Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate

Label Mnemonic:	DHEAS
Epic code:	LAB524
Downtime form:	Doctor/Provider Orders - Pathology Core and Specialty Care Nursery

Chemistry
6240 RCP
356-3527

Specimen(s):

Plasma

Collection Medium:

Plasma Separator Tube 4.5 mL

Alternate Collection Media:

Call laboratory for additional acceptable specimen collection containers.

Minimum:

3 mL whole blood in light green top tube or TWO Microtainer^® devices.

Testing Schedule:

24 hrs/day, 7 days a week, including holidays.

Turn Around Time:

1 hour (upon receipt in laboratory)

Reference Range:

   Age                Male μg/dL       Female μg/dL
0-6 days               108-607           108-607
7-30 days               32-431            32-431
1-5 months               3-124             3-124
6-35 months              0-33              0-29
3-6 years                0-44              0-47
7-9 years                5-115             5-94
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

Comments:

This assay may be significantly impacted by high-dose biotin (>5 mg dose) taken within previous 12 hours. High concentrations of biotin may lead to falsely increased results. These concentrations may be found in patients taking over-the-counter supplements with biotin content much higher than nutritional requirements for biotin. Specimens should not be collected until at least 12 hours after the last dose.

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 work-up of:
  Hirsutism and amenorrhea (the most common sign of increased adrenal
  androgen production by women)

  Polycystic ovarian syndrome, where high DHEA-S levels are often
  encountered.  However, levels greater than 700-800 μg/dL in
  women may be suggestive of a hormone secreting adrenal tumor.

  Congenital adrenal hyperplasia

The assay is unaffected by icterus (bilirubin less than 13 mg/dL), 
hemolysis (Hb less than 560 mg/dL), lipemia (Intralipid less than 2000 
mg/dL) and biotin less than 30 ng/mL (criterion: recovery within plus 
or minus 10% of initial value). 

No interference was observed from rheumatoid factors up to a 
concentration of 600 U/mL.

Methodology:

Electrochemiluminescence Immunoassay

CPT Code:

82627

See Additional Information:
Biotin Interference with Immunoassays