.

It may also be increased in hypothyroidism, pulmonary embolus, and extensive brain infarction.

Time Course of enzymes in Myocardial Infarction

	Starts to rise	Peak	Remains elevated for
Myoglobin	2-4 hours	4-12 hours	15-40 hours
Troponin	4-6 hours	12-24 hours	4-10 hours
Total CK and CKMB	4-6 hours	24-48 hours	3-5 days
AST	6-8 hours	24-48 hours	4-6 days
LD	12-24 hours	48-72 hours	7-12 days

See Creatine Kinase MB (CKMB)

See Troponin T

See Myoglobin

Also see Creatine Kinase Isoenzymes for the investigation of prolonged or unexplained elevations of CK.

CKMB

Creatine Kinase Isoenzyme

Myoglobin

Troponin T

Contact Information

The chemical pathology team can be reached via email: chemicalpathologist@adhb.govt.nz or via Lablink (09) 307 4949 ext 22000 or 09-3078995

Emails will receive priority attention from the on-call chemical pathologist. Include the patients NHI.

After-hours: contact Lablink (Auckland City Hospital ext. 22000 or 09-3078995) or hospital operator for on duty staff after hours .

• Dr Samarina Musaad (Clinical Lead) : SamarinaM@adhb.govt.nz ext. 22402
• Dr Cam Kyle : CampbellK@adhb.govt.nz ext 22052
• Dr Weldon Chiu : WeldonC@adhb.govt.nz ext. 23427
• Dr Campbell Heron : CHeron@adhb.govt.nz ext. 23427
• Dr Sakunthala Jayasinghe Saku.Jayasinghe@adhb.govt.nz
• Dr Owen Yi WenyiYi@adhb.govt.nz

Last updated at 11:42:03 16/01/2026