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

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