Progesterone

Test Code

PROGE

Alias/See Also

Epic: LAB529

Preferred Specimen

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

Minimum Volume

0.3 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: Unacceptable
Refrigerated (on gel): 24 hours
Refrigerated (off gel): 10 days
Frozen: 10 days

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 progesterone results are inconsistent with clinical evidence, additional testing is suggested to confirm the results.
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.
Heterophilic antibodies in human serum can react with reagent immunoglobulins, interfering with in vitro immunoassays.
Gross hemolysis, icterus and lipemia do not interfere with this Progesterone assay.

Reference Range

Normal Menstruating Females
Follicular Phase: <0.1 - 0.3 ng/mL
Luteal Phase: 1.2 - 15.9 ng/mL

Pregnant Females
First Trimester: 2.8 - 147.3 ng/mL
Second Trimester: 22.5 - 95.3 ng/mL
Third Trimester: 27.9 - 242.5 ng/mL

Males: <0.1 - 0.2 ng/mL

Clinical Significance

Progesterone is produced primarily by the corpus luteum of the ovary in normally menstruating women and to a lesser extent by the adrenal cortex. At approximately the 6th week of pregnancy, the placenta becomes the major producer of progesterone. The major functions of progesterone are in the preparation of the uterus for implantation and maintenance of pregnancy. Serum progesterone is a reliable indicator of either natural or induced ovulation because of its rapid rise following ovulation. Disorders of ovulation, including anovulation, are relatively frequent and are responsible for infertility in approximately 15-20% of patients. Progesterone levels are abnormally low in these patients during the mid-luteal phase. Measurement of progesterone in the first 10 weeks of gestation has been shown to be reliable and effective for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with threatened abortion and ectopic pregnancy. Suppressed progesterone levels(5 to 25 ng/mL) in the presence of detectable amounts of hCG is highly suggestive of patients with threatened abortion or ectopic pregnancy, regardless of gestational age.

Performing Laboratory

Inova Laboratories

2832 Juniper Street

Fairfax, VA 22031

Last Updated: March 8, 2023
Last Review: N. Wolford, March 8, 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.