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Specimen Collection

Sample stability:

• 5 days at 20-25 ^o C
• 14 days at 2-8 ^o C
• 6 months at -20 ^o C

4.5 mL PST Blood (Preferred)
0.5 mL Paediatric Micro-PST Blood (Preferred)
5 mL Heparin Blood
4 mL Plain Blood
3.5 mL SST Blood
Reference Intervals

From 15/06/22, the plasma LH and FSH age- and gender-specific reference intervals together with related comments have been revised for young children and adolescents during puberty.  This review has been endorsed by the Auckland Regional Quality Assurance Group (ARQAG) in May 2022 after consultation with local paediatric endocrinologists. There has not been any change to the corresponding reference intervals for post-pubertal adults.

 

Units: IU/L

Reference ranges:

 

Adult Male (16+ years or Post pubertal):	2 - 9
Adult Female (16 + years OR post menarche)
Follicular Midcycle Luteal Postmenopausal  Pregnant	2 - 8 10 - 75 2 - 8 >15  <1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paediatric (<16 years old):

0 - 1 year:                                                                   

The reference interval for LH is not well defined for this age. A paediatric endocrine opinion is suggested.                                    

1 - 16 years:                                                                 

In the setting of delayed puberty or suspected CPP (central precocious puberty): an early morning LH <0.3 IU/L suggests activation of the HPG (hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal) axis is less likely but not excluded. An LH   >0.8 IU/L supports clinical findings of central activation of the HPG axis.   

A repeat investigation may be useful to allow for pulsatile release of LH, if the sample was not collected within approximately 2 hours from waking or if the result is indeterminate.                                                   

Suggest discussion with a paediatric endocrinologist if in doubt.

 

 

 

Uncertainty of Measurement:            7%

 

 

Turnaround Time: Within 3 hours

Available 24 hours 7 days a week.

Assay Method

Principle: Sandwich type immunoassay with chemiluminescence detection

Reagents: Roche LH

Analyser: Cobas e801

Diagnostic Use and Interpretation

In males, a low plasma testosterone with low or "normal" LH and FSH values is suggestive of secondary hypogonadism (hypothalamic or pituitary disease), while a high LH and FSH suggests primary testicular dysfunction.

In females, elevated LH and FSH are seen after menopause or premature ovarian failure, and in primary ovarian dysgenesis (e.g. Turners syndrome). Amenorrhoea with low LH and FSH is seen in central delayed puberty, hypothalamic or pituitary disease.

Timing of ovulation: the midcycle peak of LH precedes ovulation by 24-36 hours.

The ratio of LH to FSH is usually increased (>2) in the polycystic ovary syndrome, but a ratio less than this does not exclude this diagnosis.

LH is released in a pulsatile manner and wide fluctuations may be found from hour to hour.

 

Contact Information

The chemical pathology  team can be reached via email: chemicalpathologist@adhb.govt.nz or via Lablink  (09) 307 4949 ext 22000 or 09-3078995

Emails will receive priority attention from the on-call chemical pathologist. Include the patients NHI.

After-hours: contact  Lablink (Auckland City Hospital ext. 22000 or 09-3078995) or hospital operator for on duty staff after hours .

• Dr Samarina Musaad (Clinical Lead) : SamarinaM@adhb.govt.nz ext. 22402 
• Dr Cam Kyle : CampbellK@adhb.govt.nz    ext 22052 
• Dr Weldon Chiu : WeldonC@adhb.govt.nz    ext. 23427 
• Dr Campbell Heron : CHeron@adhb.govt.nz    ext. 23427
• Dr Sakunthala Jayasinghe Saku.Jayasinghe@adhb.govt.nz
• Dr Owen Yi WenyiYi@adhb.govt.nz

Last updated at 11:42:03 16/01/2026