Follicle Stimulating Hormone

Diagnostic Use

Investigation of hypogonadism or delayed puberty.

1. Investigation of oligospermia or azoospermia (a raised FSH value usually indicates that the defect in spermatogenesis is gross).

2. Investigation of primary and secondary amenorrhoea.

3. Assessment of hypothalamic-pituitary function. Low serum FSH values cannot always be distinguished readily from normal values except in postmenopausal women who have higher resting values than pre-menopausal. A premenopausal value in postmenopausal women is suggestive of hypothalamic-pituitary disease.

Department

Endocrinology Lab

Delphic Registration Code

FSH

Laboratory Handling

Laboratory

Serum or plasma stability; Ambient up to 5 days, Chilled (2-8 deg) up to 14 days or frozen for up to 6 months

Test Adds

OK if sample storage meets stability requirements.

Synonyms

Follitropin
FSH
Gonadotrophins
Gonadotropins

Turnaround Time

4 days

Test Code

6548

Specimen Type

• Serum
• Plasma

Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

• Serum (Red Cap)

Preferred if West Coast

• SST II (Gold Cap)

Acceptable

• SST II (Gold Cap)
• Lithium Heparin - Non-gel (Green Cap)
• Lithium Heparin - Gel (Light Green Cap)
• EDTA (Lavender Cap)

Preferred Sample Volume (ml)

4

No of Samples Required

1

Aliquot Instructions

Sample Type

• Serum
• Plasma

Minimum Volume (ml)

0.2

Transport to Lab

Ambient (8 - 24 degrees Celsius)
If overnight - Chilled (2 - 8 degrees Celsius)

Additional Referral/Aliquot Information

Preferably >0.5 mL serum or plasma. Minimum >0.2 mL

West Coast: If specimen is unable to be separated, take blood on SST and send to Greymouth Lab. Send plasma/serum chilled to CHL.

Interpretation

1. Raised values: after menopause, midcycle peak (less affected than LH), primary gonadal failure (eg Klinefelter’s syndrome, Turner’s syndrome, gonadal dysgenesis or agenesis, bilateral torsion of the testis, orchidopexy, testicular injury, premature ovarian failure, oligo or azoospermia).

2. Low values – ie repeatedly low or no response to stimulation. Hypothalamic – pituitary disease (eg pituitary ablation, pituitary tumours, craniopharyngioma, Kallmann’s syndrome etc.)

3. Serum FSH determinations generally provide a better indication of primary gonadal failure than serum LH.

4. During the menopausal transition, which may last several months or longer, FSH levels may fluctuate considerably.

5. In males, FSH tends to increase with age.

Reference Intervals

0-9 yrs              0-6.5 IU/L

10-15 yrs           Levels rise during puberty towards adult range

 

Adult male       2-12 IU/L (age related).

Expect < 8 IU/L if <40yrs; <15 IU/L if >40yrs.

 

Adult female      Follicular                     3-10 IU/L

Mid cycle                      4-25 IU/L

Luteal                           2-8 IU/L

Post menopause         >20 IU/L

Antenatal                      <1 IU/L

Test Method

Competitive ECLIA on Roche Cobas.

Non-Funded Test Cost

$17.39 (Exclusive of GST)

Billing Code

6548

Female reference intervals exclude OC and HRT.

Method changed from Beckman Coulter Access to Roche Elecsys on 13/4/2011. FSH results comparable by the two methods.

Contact Information

Enquiry Form