Androstenedione (Sendout)

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General Information

Lab Name
Androstenedione
Lab Code
RANDRS
Epic Name
Androstenedione
External Test Id
ANST
Description

Useful For:

  • Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of hyperandrogenism (in conjunction with measurements of other sex-steroids). An initial workup in adults might also include total and bioavailable testosterone measurements. Depending on results, this may be supplemented with measurements of sex hormone-binding globulin and other androgenic steroids (eg, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate).
  • Diagnosis of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), in conjunction with measurement of other androgenic precursors, particularly, 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (OHPG), 17 alpha-hydroxypregnenolone, DHEA-S (Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate), and cortisol.
  • Monitoring CAH treatment, in conjunction with testosterone, OHPG (17-Hydroxyprogesterone, Serum), DHEA-S (Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate), and DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone).

Testing Algorithm:

References
  1. Androstenedione. In Pediatric Reference Ranges. Fourth edition. Edited by SJ Soldin, C Brugnara, EC Wong. Washington, DC, AACC Press, 2003, pp 32-34
Synonyms
17-dione, 4-Androstene-3, 4-Androstenedione, ANST, Delta-4-Androstenedione
Components

Interpretation

Method

Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

Reference Range
Units: ng/dL
Female Male Unknown
AgeRange AgeRange AgeRange
19y-30-200 19y-40-150

Effective date: 03/02/2007

Ref. Range Notes

Pediatric Reference Values:

Premature infants:
26-28 weeks, day 4: 92-282 ng/dL
31-35 weeks, day 4: 80-446 ng/dL
Full-term infants:
1-7 days: 20-290 ng/dL
1 month-1 year: <69 ng/dL

Males:¹

Tanner Stages Age (Years) Reference Range (ng/dL)
Stage I (prepubertal) <9.8 <51
Stage II 9.8-14.5 31-65
Stage III 10.7-15.4 50-100
Stage IV 11.8-16.2 48-140
Stage V 12.8-17.3 65-210

Females:¹

Tanner Stages Age (Years) Reference Range (ng/dL)
Stage I (prepubertal) <9.2 <51
Stage II 9.2-13.7 42-100
Stage III 10.0-14.4 80-190
Stage IV 10.7-15.6 77-225
Stage V 11.8-18.6 80-240
Interferences and Limitations

Cautions:

Any condition that can result in partial or complete adrenal or gonadal failure may result in low androstenedione levels, diminishing the diagnostic usefulness of the test in these settings.

Androstenedione and, to a lesser degree, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) supplements can result in elevations of serum androstenedione level. With large androstenedione doses of 300 to 400 mg/day, serum androstenedione levels can almost double in some patients. Testosterone levels and, particularly in men, estrone and estradiol levels, may also increase, but to a much lesser degree.

Although compared with DHEA-S, less information has been published with regard to the effects of hormones and drugs on androstenedione levels, it is likely that many drugs and hormones can result in changes in androstenedione levels. In particular, agents that induce hepatic enzymes, drugs that affect lipid metabolism, and other steroid hormones are likely to affect androstenedione levels, more commonly resulting in lowered levels. Whether any of these secondary changes are of clinical significance and how they should be related to the established normal reference ranges is unknown. In most cases, the drug-induced changes are not large enough to cause diagnostic confusion.

Ordering & Collection

Specimen Type
Blood
Collection

2 mL blood in RED TOP tube

Unacceptable: SST/Gel separator tube

Handling Instructions

Outside Laboratories: Centrifuge sample and aliquot serum to a separate plastic vial. Refrigerate serum.

Stability: Refrigerated (Preferred): 28 days; Frozen: 28 days; Ambient: 7 days.

Reject Due To: Gross hemolysis, gross lipemia, serum gel tube. Gross icterus samples are acceptable.

Quantity
Requested: 0.6 mL serum
Minimum: 0.3 mL serum

Processing

Receiving Instructions

Centrifuge sample and aliquot serum to a separate plastic vial. Refrigerate serum.

Sendouts:

  • Mayo Test: ANST
  • Interfaced: Yes [Interface: 601; Worksheet:MARF]

Stability: Refrigerated (Preferred): 28 days; Frozen: 28 days; Ambient: 7 days.

Reject Due To: Gross hemolysis, gross lipemia, serum gel tube. Gross icterus samples are acceptable.

Misc Sendout

Performance

Lab Department
Sendouts Mayo Lab (RF)(MARF)
Frequency
Performed: Monday - Friday. Report Available: 2-5 days.
Available STAT?
No
Performing Location(s)
Sendout Mayo Clinic Laboratories
800-533-1710

200 First Street Southwest
Rochester, MN 55901

Billing & Coding

CPT Codes
82157
LOINC
1854-9
Interfaced Order Code
UOW2059
Interfaced Result Code
UOW2059