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26223 Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Pediatrics, Serum (LHPED)

Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Pediatrics, Serum (LHPED)
Test Code: LHPEDSO
Synonyms/Keywords

​Third Generation LH assay

Ultrasensitive LH assay

Lutropin

Useful For

​Diagnosis of precocious puberty and delayed puberty in children

Specimen Requirements
Specimen TypePreferred Container/TubeAcceptable Container/TubeSpecimen VolumeSpecimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)		Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
​Serum​Red Top Tube (RTT)​Serum Separator Tube (SST)​0.25 mL​0.13 mL
Collection Processing Instructions

​1. Red-top tubes should be centrifuged and the serum transferred to an aliquot vial within 2 hours of collection.

2. Serum gel tubes should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection.

Specimen Stability Information
Specimen TypeTemperatureTime
​Serum​Refrigerated (preferred)​14 days
​Frozen​90 days
Rejection Criteria
​Gross Lipemia
​Gross Icterus
​Gross Hemolysis
Interference

​No clinically significant cross-reactivity has been demonstrated with follicle-stimulating hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin, free alpha subunit of pituitary glycoprotein hormones, or free beta subunit of luteinizing hormone. Cross-reactivity with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) (<5%) might be observed at TSH concentrations of 500 mIU/L.

Some patients who have been exposed to animal antigens, either in the environment or as part of treatment or imaging procedures, may have circulating anti-animal antibodies present. These antibodies may interfere with the assay reagents to produce unreliable results.

Performing Laboratory Information
Performing LocationDay(s) Test PerformedAnalytical TimeMethodology/Instrumentation
​Mayo Clinic Laboratories​Wednesday​2-9 days​Chemiluminescent Immunoassay (CIA)
Reference Lab
Mayo Clinic Laboratories
Test Information

​Luteinizing hormone (LH) is a glycoprotein hormone consisting of 2 noncovalently bound subunits (alpha and beta). LH is produced by the anterior pituitary gland under regulation of the hypothalamic gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) and feedback from gonadal steroid hormones. In children, LH, along with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), is used to diagnose precocious (early) and delayed puberty. 

Precocious puberty refers to the appearance of physical and hormonal signs of pubertal development at an earlier age than is considered normal (before 8 years of age in girls and 9 years of age in boys). Evaluation of precocious puberty includes measurement of LH and FSH to determine whether gonadotropins are increased in relation to chronologic age (gonadotropin-dependent) or whether sex steroid secretion is occurring independent of LH and FSH (gonadotropin-independent). In gonadotropin-dependent precocious puberty, basal LH levels are often elevated into the pubertal range and show a pubertal (heightened) response to GnRH stimulation. In gonadotropin-independent precocious puberty, the LH level is low at baseline and fails to respond to GnRH stimulation.

Delayed puberty is defined clinically by the absence or incomplete development of secondary sexual characteristics by age 14 years in boys and by age 12 years in girls. Delayed puberty usually results from inadequate gonadal steroid secretion that, in turn, is most often caused by a defective gonadotropin secretion from the anterior pituitary, due to defective production of GnRH from the hypothalamus. Random measurements of LH and FSH, together with estradiol (females) or testosterone (males), are useful to distinguish between primary and secondary causes of delayed puberty.

Reference Range Information
Performing LocationReference Range
​Mayo Clinic Laboratories​

Females

<1 year: <0.02-18.3 IU/L

1-8 years: <0.02-0.3 IU/L

9-10 years: <0.02-4.8 IU/L

11-13 years: <0.02-11.7 IU/L

14-17 years: <0.02-16.7 IU/L

 

Tanner Stages*

Stage I (1-8 years): <0.02-0.3 IU/L

Stage II: <0.02-4.1 IU/L

Stage IIl: 0.6-7.2 IU/L

Stage IV-V: 0.9-13.3 IU/L

*Puberty onset (transition from Tanner stage I to Tanner stage II) occurs for girls at a median age of 10.5 (+/- 2) years. There is evidence that it may occur up to 1 year earlier in obese girls and in African-American girls. Progression through Tanner stages is variable. Tanner stage V (adult) should be reached by age 18.

 

Males

<1 year: <0.02-5.0 IU/L

1-8 years: <0.02-0.5 IU/L

9-10 years: <0.02-3.6 IU/L

11-13 years: 0.1-5.7 IU/L

14-17 years: 0.8-8.7 IU/L

 

Tanner Stages*

Stage I (1-8 years): <0.02-0.5 IU/L

Stage II: 0.03-3.7 IU/L

Stage IIl: 0.09-4.2 IU/L

Stage IV-V: 1.3-9.8 IU/L

*Puberty onset (transition from Tanner stage I to Tanner stage II) occurs for boys at a median age of 11.5 (+/- 2) years. For boys there is no proven relationship between puberty onset and body weight or ethnic origin. Progression through Tanner stages is variable. Tanner stage V (adult) should be reached by age 18.

