Sign in →

Test Code DHS04 Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate

Important Note

This test may be affected by biotin interference. Patients on high dose biotin (5mg/day or more) should not have samples drawn until at least 24 hours after the last biotin administration.

Specimen and Container/Tube

Specimen Type: Serum

Preferred Specimen: Red Top

Other Acceptable specimens: Gold Top, Li-Heparin Mint Green Top, Lavendar K2 Top, Lavendar K3 Top

Specimen Handling and Transport Instructions

UCMC Onsite Instructions: 

Collect specimen per standard collection procedure and send to laboratory immediately. 

 

UCMC Offsite and UC MedLab Outreach Instructions: 

  • Samples should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection.
  • Centrifuge specimens at >2500 x g for 10 minutes at room temperature.
  • Aliquot sample into plastic transport tube containing a minimum of 0.2 mL of specimen.
  • Samples must be sent room temperature at 15-25oC.

 

Rejection Criteria

  • Common specimen rejected situations include: incorrect specimen type, insufficient volume, missing or incomplete specimen identifiers, incorrect specimen transport, or specimens outside stability limits. 
  • Specimens that are clotted or grossly hemolyzed.
  • Specimens that were transported unspun/whole blood and draw time is greater than 6 hours

Reference Values

 

Test

Age

Sex

Reference Range

DHS04

<1 week

All

108 - 607 μg/dL

DHS04

1-4 weeks

All

31.6 - 431 μg/dL

DHS04

1-12 months

All

3.4 - 124 μg/dL

DHS04

1-4 years

All

0.47 - 19.4 μg/dL

DHS04

5-9 years

All

2.8 - 85.2 μg/dL

 

 

Test

Age

Sex

Reference Range

DHS04

10 - 14

Females

34 - 280 μg/dL

DHS04

15 - 19

Females

65 - 368 μg/dL

DHS04

20 - 24

Females

148 - 407 μg/dL

DHS04

25 - 34

Females

99 - 340 μg/dL

DHS04

35 - 44

Females

61 - 337 μg/dL

DHS04

45 - 54

Females

35 - 256 μg/dL

DHS04

55 - 64

Females

19 - 205 μg/dL

DHS04

65 - 75

Females

9 - 246 μg/dL

DHS04

≥ 75

Females

12 - 154 μg/dL

 

Test

Age

Sex

Reference Range

DHS04

10 - 14

Males

24 - 247 μg/dL

DHS04

15 - 19

Males

70 - 492 μg/dL

DHS04

20 - 24

Males

211 - 492 μg/dL

DHS04

25 - 34

Males

160 - 449 μg/dL

DHS04

35 - 44

Males

89 - 427 μg/dL

DHS04

45 - 54

Males

44 - 331 μg/dL

DHS04

55 - 64

Males

52 - 295 μg/dL

DHS04

65 - 75

Males

34 - 249 μg/dL

DHS04

≥ 75

Males

16 - 123 μg/dL

 

Note: Reference ranges are based on in-house studies performed at the University of Chicago Medicine by the Clinical Chemistry Laboratories per the Roche cobas 8000 modular analyzer series e 801 System Installation Workbook and the e 801 DHEA-S product insert. 

Critical Values

Analyte

Unit

Low

High

Age

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

CPT Codes

82627

LOINC Codes

2193-1

Volume

Preferred Volume: 0.5 mL

Minimum Volume: 0.2 mL

Specimen Stability

Storage Temperature

Stability

Room temperature

5 days

Refrigerated

14 days

Frozen

12 months

Collection Instructions

Collect specimen per standard laboratory collection procedures. 

 

Test Components

Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate

Clinical Indications

The determination of elevated DHEA-S values is an important aid in the diagnosis of hirsutism and virilism. In addition to a differential diagnosis of hirsutism and virilism further indications for this parameter are all forms of androgenisation, hyperprolactinemia, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and the exclusion of an androgen producing tumor of the adrenal cortex.

DHEA-S exhibits only a week androgenic activity but can be metabolized to more active androgens such as androstendione and testosterone, which can indirectly cause hirsutism and virilism.

Methodology

Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) - Roche Diagnostics

Additional Information

  • Results should always be assessed in conjunction with patient's medical history, clinical examination and other findings.
  • Together with testosterone, DHEA-S assays represent the assay of choice for initial screening tests to determine whether androgen values are elevated in hirsutism. Approximately 84% of the women suffering from hirsutism exhibit elevated androgen levels. The main purpose of this is to exclude the presence of androgen producing tumors (from the adrenal cortex or the ovaries). Tumor relevant values in women are those values exceeding 700 μg/dL DHEA-S.
  • DHEA-SO4 levels are also measured as part of both the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) stimulation pediatric test and the adenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation pediatric test to evaluate Cushing’s syndrome and adrenal insufficiency.

Turnaround Time

Turnaround times are relative to the time the specimen is received in the test laboratory. 

 

STAT Turnaround Time: Not Available as STAT test

Routine Turnaround Time: up to 4 hours

Testing Schedule:  24/7

Synonyms/Keyword Search

DHEA-SO4, DHS04, DHEA-S

Last Review Date

8/19/2024

Related Tests