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Test Code FSH Follicle Stimulating Hormone

Specimen and Container/Tube

Specimen Type: Plasma

Preferred Specimen: Li-Heparin Mint Green Top

Other Acceptable specimens: Serum/Gold Top, Serum/Red 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 20-25oC.

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

FSH Prepubertal

1.0 - 9.5

Female

2.7 mIU/mL

FSH Follicular Phase

11 - 40

Female

3.9 - 8.3 mIU/mL

FSH Mid-cycle Phase

All

Female

Up to 19 mIU/mL

FSH Luteal Phase

All

Female

1.7 - 7.7 mIU/mL

FSH Postmenopausal

All

Female

20 - 135 mIU/mL

FSH Prepubertal

2.7 - 12

Male

<1.0 mIU/mL

FSH

18 - 35

Male

1.2 - 8.0 mIU/mL

Note: Reference ranges are based on in-house studies performed at the University of Chicago Medicine by the Cinical Chemistry Laboratories per the Roche cobas 8000 modular analyzer series e801 System Installation Workbook and the e801 FSH product insert. 

Critical Values

Analyte

Unit

Low

High

Age

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

CPT Codes

83001

LOINC Codes

15067-2

Volume

Preferred Volume: 0.5 mL

Minimum Volume: 0.2 mL

Specimen Stability

Storage Temperature

Stability

Room Temperature

5 days

Refrigerated

14 hours

Frozen

6 months

Collection Instructions

Collect specimen per standard laboratory collection procedures. 

 

Test Components

Follicle Stimulating Hormone

Clinical Indications

The roles of FSH and LH are interrelated and are routinely performed concurrently in the differential diagnosis of hypothalamic pituitary and gonadal dysfunction. The hormone levels are also used to assess the menstrual cycle for pinpointing ovulation, or the determination of menopause and for monitoring endocrine therapy.

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.
  • In women, FSH in conjunction with LH, stimulates oestrogen secretion and ovulation.
  • In men, FSH serves to induce spermatogonium development.
  • Determination of the FSH concentration is used in the elucidation of dysfunctions within the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonads system.
  • In rare cases, interference due to extremely high titers of antibodies to analyte-specific antibodies, streptavidin or ruthenium can occur.

 

 

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

FSH, Follical Stimulating Hormone, Pituitary Gonadotropins

Last Review Date

1/26/23

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