Specimen

Serum or Plasma

Collection Medium:

Alternate
Collection Media:

Green top tube (Na Heparin), Light Green top tube (Lithium Heparin), 
Lavender top tube (EDTA), Pink top tube (EDTA sprayed)

Minimum:

Adult preferred minimum: 1.0 mL serum or plasma
Adult absolute minimum: 0.5 mL serum or plasma
Pediatric minimum: 0.2 mL serum or plasma

If additional tests are going to be ordered, extra red top tubes may be 
needed.  Please call the lab for consultation.

Rejection Criteria:

Hemolyzed specimens.

Analytic Time:

4 working days

Reference Range:

  Age                 Male ug/dl       Female ug/dl
0-6 days               108-607           108-607
7-30 days               32-431            32-431
1-11 months              3-124             3-124
1-4 years                0-19              0-19
5-9 years                4-116             6-93
10-14 years             22-332            22-255
15-19 years             88-483            63-373
20-29 years            280-640            65-380
30-39 years            120-520            45-270
40-49 years             95-530            32-240
50-59 years             70-310            26-200
60-69 years             42-290            13-130
70 years and older      28-175            10-90

Tanner Stage I           7-209             7-126
Tanner Stage II         28-260            13-241
Tanner Stage III        39-390            32-446
Tanner Stage IV & V     81-488            65-371

Test
Limitations:

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) is a weak androgen secreted 
primarily by the "zona reticularis" of the adrenal cortex. Secretion is 
controlled by ACTH and other pituitary factors. Physiologically, DHEA-S 
has many roles, including the development of pubic and axillary hair, 
the development and maintenance of immunocompetence, and as a possible 
tumor marker.

Serum levels of DHEA-S are one thousand times greater than DHEA. DHEA 
levels show diurnal variation while DHEA-S does not. Levels change 
slowly due to slow metabolism and low renal clearance.

Clinical indications for DHEA-S include:
  Hirsutism and amenorrhea (the most common sign of increased adrenal
  androgen production by women)

  Polycystic ovarian syndrome, where high DHEA-S levels are
  encountered (levels greater than 700-800 ug/dL in women are
  suggestive of a hormone secreting adrenal tumor)

  Cushing's caused by adrenal carcinomas where DHEA-S is elevated,
  but usually not in Cushing's syndrome caused by a benign adrenal
  tumor.

Methodology:

Electrochemiluminescent Immunoassay

CPT Code:

82627