Biochemistry

Preferred Sample Type

Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulphate (DHAS) (DHEAS)

Suitable Specimen Types

Serum

Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulphate (DHAS) (DHEAS)

Specimen Volume

1 ml whole blood

Specimen Transport

Usual transport to laboratory.

Sample Preparation

Centrifuge and separate serum

Turnaround Time

1 week

Sample Processing In Laboratory

Centrifuge and separate serum

Sample Stability

2 days at 4ºC, 2 months at -20ºC

General Information

DHAS a weak androgenic that plays an important role in the development of male secondary sexual characteristics at puberty.  It can metabolize to more potent androgens like androstenedione and testosterone, and thus be an indirect cause of hirsutism or virilisation. DHEAS is measured to evaluate adrenal function and to investigate causes of virilisation, hirsutism, alopecia in women or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).  It is also of value in the specialist assessment of disorders of sex development, such as in the assessment of ambiguous genitalia, or of adrenarche and delayed/precocious puberty.  DHEAS concentrations are normally high in both male and female newborns. They drop sharply shortly after birth, then rise again during puberty. DHEAS concentrations peak between the ages of 18 to 30 years and then slowly decline with age.

Patient Preparation

None. Sample can be collected any time of day.

Notes

DHAS is a weak androgen derived by conversion of intermediate steroid hormones in the adrenal cortex.  It is the principle androgen secreted by the adrenal and is the most abundant steroid hormone in the body. DHAS levels are age dependant and increase at puberty. In men, some DHAS may derive from the testes, partly accounting for the sex difference which emerges at about age 15. This hormone is not produced by the ovaries even under pathological conditions. In itself DHAS is only weakly androgenic, but it can metabolize to more potent androgens like androstenedione and testosterone.  DHAS exhibits no significant diurnal variation, or dependence on sex-hormone binding globulin concentrations. Its abundance, together with its within-day and day-to-day stability, makes it an excellent direct indicator of adrenal androgen output.

Reference Range

 

Please contact the duty biochemist for age/sex related reference ranges/ 0121 371 6543

Specifications

  • EQA Status:

    NEQAS

  • EQAS Scheme: Yes

Link to Further Information

http://www.labtestsonline.org.uk/understanding/analytes/dheas

Related Tests

Androstenedione

Creation Date

Monday, 08 August 2011

Modification Date

Monday, 10 February 2020

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University Hospitals Birmingham medical laboratories at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Heartlands Hospital, Good Hope Hospital and Solihull Hospital are UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) accredited to the ISO 15189:2012 standard. For a list of accredited tests and other information please visit the UKAS website using the following link: https://www.ukas.com/find-an-organisation/

  • Molecular Pathology is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 8759
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For further information contact Louise Fallon, Quality Manager, 0121 371 5962