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Test Code FSH Follicle Stimulating Hormone

Additional Codes

Cerner

NextGen

FSH

Follicle Stimulating Hormone

Alternate Name(s)

FSH

Follitropin

Methodology

Chemiluminescent, Immunometric immunoassay

Patient Preparation

None

Collection Instructions

Standard phlebotomy practices.

Specimen Requirements

Container

Specimen Type

Tube

Lithium Heparin Plasma

PST

 or  or 

Serum

 or 

SST

 or  or 

Stability

Storage

Temperature

Stability

Room Temperature

18-28°C

Not recommended

Refrigerated

 2-8°C

≤ 6 days

Frozen

≤-20 °C

4 weeks

Thaw 1 time only

Rejection Criteria
  • Gross Hemolysis
  • Tubid Specimens

Result Reporting and Reference Values

Reported in mIU/mL           

 

Low

High

0 to 1 year Female

 

12.3

1 to 9 Years Female

 

3.01

9 to 12 years Female

 

11.4

12 to 19 Years Female

1.16

7.23

Postmenopausal Female*

21.5

131

Normal female follicular phase

1.98

11.6

Normal female mid-cycle peak

5.14

23.4

Normal female luteal phase

1.38

9.58

 

 

 

0 to 1 Year Male

 

2.12

1 to 9 Years Male

 

3.26

9 to 12 years Male

 

4.47

12 to 19 years Male

1.06

7.22

Normal Male (age 19 – 65)

1.55

9.74

            *Not on hormone therapy

Reflex Testing

None

Limitations

  • Ortho reports a bias with the following:
    • Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin at 125,000 mlU/mL has a bias of -0.58 mlU/mL
    • Biotin can cause a negative bias
  • Ortho reports no significant effect with the following:
    • Bilirubin up to 40 mg/dL
    • Hemoglobin up to 500 mg/dL
  • The following interpretive data is visible to the practitioner:
    • Human Chorionic Gonadotropin values over 125000 mIU/ml, create a significant negative bias

Useful For

FSH is secreted by the anterior pituitary under the control of hypothalamic gonadotropin releasing hormone.  The function of FSH in both males and females is to facilitate the development and maintenance of the gonadal tissues.  These tissues synthesize and secrete steroid hormones, which in turn control FSH concentrations by negative feedback.  At menopause, ovarian function and steroid secretion cease, causing FSH concentrations to rise due to a lack of negative feedback control.  FSH concentrations are similarly raised in women of pre-menopausal age who suffer ovarian failure, or whose ovaries failed to mature during puberty.  Elevated FSH concentrations are found in males when the testes have failed to develop to functional maturity, or, in cases of infertility, due to primary testicular failure.