Free Antrogen Index:
Why Free Androgen Index Test?
CLINICAL INFORMATION
Androgens like testosterone are sex hormones. Androgens are a group of sex hormones (testosterone is the most common androgen). Types of androgens are Testosterone (predominantly), Androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA-Sulfate (DHEA-S), Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Androgen hormone (produced mainly by the adrenals) is responsible for (secondary sexual characters) the male pattern features or masculine nature – Virilization: such as facial hairs, deep voice etc. While this hormone is also produced in females (by adrenal glands) but to a lesser extent (minute quantities) in comparison. The free androgen index test gives an estimate of physiologically active or bio-available androgen is present in the blood. Hence this blood test estimates the ratio between the levels of free androgen hormone and the hormone levels in the bound form. Therefore this ratio enables to the calculation of the abnormal deviating levels (variation from the normal reference range – either high or low) of androgen in the body, which can lead to certain pathological conditions due to hormonal imbalance in both genders. Therefore this test provides a convenient estimate of the ‘free Androgen level’ from the independent measurement of both the total androgen along with the sex hormone-binding globulin -SHBG level (SHBG is a carrier protein that carries androgens-namely testosterone and DHT in both genders and estrogen in female). Low levels of testosterone in men may lead to hypogonadism – loss of sex drive, low energy, loss of bone density, cause of infertility - erectile dysfunction, infertility etc moreover is found to be associated with conditions like anaemia, depression, loss of muscle mass etc. This test also helps to diagnose abnormal levels of testosterone in females which may lead to abnormal conditions such as the cause of early or late puberty in females and cause of PCOs and hirsutism (i.e virilization in females – male-like features) etc. In children androgen insufficiency syndrome, congenital adrenal hyperplasia etc. Additional tests include hormonal assays like Total testosterone, prolactin, LH, FSH, dehydroepiandrosterone, estradiol, TSH etc. Other tests apart from hormones include sperm analysis, MRI of the pituitary gland etc.
General Instructions:
Sample Requirement: Specimen - Blood sample collected from the vein. Test Preparation: None.
NOTE - Sample for specimen collections may vary based on the patient’s condition/cases according to the patient’s presenting complaints/signs or symptoms:
SPECIMEN REQUIREMENT (Special or Rare Cases) - As instructed and guided by Physician / Clinician / Pathologist / as per Laboratory’s requirements, according to procedures and protocols.
This Multi-Specialty Clinical Referral Laboratory RTDIAGNOSTICS provides precise and accurate tests with an extensive range of testing services to the medical centres to help in the diagnosis and identification of pathology in the test specimens for infectious diseases and also to evaluate the function of organ systems of the patient. It prevents further complications and helps to stabilize and restore health to near normalcy at the earliest without delay.
