Specimen Collection

Outside laboratories separate off serum/plasma and forward to LabPlus laboratory.

Sample stability :

• 5 days at 20-25 ^o C
• 7 days at 2-8 ^o C
• 12 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




1 mL Paediatric Microsample Blood




1 mL Paediatric Micro-heparin Blood
Reference Intervals


Units: nmol/L

Normal ranges:

age	females	males
<1y	Reference interval is not well defined	Reference interval is not well defined
1 to <11y	19 - 137	18 - 153
11y to <20y	Pre-pubertal: 19 - 137 Post-pubertal: 23 - 120	Pre-pubertal: 18 - 153 Post-pubertal: 13 - 49
20 - 49y	23 - 120	13 - 49
50y +	19 - 121	15 - 71

Uncertainty of Measurement: 6%



Turnaround Time: Within 1 day
Assay Method


Principle : Sandwich type immunoassay with chemiluminescence detection

Reagents : Roche SHBG kit

Analyser : Cobas e801


Diagnostic Use and Interpretation


SHBG is used to enable calculation of the free testosterone concentration, which is useful in assessing females with hirsuitism, virilisation, or polycystic ovary syndrome and males with hypogonadism.

(See testosterone - free ).

The laboratory may decline a request for SHBG if:

• the total testosterone level in a woman is lower than 1.3 or higher than 5 nmol/L
• the total testosterone in a man is lower than 7 or higher than 15 nmol/L

In these cases the total testosterone level provides unequivocal information.

However if SHBG testing is required independent of testosterone testing, special arrangement through a Chemical Pathologist is required.

The Duty Chemical Pathologist can be contacted via Labplus, Lablink at 09-3074949 ext 22000 or by e-mail at: chemicalpathologist@adhb.govt.nz

A number of drugs and clinical conditions can alter SHBG levels:

Increased:

• oestrogen therapy
• oral contraceptives
• pregnancy
• thyrotoxicosis
• cirrhosis of the liver

Decreased:

• obesity
• Cushing's syndrome
• myxoedema
• acromegaly
• polycystic ovary syndrome
• androgen therapy

Free Testosterone


Contact Information


Emails to chemicalpathologist@adhb.govt.nz will receive priority attention from the on-call chemical pathologist.

If the query concerns a specific patient please include the NHI number in your email.

If email is not a suitable option, please contact the on-call chemical pathologist via Lablink (Auckland City Hospital ext. 22000 or 09-3078995).

Individual chemical pathologists may be contacted but will not be available at all times.

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

Last updated at 09:25:30 22/01/2024