Estriol

TEST: 004614
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CPT: 82677
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Synonyms

  • E3
  • Pregnancy, Estriol
  • Unconjugated Estriol

Special Instructions

State weeks of gestation on the test request form. This assay is usually performed as a serial measurement.

Expected Turnaround Time

2 - 4 days

Turnaround time is defined as the usual number of days from the date of pickup of a specimen for testing to when the result is released to the ordering provider. In some cases, additional time should be allowed for additional confirmatory or additional reflex tests. Testing schedules may vary.

Related Documents

Specimen Requirements

Specimen

Serum

Volume

1 mL

Minimum Volume

0.3 mL (Note: This volume does not allow for repeat testing.)

Container

Red-top tube or gel-barrier tube

Collection

If a red-top tube is used, transfer separated serum to a plastic transport tube. All specimens should be drawn at the same time of day to allow comparison of values.

Storage Instructions

Refrigerate

Stability Requirements

Temperature

Period

Room temperature

14 days

Refrigerated

14 days

Frozen

14 days

Freeze/thaw cycles

Stable x3

Patient Preparation

Patient usually in third trimester of pregnancy

Causes for Rejection

Plasma specimen

Test Details

Use

Evaluate fetal distress and placental function in the management of patients facing complications such as preëclampsia, fetal growth retardation, diabetes, Rh immunization, choriocarcinoma, and hydatidiform mole. May be elevated in hydrops fetalis in the presence of a dying fetus. May be low in the presence of a living anencephalic fetus.

Limitations

Single values are almost impossible to interpret; trends in a series of measurements are much more important. May be low in case of placental sulfatase deficiency in the presence of a healthy baby. Other causes of decreased estriol levels include subjects living at high altitudes, anemia, severe liver disease, and a variety of drugs.1 Estriol may be increased with multiple pregnancy2 and with oxytocin.2 It is not reliable in the presence of renal disease.1,2

Methodology

Immunochemiluminometric assay (ICMA)

Reference Interval

See table.

Gestational Week

Median

(ng/mL)

Central 95% Range

(ng/mL)

27

4.6

2.6−7.1

28

4.7

2.6−7.8

29

5.0

2.6−8.6

30

5.5

2.7−9.6

31

6.1

2.9−11.0

32

6.9

3.2−12.7

33

8.0

3.4 to >13.3

34

9.3

3.7 to >13.3

35

11.3

4.3 to >13.3

36

>13.3

5.3 to >13.3

37

>13.3

6.2 to >13.3

38

>13.3

7.4 to >13.3

39

>13.3

8.1 to >13.3

40

>13.3

8.5 to >13.3

Additional Information

Estriol, E3, is synthesized in the placenta from 16-α-hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone of fetal origin. Thus, normal production can serve as a measure of the integrity of the fetoplacental unit. Sequential monitoring of estriol in high-risk pregnancy has made possible early intervention and fetal salvage. Chronically low estriol values are found in intrauterine growth retardation but also are sometimes seen in normal pregnancy. A decreasing trend is indicative of fetal distress. The sensitivity and specificity of this test for detecting fetal distress are very poor; thus its use for this purpose has been largely abandoned.

Combined evaluation of unconjugated serum estriol, maternal serum hCG, maternal serum AFP, and maternal age has value in predicting risk for fetal chromosomal abnormalities during pregnancy. The use of maternal serum AFP, hCG, and estriol predicts 65% of Down syndrome, as opposed to 28% if only serum AFP is used.3-5

Footnotes

1. Catanzarite VA, Perkins RP, Pernoll ML. Assessment of fetal well-being. In: Pernoll ML, Benson RC, eds. Current Obstetric & Gynecologic Diagnosis & Treatment 1987. Norwalk, Conn: Appleton & Lange;1987:279-302.
2. Speroff L, Glass RH, Kase NG. Clinical Gynecologic Endocrinology and Infertility. 4th ed. Baltimore, Md: Williams & Wilkins;1989.
3. White RS 3rd. Down syndrome: Current screening techniques. South Med J. 1989 Dec; 82(12):1483-1486. 2480649
4. Heyl PS, Miller W, Canick JA. Maternal serum screening for aneuploid pregnancy by alpha-fetoprotein, hCG, and unconjugated estriol. Obstet Gynecol. 1990 Dec; 76(6):1025-1031. 1700348
5. MacDonald ML, Wagner RM, Slotnick RN. Sensitivity and specificity of screening for Down syndrome with alpha-fetoprotein, hCG, unconjugated estriol, and maternal age. Obstet Gynecol. 1991 Jan; 77(1):63-68. 1701526

References

Bashore RA, Westlake JR. Plasma unconjugated estriol values in high-risk pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1977 Jun 15; 128(4):371-380. 868934
Bennett DB, Wells DJ. Endocrinology. In: Bishop ML, Duben-VonLaufen JL, Fody EP, eds. Clinical Chemistry: Principles, Procedures, Correlations. Philadelphia, Pa: JB Lippincott Co;1985:307-343.

LOINC® Map

Order Code Order Code Name Order Loinc Result Code Result Code Name UofM Result LOINC
004614 Estriol, Serum 2251-7 004614 Estriol, Serum ng/mL 2251-7

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