Hormone Testing Glossary

A steroid hormone precursor used to screen for congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

A hormone testing protocol designed to identify primary or secondary adrenal gland dysfunction.

A pituitary hormone that stimulates cortisol production, used to evaluate adrenal function.

A mineralocorticoid hormone that regulates sodium and potassium balance, measured in hypertension workup.

A screening test for primary aldosteronism, the most common cause of secondary hypertension.

The lowest concentration of an analyte that can be reliably detected by an assay, distinct from functional sensitivity.

Calculated ratio assessing bioactive androgen levels by comparing total testosterone to sex hormone-binding globulin.

A comprehensive hormone test panel designed to evaluate androgen-related hair loss in both men and women.

An androgen precursor hormone used to evaluate hyperandrogenic conditions.

A glycoprotein hormone that indicates ovarian reserve and testicular function.

The process of standardizing hormone measurement methods across different platforms to achieve comparable results and im...

The fraction of testosterone not bound to sex hormone-binding globulin, available for tissue uptake.

Natural fluctuations in hormone concentrations within individuals over time, affecting interpretation of serial measurem...

A peptide cleaved from proinsulin during insulin synthesis, used to assess endogenous insulin production.

A group of tests measuring epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine to diagnose pheochromocytoma.

A highly sensitive laboratory technique using light-producing chemical reactions to detect and quantify hormones in bloo...

The 24-hour cycle affecting hormone production and release patterns.

Annual cyclical variations in hormone levels that must be considered when interpreting laboratory results and establishi...

Hormone measurements used to detect, monitor, or assess treatment response in hormone-secreting malignancies.

A statistical measure of assay precision expressed as the ratio of standard deviation to mean.

An immunoassay technique where labeled and unlabeled hormones compete for binding sites on specific antibodies.

An analytical method where the analyte competes with a labeled antigen for binding sites on a limited number of antibodi...

A steroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex that regulates stress response and metabolism.

Analytical interference where antibodies or reagents react with unintended substances, potentially affecting hormone mea...