Test Overview
Chemiluminescent Immunoassay (CLIA)
Assessment of hypothalmic and pituitary function; to assess ovarian failure and follicular maturation. Amenorrhea work-up: low result, if gonadotropins high, may indicate ovarian failure, if gonadotropins and estradiol low, consider hypothalamic or pituitary disorder. In males E2 measurements may be helpful in the assessment of unexplained gynecomastia. In females E2 measurements are frequently utilized to document hypoestrogenism in cases of delayed puberty, primary and secondary amenorrhea, and menopause. Gonadotropin measurements must be utilized to localize the cause of hypoestrogenism to the ovaries or to a hypothalamic-pituitary source (Perganol(R) induction). E2 concentrations exceeding 1000 pg/ml are usually observed only during pregnancy or in rare cases of estrogen secreting.
Adult male: < 44 pg/ml; Adult female: early follicular 12-50 pg/ml; late follicular 60-200 pg/ml; midcycle 120-375 pg/ml; luteal phase 50-260 pg/ml; postmenopausal <20 pg/ml.
* Reference ranges may change over time. Please refer to the original patient report when evaluating results.
Levels are reduced by oral contraceptives and estrogen or progesterone therapy.
Test Details
4 hours
- E2
- Estradiol (E2)
- Estradiol-17 Beta (E2)
- Estrogen
STAT requests for this test will be performed on a STAT basis (supervisory staff approval is not required).
Specimen Requirements
Collect specimen in SST tube. Centrifuge, aliquot serum into a plastic vial and refrigerate. Test is not useful on pregnant women.
Additional Information
When total estrogen serum levels are ordered, MLabs will order and perform a serum estradiol level, which is by far the most potent naturally occurring estrogen, almost exclusively produced in the ovaries. As a result, the measurement of serum estradiol is considered sufficient to evaluate ovarian function.