Testosterone, free testosterone, and free androgen index in women: Reference intervals, biological variation, and diagnostic value in polycystic ovary syndrome

H.N. Bui, P.M. Sluss, F.J. Hayes, S. Blincko, D.L. Knol, M.A. Blankenstein, A.C. Heijboer

    Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    Abstract

    Objective: The objective of our study was to determine reference intervals and biologic variation for testosterone (T), free testosterone (fT), and free androgen index (FAI) in women with accurate methods and to test the discriminative value of these parameters in a polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)-population. Methods: Serumwas obtained daily during a normal menstrual cycle from 25 healthy women (677 data-points). A single serum sample was obtained from 44 PCOS-patients. T was measured by LC-MS/MS and by Architect® 2nd generation T Immunoassay. Sex hormone-binding globulin was measured to calculate fT and FAI. Results: Reference intervals which were established in healthy women with an ovulatory menstrual cycle were T = 0.3-1.6 nmol/L and 0.5-2.0 nmol/L, fT = 5.2-26 pmol/L and 7.2-33 pmol/L, and FAI = 0.4-2.9 and 0.6-4.4, by LC-MS/MSand immunoassay, respectively. T, fT and FAIwere higher in PCOS patients than in controls (p b 0.0001). The areas under the curve of receiver operator characteristic (ROC) plots were not different for T, fT, or FAIwhen Twasmeasured by LC-MS/MSversus immunoassay based on prediction of PCOS. FAI and fTwere the strongest predictors of PCOS. Conclusions: When based upon the appropriate reference intervals and ROC analysis, LC-MS/MS and second generation immunoassay have equivalent clinical utility for the diagnosis of PCOS.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)227-232
    JournalClinica Chimica Acta
    Volume450
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2015

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Testosterone, free testosterone, and free androgen index in women: Reference intervals, biological variation, and diagnostic value in polycystic ovary syndrome'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this