title: Episodic secretion of hormones and the diagnostic value of single blood estimates. III. Testosterone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, cortisol.
abstract: The episodic fluctuation of serum testosterone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA), dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHAS) and cortisol levels was analysed to determine the reliability of a single blood estimate in characterizing the mean value of a 4 h period. Radioimmunoassay of the steroids was performed in sera of 8 apparently healthy women in various phases of the menstrual cycle in 10 min intervals between 08 and 12 h a.m. Reliability criteria of the methods used were comparable to those in common use. The within-person fluctuation of individual values was determined by the coefficient of variation of single estimates, and the methodological error of the single estimates was characterized with the maximum increment from the mean at 95% confidential limits. A maximum deviation of 30.8, 28.6, 37.0, 25.0 and 61.2%, respectively, found in the above order of steroids, suggests several hormone estimations to be necessary for judging hormone availability in a subject.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood*; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood*; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D006854:Hydrocortisone