Interpretation

​In young children, high levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), along with the development of secondary sexual characteristics at an unusually young age, are an indication of gonadotropin-dependent precocious puberty (also called central precocious puberty). Prepubertal levels of LH and FSH in children exhibiting some signs of pubertal changes may be an indication of gonadotropin-independent precocious puberty (also refer as precocious pseudopuberty). In precocious pseudopuberty the signs and symptoms are the result of elevated levels of estrogen in girls or testosterone in boys.

In delayed puberty, LH and FSH levels can be normal or below what is expected for a youth within this age range. The test for LH response to gonadotropin releasing hormone in addition to other testing may help to diagnose the reason for the delayed puberty.

Outreach CPTs
CPTModifier
(if needed)		QuantityDescriptionComments
​83002​​1​​
Synonyms/Keywords

​Third Generation LH assay

Ultrasensitive LH assay

Lutropin

Ordering Applications
Ordering ApplicationDescription
​COM​Luteinizing Hormone, Peds, S
​Cerner​Lute Hormone, Peds, S (LHPED)
​Centricity​Lute Hormone, Peds, S (LHPED)
If the ordering application you are looking for is not listed, contact your local laboratory for assistance.
Specimen Requirements
Specimen TypePreferred Container/TubeAcceptable Container/TubeSpecimen VolumeSpecimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)		Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
​Serum​Red Top Tube (RTT)​Serum Separator Tube (SST)​0.25 mL​0.13 mL
Collection Processing

​1. Red-top tubes should be centrifuged and the serum transferred to an aliquot vial within 2 hours of collection.

2. Serum gel tubes should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection.

Specimen Stability Information
Specimen TypeTemperatureTime
​Serum​Refrigerated (preferred)​14 days
​Frozen​90 days
Rejection Criteria
​Gross Lipemia
​Gross Icterus
​Gross Hemolysis
Interference

​No clinically significant cross-reactivity has been demonstrated with follicle-stimulating hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin, free alpha subunit of pituitary glycoprotein hormones, or free beta subunit of luteinizing hormone. Cross-reactivity with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) (<5%) might be observed at TSH concentrations of 500 mIU/L.

Some patients who have been exposed to animal antigens, either in the environment or as part of treatment or imaging procedures, may have circulating anti-animal antibodies present. These antibodies may interfere with the assay reagents to produce unreliable results.

Useful For

​Diagnosis of precocious puberty and delayed puberty in children

Reference Range Information
Performing LocationReference Range
​Mayo Clinic Laboratories​

Females

<1 year: <0.02-18.3 IU/L

1-8 years: <0.02-0.3 IU/L

9-10 years: <0.02-4.8 IU/L

11-13 years: <0.02-11.7 IU/L

14-17 years: <0.02-16.7 IU/L

 

Tanner Stages*

Stage I (1-8 years): <0.02-0.3 IU/L

Stage II: <0.02-4.1 IU/L

Stage IIl: 0.6-7.2 IU/L

Stage IV-V: 0.9-13.3 IU/L

*Puberty onset (transition from Tanner stage I to Tanner stage II) occurs for girls at a median age of 10.5 (+/- 2) years. There is evidence that it may occur up to 1 year earlier in obese girls and in African-American girls. Progression through Tanner stages is variable. Tanner stage V (adult) should be reached by age 18.

 

Males

<1 year: <0.02-5.0 IU/L

1-8 years: <0.02-0.5 IU/L

9-10 years: <0.02-3.6 IU/L

11-13 years: 0.1-5.7 IU/L

14-17 years: 0.8-8.7 IU/L

 

Tanner Stages*

Stage I (1-8 years): <0.02-0.5 IU/L

Stage II: 0.03-3.7 IU/L

Stage IIl: 0.09-4.2 IU/L

Stage IV-V: 1.3-9.8 IU/L

*Puberty onset (transition from Tanner stage I to Tanner stage II) occurs for boys at a median age of 11.5 (+/- 2) years. For boys there is no proven relationship between puberty onset and body weight or ethnic origin. Progression through Tanner stages is variable. Tanner stage V (adult) should be reached by age 18.

Interpretation

​In young children, high levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), along with the development of secondary sexual characteristics at an unusually young age, are an indication of gonadotropin-dependent precocious puberty (also called central precocious puberty). Prepubertal levels of LH and FSH in children exhibiting some signs of pubertal changes may be an indication of gonadotropin-independent precocious puberty (also refer as precocious pseudopuberty). In precocious pseudopuberty the signs and symptoms are the result of elevated levels of estrogen in girls or testosterone in boys.

In delayed puberty, LH and FSH levels can be normal or below what is expected for a youth within this age range. The test for LH response to gonadotropin releasing hormone in addition to other testing may help to diagnose the reason for the delayed puberty.

For more information visit:
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing LocationDay(s) Test PerformedAnalytical TimeMethodology/Instrumentation
​Mayo Clinic Laboratories​Wednesday​2-9 days​Chemiluminescent Immunoassay (CIA)
Reference Lab
Mayo Clinic Laboratories
For billing questions, see Contacts
Outreach CPTs
CPTModifier
(if needed)		QuantityDescriptionComments
​83002​​1​​
For most current information refer to the Marshfield Laboratory online reference manual.