Quick Facts
- Sample: Blood
- Fasting: No special preparation is required
- Turnaround: 5–7 business days. May take longer based on weather, holiday, or lab delays.
What This Test Measures
This test measures androstenedione, a steroid hormone produced primarily by the adrenal glands and gonads, using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Androstenedione serves as a precursor in the body's production of other steroid hormones, including testosterone and estrogens.
Measuring androstenedione can provide information about androgen production and may be used alongside other clinical and laboratory findings when evaluating adrenal, ovarian, or testicular hormone function. Abnormal levels may be associated with conditions that affect androgen production or steroid hormone pathways.
This is a single-analyte test that measures androstenedione and does not include other androgens or adrenal hormones.
Benefits
- Measures androstenedione using LC-MS/MS methodology
- Helps evaluate androgen production
- Supports assessment of adrenal and gonadal hormone function
- May provide useful information when evaluating androgen excess
- Can be used alongside other hormone tests when assessing conditions that affect steroid hormone production
Who Is This Test For?
- Individuals undergoing evaluation for signs or symptoms of androgen excess
- Individuals with suspected adrenal or gonadal hormone abnormalities
- Individuals undergoing evaluation for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Individuals with suspected congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)
- Individuals having androstenedione measured alongside other hormone tests as part of a broader endocrine evaluation
How It Works
- Order Your Test Online
- Visit a Local Lab
- Get Results Online
FAQ
1. What does this test measure?
This test measures the amount of androstenedione in the blood. Androstenedione is a steroid hormone produced primarily by the adrenal glands, ovaries, and testes. It serves as a precursor in the production of testosterone and estrogens, though those hormones are not measured as part of this test.
2. Why might androstenedione levels be tested?
Androstenedione may be measured when evaluating androgen production or investigating signs and symptoms associated with androgen excess. It may also provide additional information when evaluating certain adrenal and reproductive hormone conditions.
3. Can this test be used when evaluating PCOS?
Androstenedione may be measured as part of an evaluation for androgen excess associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, an androstenedione result alone cannot diagnose PCOS. Healthcare providers consider clinical findings and, when appropriate, additional laboratory testing when evaluating for PCOS.
4. Is androstenedione testing used for congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)?
Androstenedione may provide additional information when evaluating or monitoring congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). Other laboratory measurements, particularly 17-hydroxyprogesterone, may also play an important role in the evaluation of CAH.
5. Do I need to fast before this test?
No special preparation is required.
6. How do I interpret my results?
Androstenedione results should be interpreted using the reference interval provided by the laboratory that performed the test. Expected levels can vary according to factors such as age and sex.
A result outside the laboratory's reference interval does not diagnose a medical condition on its own. Your healthcare provider can interpret the result alongside your symptoms, medical history, medications, and other laboratory findings.
Disclaimer: Reference ranges may vary by laboratory. Listed ranges are general guidelines and may differ from those used by the performing lab. Always consult your healthcare provider for interpretation.
7. What should I do if my results are abnormal?
Review abnormal results with a qualified healthcare provider. Your provider can consider the result together with your symptoms and other hormone measurements to determine whether additional evaluation is appropriate.
8. How often should I get tested?
There is no universal testing schedule for androstenedione. Testing frequency depends on the reason for testing and should be determined with your healthcare provider.
Pre-test Preparation
No special preparation is required.
