title: Relationship between anti-Müllerian hormone and antral follicle count across the menstrual cycle using the Beckman Coulter Access assay in comparison with Gen II manual assay.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The study aim was to validate Beckman Coulter's fully automated Access Immunoassay System (BC Access assay) for anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and compare it with Beckman Coulter's Modified Manual Generation II assay (BC Mod Gen II), with regard to cycle AMH fluctuations and antral follicle counts.
  
  
  METHODS
  During one complete menstrual cycle, transvaginal ultrasound was performed on regularly menstruating women (n=39; 18-40years) every 2 days until the dominant ovarian follicle reached 16mm, then daily until observed ovulation; blood samples were collected throughout the cycle. Number and size of antral follicles was determined and AMH levels measured using both assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AMH levels measured by the BC Access assay vary over ovulatory menstrual cycles, with a statistically significant pre-ovulatory decrease from -5 to +2 days around objective ovulation. Mean luteal AMH levels were significantly lower (-7.99%) than mean follicular levels but increased again towards the end of the luteal phase. Antral follicle count can be estimated from AMH (ng/mL, BC Access assay) concentrations on any follicular phase day. BC Access assay-obtained AMH values are considerably lower compared with the BC Mod Gen II assay (-19% on average); conversion equation: AMH BC Access (ng/mL)=0.85 [AMH BC Mod Gen II (ng/mL)]0.95.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AMH levels vary throughout the cycle, independently of assay utilised. A formula can be used to convert BC Access assay-obtained AMH levels to BC Mod Gen II values. The number of antral follicles can be consistently estimated from pre-ovulatory AMH levels using either assay.
authors.affiliation: .
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schiffner
authors.affiliation: .
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roos
authors.affiliation: .
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Broomhead
authors.affiliation: .
authors.forename: Joseph van
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Helden
authors.affiliation: .
authors.forename: Erhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Godehardt
authors.affiliation: .
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fehr
authors.affiliation: .
authors.forename: Günter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Freundl
authors.affiliation: .
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: .
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gnoth
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone
keywords: AMH assays; anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH); antral follicles; ovulation