Adult patient:
Clotted blood tube
(Serum gel separator clot activator tube)
Minimum blood volume: 5 mL
Paediatric patient:
Paediatric clotted blood tube
Number of vials: 2
Minimum blood volume: 1.6 mL
Authorisation code required
No
24 Hr available service
No
Method
Immunoassay
Reference interval
| Male | |
| < 30 days | < 22.2 IU/L for nursing infants (boys & girls) |
| > 1 month - < 5 years | 0.2 - 2.8 IU/L |
| 6 - 10 years | 0.4 - 3.8 IU/L |
| 11 - 13 years | 0.4 - 4.6 IU/L |
| 14 - 17 years | 1.5 - 12.9 IU/L |
| > 17 years | 1.5 - 12.4 IU/L |
| Female | |
| < 30 days | < 22.2 IU/L for nursing infants (boys & girls) |
| > 1 month - < 5 years | 0.2 - 11.1 IU/L |
| 6 - 10 years | 0.3 - 11.1 IU/L |
| > 10 years | Follicular phase: 3.5 - 12.5 IU/L |
| Ovulation phase: 4.7 - 21.5 IU/L | |
| Luteal phase: 1.7 - 7.7 IU/L | |
| Postmenopause: 25.8 - 134.8 IU/L | |
(Source: Product Information, Elecsys 1010 / 2010 / Modular Analytics E170 Roche Diagnostics)
Clinical indication
Investigation of gonadal hypofunction, suspected pituitary tumour
Result interpretation
Levels are increased when pituitary secretion occurs in the absence of feedback inhibition by gonadal androgens or estrogens (primary gonadal hypofunction, post-menopausal state, castration).
Increased levels may also be seen with pituitary gonadotroph tumours, although some tumours secrete only the α subunit.
Levels are decreased if ovarian or testicular failure is due to pituitary or hypothalamic disease.
Measurement of uncertainty
Frequency of measurement
Daily