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 | < 7.8 IU/L for nursing infants (boys & girls) |
| > 1 - 12 months | < 0.4 IU/L |
| 1 - 5 years | < 1.3 IU/L |
| 6 - 10 years | < 1.4 IU/L |
| 11 - 13 years | < 7.8 IU/L |
| 14 - 17 years | 1.3 - 9.8 IU/L |
| > 17 years | 1.7 - 8.6 IU/L |
| Female | |
| < 30 days | < 7.8 IU/L for nursing infants (boys & girls) |
| > 1 - 12 months | < 0.4 IU/L |
| 1 - 5 years | < 0.5 IU/L |
| 6 - 10 years | < 3.1 IU/L |
| > 10 years | Follicular phase: 2.4 - 12.6 IU/L |
| Ovulation phase: 14.0 - 95.6 IU/L | |
| Luteal phase: 1.0 - 11.4 IU/L | |
| Postmenopause: 7.7 - 58.5 IU/L | |
(Source: Product Information, Elecsys 1010 / 2010 / Modular Analytics E170 Roche Diagnostics)
Clinical indication
Investigation of male and female infertility to distinguish primary gonadal failure from pituitary / hypothalamic failure.
Identification of ovulation in the investigation of menstrual cycle disturbances and female infertility.
Suspected LH secreting pituitary tumour.
Result interpretation
High levels are found in primary gonadal failure.
Low levels occur with hypothalamic failure (responds to gonadotrophin releasing hormone) and pituitary failure (no response).
LH peak occurs just prior to, and identifies, ovulation.
Polycystic ovary syndrome is associated with an increased LH / FSH ratio.
Measurement of uncertainty
Frequency of measurement
Daily