title: A comparison of blood spot vs. plasma analysis of gonadotropin and ovarian steroid hormone levels in reproductive-age women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare LH, FSH, P, and E(2) levels obtained from blood spot vs. plasma (single-visit study) and to determine whether blood spots can document circulating hormone levels during ovulatory cycles (menstrual-cycle study).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women 18-35 years of age with regular menstrual cycles and no recent use of hormonal contraception.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women contributed both a blood spot sample from a finger-stick and a plasma sample through venipuncture on a random day within their menstrual cycle (n = 100, single study visit). Five additional women were followed for an entire menstrual cycle with biweekly venipuncture and daily self-collected blood spot sampling. Samples were analyzed for FSH, LH, P, and E(2).
  
  
  METHODS
  Correlation between blood spot and plasma levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant positive correlations were found between the blood spot and plasma samples in the single-visit study (r(2): FSH, 0.91; LH, 0.93; P, 0.83; and E(2,) 0.70). Two of the 5 menstrual-cycle study women had ovulatory cycles based on P levels (>3 ng/mL) and an LH surge. Daily blood spot sampling was better able to document hormonal changes than biweekly venipuncture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Blood spot monitoring of FSH, LH, P, and, to a lesser extent, E(2), appears to be as valid as traditional plasma assays for clinical research and care.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA. edelmana@ohsu.edu
authors: Alison
authors: A
authors: Edelman
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Stouffer
authors: David T
authors: DT
authors: Zava
authors: Jeffrey T
authors: JT
authors: Jensen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism*; D018962:Phlebotomy / Q000379:methods; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D006062:Gonadotropins