Testosterone measurements in early infancy

Abstract

Circulating testosterone concentrations in infants measured by a direct chemiluminescent immunoassay (Bayer ADVIA Centaur) were compared with those measured by a traditional radioimmunoassay using solvent extraction. The results confirm that neonatal circulating testosterone concentrations are method dependent, and each laboratory should establish method related reference ranges especially if using a direct commercial immunoassay. The results indicate that the Bayer ADVIA Centaur procedure can be used reliably in neonates. Expected values for male and female infants < 10 days old were 2.5-11.1 (n = 36) and 1.7-5.6 (n = 36) nmol/l respectively. For older neonates (10-50 days) the ranges were 0.2-17.2 (n = 42) and 0.1-1.5 (n = 7) nmol/l respectively.