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Test Code LH Luteinizing Hormone

Important Note

Testing for diagnosis of precocious puberty and delayed puberty in children, Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Pediatrics, Serum is recommended.

Additional Codes

Cerner

NextGen

LH (Luteinizing Hormone)

Luteinizing Hormone

Alternate Name(s)

LH

Lutropin

Interstitial Cell Stimulating Hormone

ICSH

Useful For

LH is secreted by the anterior pituitary in response to hypothalamic gonadotrophin    releasing hormone.  During the menstrual cycle, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulates growth of the ovarian follicle which, when mature, ovulates in response to a surge of LH and, to a lesser extent, of FSH.  Ovarian steroids are the primary negative feedback control for LH secretion.  At menopause, reduced ovarian negative feedback results in elevated LH concentrations.  LH concentrations also tend to be elevated in women of pre-menopausal age who experience ovarian failure, or whose ovaries failed to mature during puberty.

Methodology

Immunometric immunoassay, Chemiluminescent

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

≤ 5 days

Frozen

≤-20 °C

4 weeks

Thaw 1 time only

Rejection Criteria

Gross Hemolysis

Turbid Specimens

Result Reporting and Reference Values

Reported in mIU/mL

 

Low

High

Postmenopausal Female

13.1

86.5

Normal Female follicular phase

2.58

12.1

Normal Female mid-cycle peak

27.3

96.9

Normal Female luteal phase

0.83

15.5

Reflex Testing

None

Limitations

  • Ortho reports a bias with the following:
    • 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