Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:dateCreated
1987-7-24
pubmed:abstractText
The measurement of serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH), together with the appropriate sex steroid, is of great value in the investigation of delayed and precocious puberty, hypogonadism, subfertility, polycystic ovarian disease and hypothalamic-pituitary disorders. Dynamic function testing of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis should be restricted to a few defined situations. Sequential LH measurements, either in serum or in urine, may be used to time ovulation during artificial insemination or in vitro fertilisation programmes. No special precautions are necessary when sampling for FSH and LH measurement; serum is preferred to plasma and should be stored frozen before assay. Aliquots of timed urine specimens of known volume should be stored frozen without preservative. Gonadotrophin results should be available within 2-3 weeks; laboratories unable to meet this schedule are advised to send their samples to a Regional Centre for assay. Reagents for the radioimmunoassay of FSH and LH are readily available, and standard techniques have been developed for their use. Laboratories using 'in-house' methods should pay particular attention to the matrix used for preparing standard solutions, the purification of radioligands and the optimisation of the separation system. Low cost matched reagents of proven performance are available in kit form from the Chelsea Hospital for Women; several commercial kits are also available, although few are widely used in the UK. The overall performance of laboratories in the UK External Quality Assessment Scheme (EQAS) for FSH and LH has remained steady for several years. Of the 130 participants, only about 15% in each scheme have 'good' performance (cumulative bias less than 10%, plus cumulative variability of bias less than 10%), whilst a similar proportion have 'unacceptable' performance (cumulative bias greater than 20% and/or cumulative variability of bias greater than 25%). The remaining 70% of laboratories have 'adequate' performance but are at risk of producing results that are clinically misleading. Within any one method group, the performance of FSH and LH assays are closely related. Optimal assay performance depends upon sensible laboratory management to ensure skilled operators, a regular programme of reagent/kit renewal, comprehensive internal and external quality assessment, and attention to detail in all aspects of gonadotrophin assay. The working range of each individual assay should be defined and no absolute result reported from outside this range.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
May
pubmed:issn
0004-5632
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
24 ( Pt 3)
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
246-62
pubmed:dateRevised
2011-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1987
pubmed:articleTitle
Assays for follicle stimulating hormone and luteinising hormone: guidelines for the provision of a clinical biochemistry service.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Review