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Test Code PROGST Progesterone III,LAB529

Important Note

Note for IVF providers:  DHEA supplementation will falsely increase the apparent concentration of progesterone in patients being treated with this drug.  Providers using progesterone levels as a criterion for fresh embryo transfer in patients supplemented with DHEA should assess progesterone levels using an assay that is not impacted by DHEA-S cross reactivity.  It is possible the LC-MS chromatographic assays for progesterone may not be impacted by DHEA-S.

Performing Laboratory

St. Luke's Hospital Laboratory

Specimen Requirements

Container/Tube: 

Preferred: Green top (Lithium Heparin)

Accepted: Red top-serum or Gold SST

Specimen: 0.5 mL of serum

Minimum Volume: 0.012 mL plus dead volume

 

Stability:

  • Room temperature:  1 day.  Samples on analyzer should be measured with in 2 hrs.
  • Refrigeration (2°- 8°C):  5 days
  • Frozen (≤ -20°C): 6 months

Transport Temperature: Refrigerated

Reference Values

Males

<0.15 ng/mL

Normal females

 

follicular phase

0.2 – 1.4 ng/mL

luteal phase

3.3 – 25.6 ng/mL

Pregnant females

  • First Trimester
  • Second Trimester
  • Third Trimester

 

11.2 – 90.0 ng/mL

25.6 – 89.4 ng/mL

48.4– 422.5 ng/mL

Day(s) Test Set Up

Monday- Sunday

Useful For

Progesterone levels are low during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. After ovulation, progesterone production by the corpus luteum increases rapidly, reaching a maximum concentration 4 to 7 days after ovulation. These levels are maintained for 4 to 6 days then fall to baseline levels, inducing menstruation.  During pregnancy, progesterone levels rise steadily to their highest levels in the third trimester. Clinical evaluation of progesterone confirms ovulation and normal luteal function in nonpregnant women. Inadequate progesterone production by the corpus luteum may indicate luteal phase deficiency (LPD), which is associated with infertility and early miscarriage.

Methodology

Immunoenzymatic Chemiluminescent Assay

Test Classification and CPT Coding

84144

Report Available

Stat 1 hr within receipt

Routine 2 hrs within receipt