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Test Code DHEAS DHEA Sulfate

EHR Test Codes

  Test Code Test Name
Atlas DHEAS DHEA Sulfate
Cerner   DHEA Sulfate

 

Specimen Requirements

Preparation of Patient: 

None

 

Container Type: 

Gold Top SST Gel & Clot Activator Tube

Specimen Type:

Serum

 

Specimen Volume: 

1.0 mL of Serum minimum .5 mL of Serum

 

Specimen Handling/Transport:

Separate serum from cells within 2 hours of collection.

Transport refrigerated 2-8°C

 

Specimen Stability/Storage:

8 hours ambient room temperature

2 days refrigerated 2-8°C

> 2 days frozen -20°C

Performing Laboratory

Munson Medical Center Laboratories

Chemistry Department

Priority, Frequency, & Turnaround

Priority:

Non-Emergent

 

Frequency:

24 hours 7 days a week

 

Turnaround:

0 - 1 days

Methodology

Chemiluminescent Immunoassay

Reporting

Reference Range: 

Male:

0 years - 18 years none
18 years to 21 years 24 - 537 ug/dL
21 years to 30 years 85 - 690 ug/dL
30 years to 40 years 106 - 464 ug/dL
40 years to 50 years 70 - 495 ug/dL
50 years to 60 years 38 - 313 ug/dL
60 years to 70 years 24 - 244 ug/dL
70 years and up 5 - 253 ug/dL

 

Female:

0 years - 18 years none
18 years to 21 years 51 - 321 ug/dL
21 years to 30 years 18 - 391 ug/dL
30 years to 40 years 23 - 266 ug/dL
40 years to 50 years 19 - 231 ug/dL
50 years to 60 years 8 - 188 ug/dL
60 years to 70 years 12 - 133 ug/dL
70 years and up 7 - 177 ug/dL

 

Critical Decision: 

None

Clinical Significance

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) is a steroid synthesized primarily by the adrenal gland. In those tissues containing sulfatase activity, DHEA-S can be converted to free steroid DHEA. Susbsequently, DHEA and/or DHEA-S may be partially metabolized into active androgens and estrogens.

 

Serum and plasma DHEA-S levels are found to be the highest of all steroids. DHEA-S levels decrease with age in both men and women after maximum levels are reached around the third decade of life. The half-life for DHEA-S is approximately 8 to 10 hours as compared to the 30 to 60 minute half-lives of other androgens. The long half-life of serum DHEA-S coupled with the limited diurnal variation make DHEA-S a convenient marker for the assessment of adrenal production. DHEA-S may be used in the differential diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome.

 

DHEA-S may also be used to evaluate adrenocortical diseases, such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia and adrenal tumors. In hirsute female patients, increased DHEA-S levels have been associated with virilizing adrenal tumors. Patients with polycystic ovary syndrome have often demonstrated elevated levels of DHEA-S, suggesting an adrenal androgen contribution to the defect in this disorder.

CPT Code

82627