Clinical Information

This assay has not been validated for newborn testing. There are currently no established guidelines for dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) replacement or supplementation therapy or its biochemical monitoring. Most supplements contain dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), but the in vivo conversion to DHEA-S allows monitoring of either DHEA or DHEA-S. Use of this assay is not recommended for patients taking biotin more than 5 mg/day, due to the potential for falsely increased results. For assays employing antibodies, the possibility exists for interference by human anti-animal antibodies (i.e., heterophile antibodies) in the patient sample. Patients who have been regularly exposed to animals or have received immunotherapy or diagnostic procedures utilizing immunoglobulins or immunoglobulin fragments may produce antibodies, (e.g., HAMA), that interfere with immunoassays. This may falsely elevate or falsely decrease the results.