Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)

Test Code

FSH

Alias/See Also

Epic: LAB86

Preferred Specimen

Specimen Type: Serum
Collection Container: Serum gel
Specimen Volume: 3 mL

Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Instructions

Centrifuge and separate cells after clot formation and within 4 hours of collection. Remove serum if testing will be delayed more than 24 hours

Transport Container

Plastic vial

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: Not defined
Refrigerated (on gel): 24 hours
Refrigerated (off gel): 7 days
Frozen: 1 year

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Samples stored on gel >24 hours, unlabeled, mislabeled, wrong tube type, hemolyzed, QNS, exceeds specimen stability requirements.

Methodology

Chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA)

Setup Schedule

Daily

Report Available

Same day

Limitations

If the FSH results are inconsistent with clinical evidence, additional testing is supposed to confirm the result.
Patients receiving mouse monoclonal antibodies for diagnosis or treatment may develop Human anti-mouse antibodies (HAMA). HAMA may cause falsely elevated or decreased values when tested with assay kits which employ mouse monoclonal antibodies.
Presence of Heterophile antibodies in patient specimens may also cause falsely elevated or falsely decreased results.

Reference Range

Males: 0.95 - 11.95 mIU/mL

Normally Menstruating Females
Folicular Phase: 3.03 - 8.08 mIU/mL
Mid Cycle Peak: 2.55 - 16.69 mIU/mL
Luteal Phase: 1.38 5.47 mIU/mL

Postmenopausal Females: 26.72 - 133.41 mIU/mL

Clinical Significance

Follicle Stimulating Hormone is a glycoprotein consisting of two subunits α and β. The β subunit of FSH is unique and confers its immunological and functional specificity. FSH and LH control growth and reproductive activities of the gonadal tissues. FSH promotes follicular development in the ovary and gametogenesis in the testis. Release of FSH from the pituitary is under negative feedback control by the gonads.
FSH in mature females acts to stimulate development of the ovarian follicles. Circulating FSH levels vary throughout the menstrual cycle in response to estradiol and progesterone. In females, situations in which FSH is elevated and gonadal steroids are depressed include menopause, premature ovarian failure, and ovariectomy.
In males, FSH, LH, and testosterone regulate spermatogenesis by the Sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubules of the testes. Because of the negative feedback mechanism regulating gonadotropin release, elevated concentrations of LH and FSH are indicative of gonadal failure when accompanied by low concentrations of the gonadal steroids. In males, these observations suggest primary testicular failure or anorchia (testes absent at birth).
Abnormal FSH concentrations may also indicate dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis.

Performing Laboratory

Inova Laboratories

2832 Juniper Street

Fairfax, VA 22031

Last Updated: April 11, 2023
Last Review: N. Wolford, March 7, 2023

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.