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Test ID FSH Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Serum


Specimen Required


Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum gel

Acceptable: Red top

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 0.6 mL

Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial within 2 hours of collection.


Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send an Oncology Test Request (T729) with the specimen.

Secondary ID

602753

Useful For

An adjunct in the evaluation of menstrual irregularities

 

Evaluating patients with suspected hypogonadism

 

Predicting ovulation

 

Evaluating infertility

 

Diagnosing pituitary disorders

Method Name

Electrochemiluminescence Immunoassay

Reporting Name

Follicle-Stim Hormone (FSH), S

Specimen Type

Serum

Specimen Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Refrigerated (preferred) 7 days
  Frozen  180 days
  Ambient  24 hours

Clinical Information

Luteinizing hormone (LH) is a glycoprotein hormone consisting of 2 noncovalently bound subunits (alpha and beta). Gonadotropin-releasing hormone from the hypothalamus controls the secretion of the gonadotropins, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and LH, from the anterior pituitary.

 

The menstrual cycle is divided by a midcycle surge of both FSH and LH into a follicular phase and a luteal phase.

 

FSH appears to control gametogenesis in both male and female individuals.

Reference Values

Males

<12 months: ≤3.3 IU/L

12 months-5 years: ≤1.9 IU/L

>5 years-10 years: ≤2.3 IU/L

>10 years-15 years: 0.6-6.9 IU/L

>15 years-18 years: 0.7-9.6 IU/L

>18 years: 1.2-15.8 IU/L

 

TANNER STAGES*

Stage l: <1.5 IU/L

Stage ll: <3.0 IU/L

Stage lll: 0.4-6.2 IU/L

Stage lV: 0.6-5.1 IU/L

Stage V: 0.8-7.2 IU/L

*Puberty onset occurs for boys at a median age of 11.5 (± 2) years. For boys, there is no proven relationship between puberty onset and body weight or ethnic origin. Progression through Tanner stages is variable. Tanner stage V (adult) should be reached by age 18.

 

Females

<12 months: 1.2-12.5 IU/L

12 months-10 years: 0.5-6.0 IU/L

>10 years-15 years: 0.9-8.9 IU/L

>15 years-18 years: 0.7-9.6 IU/L

Premenopausal:

Follicular: 2.9-14.6 IU/L

Midcycle: 4.7-23.2 IU/L

Luteal: 1.4-8.9 IU/L

Postmenopausal: 16.0-157.0 IU/L

 

TANNER STAGES*

Stage l: 0.6-4.1 IU/L

Stage ll: 0.3-5.8 IU/L

Stage lll: 0.1-7.2 IU/L

Stage lV: 0.3-7.0 IU/L

Stage V: 0.4-8.6 IU/L

*Puberty onset (transition from Tanner stage I to Tanner stage II) occurs for girls at a median age of 10.5 (± 2) years. There is evidence that it may occur up to 1 year earlier in obese girls and in African American girls. Progression through Tanner stages is variable. Tanner stage V (adult) should be reached by age 18.

Cautions

Serum biotin concentrations up to 1200 ng/mL do not interfere with this assay. Concentrations up to 1200 ng/mL may be present in specimens collected from patients taking extremely high doses of biotin up to 300 mg per day.(1) In a study among 54 healthy volunteers, supplementation with 20 mg/day biotin resulted in a maximum serum biotin concentration of 355 ng/mL 1 hour post-dose.(2)

 

No clinically significant cross-reactivity has been demonstrated with thyrotropin (formerly thyroid-stimulating hormone), luteinizing hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin, prolactin, or growth hormone.

 

Some patients who have been exposed to animal antigens, either in the environment or as part of treatment or imaging procedures, may have circulating anti-animal antibodies present. These antibodies may interfere with the assay reagents to produce unreliable results.

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Sunday

Report Available

Same day/1 to 2 days

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Test Classification

This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

CPT Code Information

83001

NY State Approved

Yes