New automated antimüllerian hormone assays are more reliable than the manual assay in patients with reduced antral follicle count.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the strength of the relationship between antral follicle count (AFC) and serum antimüllerian hormone (AMH) concentrations obtained with two automated and one manual AMH assays in three different AFC populations.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
University-affiliated IVF-ET center.


METHODS
Frozen-thawed serum samples of 211 assisted conception candidates, aged 24-43 years.


METHODS
Serum AMH was measured using one manual (AMH Gen II) and two fully automated (Access AMH and Elecsys AMH) assays. Antral follicle count was performed under strictly standardized conditions and sorted into three groups according to tercile values: low AFC (3-12 follicles; n = 73), intermediate AFC (13-20 follicles; n = 65), and high AFC (21-84 follicles; n = 73).


METHODS
Strength of correlation between AMH levels and AFC.


RESULTS
Overall, AMH levels were lower with Access AMH (-16%) and Elecsys AMH (-20%) than with AMH Gen II. Remarkably, the strength of correlations between AFC and circulating AMH levels was the same with the three assays (r = 0.83). Yet in the low AFC group, serum AMH levels obtained by Access AMH and Elecsys AMH showed a stronger correlation with AFC (r = 0.63 and r = 0.65, respectively) than the AMH Gen II (r = 0.52), a phenomenon that was not observed in the remaining AFC groups.


CONCLUSIONS
As compared with conventional AMH Gen II assay results, [1] serum AMH concentrations were -16% and -20% lower with Access AMH and Elecsys AMH, respectively; and [2] automated assays were more strongly correlated to AFC in the subset of patients with reduced follicle count.
Center of Reproductive Medicine, Hôpital Foch, Suresnes, France; University of Paris-Ouest, Suresnes, France.
Teddy
T
Tadros
Center of Reproductive Medicine, Hôpital Foch, Suresnes, France; University of Paris-Ouest, Suresnes, France; Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nìvel Superior (CAPES) Foundation, Ministry of Education of Brazil, Brasilia, Brazil.
Bruno
B
Tarasconi
Center of Reproductive Medicine, Hôpital Foch, Suresnes, France; University of Paris-Ouest, Suresnes, France.
Jean
J
Nassar
Laboratoire d'Analyses Médicales Benhaim, Clamart, France.
Jean-Luc
JL
Benhaim
Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP - HP), Department of Biochemistry, Hôpital Antoine Béclère, Clamart, France.
Joëlle
J
Taieb
Center of Reproductive Medicine, Hôpital Foch, Suresnes, France; University of Paris-Ouest, Suresnes, France. Electronic address: r.fanchin@hopital-foch.org.
Renato
R
Fanchin
D000328:Adult; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D057205:Automation, Laboratory; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone
Antimüllerian hormone; antral follicle count; ovarian reserve; poor responders