Test Code DHTES Dihydrotestosterone, Serum
Reporting Name
Dihydrotestosterone, SUseful For
Monitoring patients receiving 5-alpha reductase inhibitor therapy or chemotherapy
Evaluating patients with possible 5-alpha reductase deficiency
Performing Laboratory

Specimen Type
SerumSpecimen Required
Container/Tube:
Preferred: Red top
Acceptable: Serum gel
Specimen Volume: 1 mL
Specimen Minimum Volume
0.6 mL
Testing Algorithm
See Steroid Pathways in Special Instructions.
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
---|---|---|---|
Serum | Refrigerated (preferred) | 7 days | |
Frozen | 90 days |
Special Instructions
Reference Values
Males
Cord blood: ≤100 pg/mL
≤6 months: ≤1,200 pg/mL
Tanner StagesÂ
Mean |
Age |
Reference range (pg/mL) |
Stage I (>6 months and prepubertal) |
7.1 years |
≤50 |
Stage II |
12.1 years |
≤200 |
Stage III |
13.6 years |
80-330 |
Stage IV |
15.1 years |
220-520 |
Stage V |
18 years |
240-650 |
>19 years: 112-955 pg/mL
Females
Cord blood: ≤50 pg/mL
≤6 months: ≤1,200 pg/mL
Tanner StagesÂ
Mean |
Age |
Reference range (pg/mL) |
Stage I (>6 months and prepubertal) |
7.1 years |
≤50 |
Stage II |
10.5 years |
≤300 |
Stage III |
11.6 years |
≤300 |
Stage IV |
12.3 years |
≤300 |
Stage V |
14.5 years |
≤300 |
20-55 years: ≤300 pg/mL
>55 years: ≤128 pg/mL
1. Pang S, Levine LS, Chow D, et al: Dihydrotestosterone and its relationship to testosterone in infancy and childhood. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1979;48:821-826
2. Stanczyk FZ: Diagnosis of hyperandrogenism: biochemical criteria. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab 2006;20(2):177-191
Day(s) Performed
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Test Classification
This test was developed, and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. This test has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.CPT Code Information
82642
G0480 (if appropriate)
LOINC Code Information
Test ID | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
---|---|---|
DHTS | Dihydrotestosterone, S | 1848-1 |
Result ID | Test Result Name | Result LOINC Value |
---|---|---|
81479 | Dihydrotestosterone, S | 1848-1 |
Clinical Reference
1. Bartsch G, Rittmaster RS, Klocker H: Dihydrotestosterone and the concept of 5 alpha-reductase inhibition in human benign prostatic hyperplasia. World J Urol 2002;19(6):413-425
2. Trueb RM: Molecular mechanisms of androgenetic alopecia. Exp Gerontol 2002;37(8-9):981-990
3. Singh SM, Gauthier S, Labrie F: Androgen receptor antagonists (antiandrogens): structure-activity relationships. Curr Med Chem 2000;7(2):211-247
4. Rhodes L, Harper J, Uno H, et al: The effects of finasteride (Proscar) on hair growth, hair cycle stage, and serum testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in adult male and female stumptail macaques (Macaca arctoides). J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1994;79:991-996
5. Gustafsson O, Norming U, Gustafsson S, et al: Dihydrotestosterone and testosterone levels in men screened for prostate cancer: a study of a randomized population. Br J Urol 1996;77:433-440
6. van der Veen A, van Faassen M, de Jong WHA, et al: Development and validation of a LC-MS/MS method for the establishment of reference intervals and biological variation for five plasma steroid hormones. Clin Biochem. 2019 Jun;68:15-23. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2019.03.013
Method Description
Deuterated stable isotope of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is added to a 0.5-mL serum sample as internal standard. The DHT and internal standard are extracted from the sample by solid phase extraction. This is followed by conventional liquid chromatography on a multiplexed LC System and analysis on a tandem mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray ionizer.(Lagerstedt SA, O'Kane DJ, Singh RJ: Measurement of plasma free metanephrine and normetanephrine by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. Clin Chem 2004;50[3]:603-611)
Report Available
2 to 8 daysReject Due To
Gross hemolysis | OK |
Gross lipemia | OK |
Gross icterus | OK |
Method Name
Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
Portions of this test are covered by patents held by Quest Diagnostics