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Androstenedione
MessageSendout, Mayo test code: ANST
Test Code
LAB518
Alias/See Also
4-Androstene-3
4-Androstenedione
Delta-4-Androstenedione
ANST
4-Androstenedione
Delta-4-Androstenedione
ANST
CPT Codes
82157
Preferred Specimen
0.6 mL serum from a red tube. SERUM GEL TUBE IS UNACCEPTABLE.
Minimum Volume
0.25 mL
Instructions
Centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial
Transport Container
Plastic vial
Transport Temperature
Refrigerated
Specimen Stability
Refrigerated (preferred): 28 days
Frozen:28 days
Ambient: 7 days
Frozen:28 days
Ambient: 7 days
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Hemolysis: Mild OK; Gross reject
Lipemia: Mild OK; Gross reject
Icterus: Mild OK; Gross OK
Other Serum gel tube
Lipemia: Mild OK; Gross reject
Icterus: Mild OK; Gross OK
Other Serum gel tube
Methodology
Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
FDA Status
Approved
Setup Schedule
Monday through Friday
Report Available
2-5 days
Limitations
Any condition that can result in partial or complete adrenal or gonadal failure may result in low androstenedione levels, diminishing the diagnostic usefulness of the test in these settings.
Androstenedione and, to a lesser degree, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) supplements can result in elevations of serum androstenedione level. With large androstenedione doses of 300 to 400 mg/day, serum androstenedione levels can almost double in some patients. Testosterone levels and, particularly in men, estrone and estradiol levels, may also increase but to a much lesser degree.
Although compared with DHEA-S, less information has been published with regard to the effects of hormones and drugs on androstenedione levels, it is likely that many drugs and hormones can result in changes in androstenedione levels. In particular, agents that induce hepatic enzymes, drugs that affect lipid metabolism, and other steroid hormones are likely to affect androstenedione levels, more commonly resulting in lowered levels. Whether any of these secondary changes are of clinical significance and how they should be related to the established normal reference ranges is unknown. In most cases, the drug-induced changes are not large enough to cause diagnostic confusion.
Androstenedione and, to a lesser degree, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) supplements can result in elevations of serum androstenedione level. With large androstenedione doses of 300 to 400 mg/day, serum androstenedione levels can almost double in some patients. Testosterone levels and, particularly in men, estrone and estradiol levels, may also increase but to a much lesser degree.
Although compared with DHEA-S, less information has been published with regard to the effects of hormones and drugs on androstenedione levels, it is likely that many drugs and hormones can result in changes in androstenedione levels. In particular, agents that induce hepatic enzymes, drugs that affect lipid metabolism, and other steroid hormones are likely to affect androstenedione levels, more commonly resulting in lowered levels. Whether any of these secondary changes are of clinical significance and how they should be related to the established normal reference ranges is unknown. In most cases, the drug-induced changes are not large enough to cause diagnostic confusion.
Reference Range
Included with report
Clinical Significance
Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of hyperandrogenism, in conjunction with measurements of other sex steroids
Performing Laboratory
Mayo Clinic Laboratories, Rochester, Minnesota
Additional Information
Androstenedione, Serum
