Category
SPECIAL CHEMISTRY.
Sub Category
ENDOCRINE
Synonyms/Aliases
5-ALPHA DIHYDROTESTOSTERONE
Abbreviations
DHT
Type
PROFILE/ PANEL (BUNDLED TESTS)
Results
RESULTS READY/ REPORTED 7 WORKING DAYS
Method
IMMUNOASSAY.
Temp
AMBIENT, REFRIGERATED (PREFERRED) OR FROZEN.
Setup
BATCHED.
Components Parameters
BASAL (PRE-DEXAMETHASONE) 8AM & POST DEXAMETHASONE 8AM CORTISOL LEVELS.
PRE-ANALYTIC CONSIDERATIONS
Test Ordering Instructions
FILL OUT TEST REQUEST FORM FULLY & LEGIBLY. MULTI-SAMPLING WILL BE DONE. SPECIFY EXACT DEXAMETHASONE SUPPRESSION TEST (VARIATIONS CAN OCCUR E.G. LOW DOSE 48-HOUR DST; HIGH DOSE 48-HOUR DST; SIMILAR TESTS MAY ALSO BE PERFORMED FOR A DIFFERENT ANALYTE I.E. ACTH). PROVIDE CLINICAL HISTORY. PRESCRIBE DEXAMETHASONE I.E. 1 MG FOR ADULTS; 0.3MG/M2 FOR CHILDREN.
Patient preparation
NO PREPARATION REQUIRED
Sample type
SERUM
Container/ preservative
SERUM SEPARATOR TUBE (SST/ GEL) OR PLAIN (RED TOP) VACUTAINER.
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 SST (SERUM GEL TUBES) WITHIN 1-2 HOURS OF COLLECTION. 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.
Reference intervals
AGE, GENDER & TANNER STAGE DEPENDENT.
Clinical Utility
DHT IS A POTENT TESTOSTERONE-DERIVED (VIA 5 ALPHA REDUCTASE) ANDROGEN. EVALUATION OF SUSPECTED MALE HYPOGONADISM (LOW LIBIDO, ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION, ETC.), 5-ALPHA REDUCTASE DEFICIENCY. EVALUATION OF VIRILIZATION & SUSPECTED HYPERANDROGENEMIA IN FEMALES.
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.