Category
SPECIAL CHEMISTRY.
Sub Category
ENDOCRINE
Synonyms/Aliases
UNCONJUGATED DHEA
Abbreviations
DHEA
Type
INDIVIDUAL TEST
Results
RESULTS READY/ REPORTED 7 WORKING DAYS
Method
IMMUNOASSAY
Temp
REFRIGERATED OR FROZEN.
Setup
BATCHED.
Components Parameters
IgG (SERUM & CSF), IgG RATIO (CSF IgG/ SERUM IgG), ALBUMIN (SERUM & CSF), ALBUMIN RATIO (CSF ALBUMIN/ SERUM ALBUMIN) & IgG INDEX (CSF/ SERUM IgG RATIO DIVIDED BY CSF/ SERUM ALBUMIN RATIO).
PRE-ANALYTIC CONSIDERATIONS
Test Ordering Instructions
FILL OUT TEST REQUEST FORM FULLY & LEGIBLY.
Patient preparation
SPECIFIC TIMING APPLIES I.E. TROUGH (PRE-DOSE; C0) OR TWO HOURS POST DOSE (C2) SAMPLE AS SPECIFIED BY THE ORDERING DOCTOR/ CLINICIAN.
Sample type
SERUM
Container/ preservative
PLAIN (RED TOP) VACUTAINER. SERUM SEPARATOR TUBE (SST/ GEL) SHOULD BE AVOIDED.
Sample volume
AT LEAST 2 ML
Rejection criteria
LABELING ISSUE (UNLABELED/ MISLABELED); MISSING REQUEST FORM; MISMATCH BETWEEN REQUEST FORM & SAMPLE DETAILS; MISSING AGE/ GENDER; WRONG SAMPLE TYPE; INSUFFICIENT SAMPLE.
Other Instructions
CENTRIFUGE RED TOP VACUTAINERS AND ALIQUOT SERUM WITHIN 1-2 HOURS OF COLLECTION. THE SEPARATION VIAL MUST BE LABELED WITH AT LEAST 2 PATIENT IDENTIFIERS AND THE SAMPLE TYPE I.E. SERUM
Reference intervals
AGE, GENDER & TANNER STAGE DEPENDENT.
Clinical Utility
DHEA IS AN ANDROGEN PRIMARILY PRODUCED IN THE ADRENAL CORTEX. ALONG WITH OTHER SEX STEROIDS, IT IS USEFUL IN EVALUATING HIRSUTISM & VIRILIZATION IN WOMEN, SUSPECTED TUMORS OF THE ADRENAL CORTEX, PRECOCIOUS PUBERTY IN BOYS & AS AN ADJUNCT IN SUSPECTED CONGENITAL ADRENAL HYPERPLASIA (CAH).
Test Limitations/ Confounders
IMMUNOASSAY INTERFERENCE CAN GIVE RISE TO SPURIOUS RESULTS. SUCH INTERFERENCE CAN ARISE FROM PRESENCE OF HETEROPHILE ANTIBODIES, ANTI-ANIMAL ANTIBODIES, AUTOANTIBODIES, PARAPROTEINS, BIOTIN ETC. RESULTS SHOULD ALWAYS BE CORRELATED WITH CLINICAL FINDINGS.