Specimen Collection

Sample stability:

• 5 days at 20-25 ^o C
• 14 days at2-8 ^o C
• 6 months at -20 ^o C

4.5 mL PST Blood (Preferred)

1 mL Paediatric Micro-PST Blood (Preferred)

5 mL Heparin Blood

4 mL Plain Blood

5 mL SST Blood

3.5 mL SST Blood

1 mL Paediatric Micro-heparin 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

Adult Male:

Adult Male:

2 - 12

Male paediatric:

0 - 1 years	<3.4 IU/L
1 - 8.9 years	<2.2 IU/L
9 - 11.9 years	0.4 - 4.2 IU/L
12 - 15.9 years	0.9 - 7.0 IU/L

Adult Female (16 + years OR Post Menarche):

Follicular	3 - 10
Midcycle	4 - 25
Luteal	2 - 8
Postmenopausal	>20
Pregnant	<1

Female paediatric (pre-menarche):

0 - 1 years	1.6 - 19 IU/L
1 - 8.9 years	0.7 - 5.8 IU/L
9 - 11.9 years	0.5 - 7.6 IU/L (pre-pubertal) (if post-menarche, See 16+ intervals)
12 - 15.9 years	0.9 - 9.1 IU/L (pre-pubertal) (if post-menarche, See 16+ intervals)

Uncertainty of Measurement: 6%

Available 24 hours, 7 days a week

Diagnostic Use and Interpretation

In females, elevated FSH levels occur after menopause, premature ovarian failure or in ovarian agenesis.

In males, elevated FSH levels in the presence of low testosterone indicate primary testicular dysfunction.

FSH usually provides a better indication of primary gonadal failure than serum LH .

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

Dr Sakunthala Jayasinghe: Sakunthala@adhb.govt.nz ext. 23427

Last updated at 15:26:00 06/01/2025