目的：人體促腎上腺皮質激素(ACTH)由腦下垂體前葉分泌，刺激腎上腺皮質分泌腎上腺皮質荷爾蒙。本研究希望在不影響檢驗報告品質下，簡化檢體處理流程，並將ACTH檢體的採集及處理標準化。
方法：此研究共收集20位自願者之血液檢體，分別依不同採血管 (SST試管、EDTA試管及Heparin試管)、不同離心時間(馬上及4小時後離心)及不同傳送方式(冰浴及室溫傳送)，以免疫放射性定量分析法 (immunoradiometricassay，IRMA)，分別檢測ACTH濃度，計算其平均值，並且利用Pearson相關係數與迴歸方程式，分別比較各組數據與標準作業方式(EDTA試管、2 ml檢體、4℃低溫傳送、立即離心分裝血漿)所測得ACTH濃度之間的相關性。
結果：血液樣本以EDTA試管採集、立即以室溫傳送、馬上離心分裝血漿之檢測平均值，與標準作業程序檢測所得之平均值間有相當高之相關性(=0.988)；以SST試管及heparin試管採血的檢體與前述標準程序作業所得之ACTH檢驗數值比較，則有很大的差異(r值分別為0.755及0.821)。
結論：血液檢體以EDTA試管收集、立即以室溫傳送、馬上離心處理檢體應可取代冰浴傳送。以SST試管或heparin試管採血，則不論處理過程如何，其結果均無法採用，實驗室應拒絕此類檢體。

Objective: Human adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is released from the anterior pituitary gland and stimulates adrenal cortex to secrete adrenocortical hormone. The aim of this study is to explore a simple process for handling ACTH specimen without change of clinical significance.
Methods: Blood samples from 20 volunteers were divided into different testing tubes: EDTA tube, SST tube and heparin tube; in different transfer ways: with ice bath or under room temperature; and different processing time: centrifuge immediately and four hours later. All of the specimens were collected at 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and the ACTH level was examined by IRMA method. In comparison with the standard procedure: EDTA tube, transferred with ice bath and centrifuged immediately; data were analyzed by Pearson's correlation coefficient and linear regression methods.
Results: The blood specimens collected by EDTA tube, transferred at room temperature and centrifuged immediately showed high compatible result with standard procedure. On the other hand, the specimens, collected by other testing tubes, showed definite difference result as compared to EDTA tube, no matter in the passing way or processing period. Conclusions: The specimens collected by EDTA tubes and processed immediately upon receiving could be applied clinically for ACTH evaluation, though they were transferred at room temperature. The testing tubes other then EDTA tubes, no matter how they were transferred or processed, should be rejected. This result may simplify specimen processing, reduce the cost of capital and avoid artificial careless.