Category
SPECIAL CHEMISTRY.
Sub Category
ENDOCRINE.
Synonyms/Aliases
TESTOSTERONE.
Abbreviations
N/A.
Type
INDIVIDUAL TEST
3 HOURS
RESULTS READY/ REPORTED IN 3 HOURS.
Method
IMMUNOASSAY.
Temp
AMBIENT, REFRIGERATED (PREFERRED) OR FROZEN.
Setup
DAILY.
Components Parameters
NOT APPLICABLE.
PRE-ANALYTIC CONSIDERATIONS
Test Ordering Instructions
FILL OUT TEST REQUEST FORM FULLY & LEGIBLY.
Patient preparation
STANDARDIZE COLLECTION BY COLLECTING SAMPLES BETWEEN 8-10A.M. (ENDOCRINE SOCIETY RECOMMENDATION).
Sample type
SERUM. HEPARIN PLASMA IS AN ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATE SPECIMEN.
Container/ preservative
SERUM SEPARATOR TUBE (SST/ GEL) OR PLAIN (RED TOP) VACUTAINER.
Sample volume
AT LEAST 2ML.
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
DEPENDENT ON AGE, GENDER & TANNER STAGE.
Clinical Utility
EVALUATION OF SUSPECTED MALE HYPOGONADISM (LOW LIBIDO, ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION, ETC.). AS A FOLLOW UP TEST FOR ABNORMAL SEMENALYSIS RESULTS (E.G. AZOOSPERMIA, OLIGOSPERMIA). ASSESSMENT OF INFERTILITY, PRECOCIOUS MALE PUBERTY, AMENORRHEA, OLIGOMENORRHEA. EVALUATION OF VIRILIZATION IN FEMALES [E.G. FROM PCOS, ANDROGEN SECRETING OVARIAN OR PITUITARY TUMORS, CONGENITAL ADRENAL HYPERPLASIA ETC.). EVALUATION OF AMBIGUOUS GENITALIA AND DISORDERS OF SEX DEVELOPMENT (DSDs)].
Test Limitations/ Confounders
TOTAL TESTOSTERONE LEVELS CAN BE AFFECTED BY ABNORMAL SHBG LEVELS. 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.