Free Progesterone

Test Code

15072

CPT Codes
84144 (x2)<br><strong>This test is not available for New York patient testing</strong>

Preferred Specimen

3 mL frozen serum

Patient Preparation
Patient should not be on any Corticosteroid, ACTH, Estrogen, or Gonadotropin medication, if possible, for at least 48 hours prior to collection of specimen.

Minimum Volume

2 mL

Other Acceptable Specimens

Plasma collected in an EDTA (lavender-top) tube

Instructions

3 mL serum or EDTA plasma should be collected and separated and frozen as soon as possible. Minimum specimen size is 2 mL.

Transport Container

Transport tube

Transport Temperature

Frozen

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: 1 hour
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: 6 months

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

Grossly icteric • Gross hemolysis • Grossly lipemic

Methodology
Radioimmunoassay following ultrafiltration of specimens

FDA Status
This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Inter Science Institute. Values obtained with different methods, laboratories, or kits cannot be used interchangeably with the results on this report. The results cannot be interpreted as absolute evidence of the presence or absence of malignant disease.

Setup Schedule

Set up: Varies; Report available: 8 business days

Reference Range

See Laboratory Report

Clinical Significance

Progesterone is a Progestin produced primarily from enzymatic metabolism of Pregnenolone. It is enzymatically converted to 17-Hydroxy Progesterone and 11-Deoxycorticosterone. It is secreted by both the gonads and the adrenal glands. It is mostly bound to Cortisol Binding Globulin and Albumin, but a small percentage is present in the "Free" form. This "Free" Progesterone is the bioactive moiety. It is excreted into the urine primarily as "Free" unconjugated Progesterone and as Pregnanediol. Progesterone is responsible for cellular changes in the cervix, vagina, and uterus. Levels are lowest in the follicular phase and increase rapidly following the luteal surge. Increased Progesterone inhibits ovulation. "Free" Progesterone increases greatly during pregnancy reaching about 20% of the total Progesterone concentration at delivery. Measurement of Progesterone can be useful to monitor fertility, corpus luteum function, endometrial development, and be helpful in in-vitro fertilization patients.

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.