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Test ID FSH Follicle-Stimulating Hormone, Serum

Reporting Name

FSH, S

Useful For

An adjunct in the evaluation of menstrual irregularities

 

Evaluating patients with suspected hypogonadism

 

Predicting ovulation

 

Evaluating infertility

 

Diagnosing pituitary disorders

Specimen Type

Serum

Specimen Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Serum Refrigerated (preferred) 7 days
  Frozen  180 days
  Ambient  24 hours

Reference Values

Males

<12 months: ≤3.3 IU/L

≥12 months-≤5 years: ≤1.9 IU/L

>5 years-≤10 years: ≤2.3 IU/L

>10 years-≤15 years: 0.6-6.9 IU/L

>15 years-≤18 years: 0.7-9.6 IU/L

>18 years: 1.2-15.8 IU/L

 

TANNER STAGES*

Stage l: <1.5 IU/L

Stage ll: <3.0 IU/L

Stage lll: 0.4-6.2 IU/L

Stage lV: 0.6-5.1 IU/L

Stage V: 0.8-7.2 IU/L

*Puberty onset occurs for boys at a median age of 11.5 (± 2) years. For boys there is no proven relationship between puberty onset and body weight or ethnic origin. Progression through Tanner stages is variable. Tanner stage V (adult) should be reached by age 18.

 

Females

<12 months: 1.2-12.5 IU/L

≥12 months -≤10 years: 0.5-6.0 IU/L

>10 years-≤15 years: 0.9-8.9 IU/L

>15 years-≤18 years: 0.7-9.6 IU/L

Premenopausal:

Follicular: 2.9-14.6 IU/L

Midcycle: 4.7-23.2 IU/L

Luteal: 1.4-8.9 IU/L

Postmenopausal: 16.0-157.0 IU/L

 

TANNER STAGES*

Stage l: 0.6-4.1 IU/L

Stage ll: 0.3-5.8 IU/L

Stage lll: 0.1-7.2 IU/L

Stage lV: 0.3-7.0 IU/L

Stage V: 0.4-8.6 IU/L*Puberty onset (transition from Tanner stage I to Tanner stage II) occurs for girls at a median age of 10.5 (± 2) years. There is evidence that it may occur up to 1 year earlier in obese girls and in African American girls. Progression through Tanner stages is variable. Tanner stage V (adult) should be reached by age 18.

 

For SI unit Reference Values, see https://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/order-tests/si-unit-conversion.html

Day(s) and Time(s) Performed

Monday through Sunday; Continuously

Test Classification

This test has been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

CPT Code Information

83001

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
FSH FSH, S 15067-2

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
FSH FSH, S 15067-2

Clinical Information

Luteinizing hormone (LH) is a glycoprotein hormone consisting of 2 noncovalently bound subunits (alpha and beta). Gonadotropin-releasing hormone from the hypothalamus controls the secretion of the gonadotropins, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and LH from the anterior pituitary.

 

The menstrual cycle is divided by a midcycle surge of both FSH and LH into a follicular phase and a luteal phase.

 

FSH appears to control gametogenesis in both males and females.

Interpretation

In both males and females, primary hypogonadism results in an elevation of basal follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels.

 

FSH and LH are generally elevated in:

-Primary gonadal failure  

-Complete testicular feminization syndrome

-Precocious puberty (either idiopathic or secondary to a central nervous system lesion)

-Menopause (postmenopausal FSH levels are generally >40 IU/L)

-Primary ovarian hypofunction in females

-Primary hypogonadism in males

 

Normal or decreased FSH in:

-Polycystic ovary disease in females

 

FSH and LH are both decreased in failure of the pituitary or hypothalamus.

Clinical Reference

1. Demers LM, Vance ML: Pituitary function. In Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics. Fourth edition. Edited by CA Burtis, ER Ashwood, DE Bruns. St. Louis. Elsevier Saunders Company, 2006, pp 1984-1989

2. Haymond S, Gronowski AM: Reproductive related disorders. In Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics. Fourth edition. Edited by CA Burtis, ER Ashwood, DE Bruns. St. Louis. Elsevier Saunders Company, 2006, pp 2101-2127

3. Kulasingam V, Jung BP, Blastuig IM, et al: Pediatric reference intervals for 28 chemistries and immunoassays on the Roche cobas 6000 analyzer- A CALIPER pilot study. Clin Biochem 2010;43;1045-1050

4. Konforte D, Shea JL, Kyriakopoulou L: Complex biological pattern of fertility hormones in children and adolescents: a study of healthy children from the CALIPER cohort and establishment of pediatric reference intervals. Clin Chem 2013;59:1215-1227

Analytic Time

Same day/1 day


Specimen Required


Patient Preparation: For 12 hours before this test do not take multivitamins or dietary supplements containing biotin (vitamin B7), which is commonly found in hair, skin, and nail supplements and multivitamins.

Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum gel

Acceptable: Red top

Specimen Volume: 0.6 mL

Collection Instructions: Specimen should be centrifuged and aliquoted within 2 hours of collection.


Method Name

Electrochemiluminescence Immunoassay

Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send an Oncology Test Request Form (T729) with the specimen

(http://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/it-mmfiles/oncology-request-form.pdf)