Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate

Measures an androgen precursor made mainly in the adrenal glands.

To assess adrenal androgen activity.

1. Check in advance whether the time of day, the day of your menstrual cycle or other timing matters.
2. A morning blood draw is often fine; tell your doctor about hormone preparations and supplements. A strict time is not needed in every case.
3. Tell your doctor about hormone preparations and dietary supplements; do not change your treatment on your own.
4. Stay calm before the blood draw and keep to the time agreed with you.

Fasting is often not necessary for this test alone. If other tests have also been ordered, or your doctor has prescribed specific preparation, follow the agreed rules.

DHEA-S is relatively stable during the day and across the menstrual cycle; a specific time is often not required. Check the exact protocol with the laboratory.

• Hormone preparations and supplements
• Blood draw time or cycle phase, when relevant
• Immunoassay interference, including biotin on some platforms

Venous blood — serum or plasma, depending on the method

The blood sample is collected by a qualified staff member. The tube type, required volume, and processing and storage conditions are set by the laboratory's specific method. You do not need to store the sample yourself.

Raised DHEA-S may point to excess adrenal androgen production; a low value is nonspecific. The result is interpreted in light of age, sex and other hormone tests.

If your result is outside the reference interval, you have symptoms, or your condition changes, contact your doctor. If symptoms are severe or develop quickly, seek emergency care.

Do not stop treatment on your own. Confirm the final test conditions with the laboratory.