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Special Instructions
This test may exhibit interference when sample is collected from a person who is consuming a supplement with a high dose of biotin (also termed as vitamin B7 or B8, vitamin H, or coenzyme R). It is recommended to ask all patients who may be indicated for this test about biotin supplementation. Patients should be cautioned to stop biotin consumption at least 72 hours prior to the collection of a sample.
Expected Turnaround Time
4 - 6 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 Information
Related Documents
Specimen Requirements
Specimen
Serum, frozen
Volume
0.3 mL
Minimum Volume
0.2 mL (Note: This volume does not allow for repeat testing.)
Container
Red-top tube or gel-barrier tube
Collection
Transfer the serum into a LabCorp PP transpak frozen purple tube with screw cap (LabCorp No 49482). Freeze immediately and maintain frozen until tested. To avoid delays in turnaround time when requesting multiple tests on frozen samples, please submit separate frozen specimens for each test requested.
Storage Instructions
Freeze
Causes for Rejection
Gross hemolysis; gross lipemia
Test Details
Use
Assess the function of the antral follicles the dominant follicle/corpus luteum of the ovaries in women
Limitations
Results from this ultrasensitive inhibin A test are not interchangeable with values obtained using the inhibin A test that is available as part of LabCorp's prenatal screening profiles.
Methodology
Immunochemiluminometric (ICMA)
Reference Interval
• Male: <3.6 pg/mL
• Female:
− <4 months: <18.0 pg/mL
− 4 months to 9 years: <5.0 pg/mL
− 10 years: <5.0 pg/mL
− 11 to 13 years: <160.0 pg/mL
− 14 to 18 years: 10.0−249.0 pg/mL
− Early follicular: <34.0 pg/mL
− Late follicular: <99.0 pg/mL
− Periovulatory: 8.0−233.0 pg/mL
− Midluteal: <145.0 pg/mL
− End luteal: <145.0 pg/mL
− Postmenopausal: <4.0 pg/mL
• Tanner stage:
− I: <7.0 pg/mL
− II: <14.0 pg/mL
− III: <52.0 pg/mL
− IV: <69.0 pg/mL
− V: <126.0 pg/mL
Inhibin A performed by Beckman Coulter Access Automated Immunoassay methodology. Values obtained with different assay methods or kits cannot be used interchangeably.
Additional Information
Historically, inhibin was the name given to a component of serum that was found to inhibit secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) by the pituitary.1,2 In recent years, the inhibin proteins have been characterized and specific immunoassays have been developed for both inhibin A and inhibin B.1 These hormones are members of the transforming growth factor-B superfamily.1,2 Structurally, they consist of dimers of two dissimilar protein subunits. The α subunit is common to both inhibins. The α subunit of inhibin B is covalently linked to a β-B subunit by disulfide bridges. In women, inhibin A is made largely by the dominant follicle/corpus luteum.1 Normal men do not produce measurable levels of inhibin A.1
In young girls, the concentrations of inhibin A increase as puberty progresses.3,4 Therefore, the measurement of inhibin A could aid in determining gonadal maturity and diagnosing precocious puberty in girls. Once women reach reproductive age, inhibin A levels change with the menstrual cycle. Levels rise through the follicular phase to a maximum in the luteal phase with an intermediate peak at ovulation. In the early perimenopausal phase of the menopausal transition, the circulating follicular phase levels of inhibin decline.5 In postmenopausal women, inhibin A levels fall to <5 pg/mL.
During pregnancy, the fetoplacental unit produces relatively large amounts of inhibin A. Assessment of inhibin A concentration relative to gestational age of fetus has been applied extensively to prenatal screening for Down syndrome and in predicting preëclampsia.1 This ultrasensitive inhibin A test was not designed for these applications and instead can be used to accurately measure the lower inhibin A levels that are found in nonpregnant individuals.
Footnotes
1. Groome NP, Evans LW. Does measurement of inhibin have a clinical role? Ann Clin Biochem. 2000 Jul; 37(Pt 4):419-431. 10902857
2. Risbridger GP, Schmitt JF, Robertson DM. Activins and inhibins in endocrine and other tumors. Endocr Rev. 2001 Dec; 22(6):836-858. 11739336
3. Sehested A, Juul AA, Andersson AM, et al. Serum inhibin A and inhibin B in healthy prepubertal, pubertal, and adolescent girls and adult women: Relation to age, stage of puberty, menstrual cycle, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and estradiol levels. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2000 Apr; 85(4):1634-1640. 10770209
4. Crofton PM, Evans AE, Groome NP, Taylor MR, Holland CV, Kelnar CJ. Dimeric inhibins in girls from birth to adulthood: Relationship with age, pubertal stage, FSH, and oestradiol. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2002 Feb; 56(2):223-230. 11874414
5. Santoro N, Adel T, Skurnick JH. Decreased inhibin tone and increased activin A secretion characterize reproductive aging in women. Fertil Steril. 1999 Apr; 71(4):658-662. 10202875
LOINC® Map
| Order Code | Order Code Name | Order Loinc | Result Code | Result Code Name | UofM | Result LOINC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 146803 | Inhibin A, Ultrasensitive | 23883-2 | 146805 | Inhibin A, Ultrasensitive | pg/mL | 23883-2 |
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