title: Reference ranges for serum and salivary testosterone in young men of Mediterranean region.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The interassay variability found in the measurement of testosterone (T) levels warrants the need for laboratories to validate their methods to establish trustworthy cut-off points for diagnosis of male hypogonadism. The aims of this study were to validate measurement of total T (TT) at our laboratory in order to obtain reference ranges for TT, calculated free T (CFT), calculated bioavailable T (CBT), and salivary T (ST) in healthy young men from the Mediterranean region, and to evaluate the potential clinical value of ST by establishing its correlation with serum T.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational, cross-sectional study with sequential sampling.
  
  
  METHODS
  men aged 18-30 years with body mass index (BMI)<30.
  
  
  METHODS
  chronic diseases, hepatic insufficiency or use of drugs altering circulating T levels. Main outcome measures TT (chemiluminescent immunoassay UniCell DXI 800 [Access T Beckman Coulter]), CFT and CBT (Vermeulen's formula), and ST (radioimmunoassay for serum TT modified for saliva [Coat-A-Count, Siemens]). Descriptive statistical analyses and correlation by Spearman's rho (SPSS 19.0 Inc., Chicago) were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and twenty-one subjects aged 24±3.6 years with BMI 24±2.5 kg/m(2) were enrolled. Hormone study: TT, 19±5.5 nmol/L (reference range [rr.] 9.7-33.3); CFT, 0.38 nmol/L (rr. 0.22-0.79); CBT, 9.7 nmol/L (rr. 4.9-19.2); and ST, 0.35 nmol/L (rr. 0.19-0.68). Correlation between ST and CFT was 0.46.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In men from the Mediterranean region, values of TT>9.7 nmol/L, CFT>0.22 nmol/L, and/or CBT>4.9 nmol/L make the presence of biochemical hypogonadism unlikely. According to the correlation between serum and ST, the clinical value of ST remains to be established.
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Nutrition Department, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Víctor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: González-Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Nutrition Department, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain. Electronic address: omoreno@umh.es.
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Moreno-Pérez
authors.affiliation: Clinical Analysis Department, Hospital Universitario Santa Lucía, Cartagena, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: García de Guadiana
authors.affiliation: Clinical Analysis Department, Hospital del Vinalopó, Elche, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Pellicer
authors.affiliation: Hormone Laboratory, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Rocío
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alfayate
authors.affiliation: Hormone Laboratory, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mauri
authors.affiliation: Preventive Medicine Department, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Payá
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Nutrition Department, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Picó
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008297:Male; D019083:Mediterranean Region; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012016:Reference Values; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone
keywords: Hipogonadismo masculino; Male hypogonadism; Mediterranean region; Reference ranges; Testosterona; Testosterone; Valores de referencia; Área mediterránea