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Androgen Measurements

Methods, Interpretation, and Limitations

  • Chapter
Androgen Excess Disorders in Women

Part of the book series: Contemporary Endocrinology ((COE))

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Abstract

Androgens are measured primarily in serum by direct and indirect (with one or two purification steps) immunoassay methods. Direct immunoassays are seldom thoroughly validated and often lack sensitivity and specificity. Free testosterone measurements also have their limitations, but the equilibrium dialysis assay or calculated method using an algorithm is considered reliable. There is growing use of assays that combine mass spectrometry with either gas or liquid chromatography for quantifying androgens. Liquid chromatography—tandem mass spectrometry is touted to become the “gold standard” for all steroid hormone measurements.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Women & Children’es Hospital, Los Angeles, CA

    Frank Z. Stanczyk

Authors
  1. Frank Z. Stanczyk
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Androgen Related Disorders, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center; and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Department of Medicine, The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA

    Ricardo Azziz MD, MPH, MBA

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

    John E. Nestler MD

  3. Department of Endocrine Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, Lille University Hospital, Lille, France

    Didier Dewailly MD

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© 2006 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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Stanczyk, F.Z. (2006). Androgen Measurements. In: Azziz, R., Nestler, J.E., Dewailly, D. (eds) Androgen Excess Disorders in Women. Contemporary Endocrinology. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-179-6_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-179-6_5

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-663-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59745-179-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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