Complete Blood Count (CBC) Test: What Patients Need to Know
A test to detect the presence of androstenedione, an androgen hormone, in your blood to help diagnose hormonal disorders.
{"Androstenedione is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands, ovaries, and testes","This test helps diagnose conditions like PCOS, adrenal tumors, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia","Blood is drawn from a vein in your arm for this test","No special preparation is typically needed, but follow your doctor's instructions","Results help your healthcare provider understand hormone-related symptoms"}
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 43817-6
- Short code
- ANDRO
- Synonyms
- Androst SerPl Ql
- Category
- chemistry
- Sample
- serum
- Container
- Red-top serum tube (no gel) or serum separator tube (SST)
- Units
- N/A
- Ref low
- 0.5
- Ref high
- 3.1
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- 0–120 years
- Method
- Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) or Immunoassay
- CPT
- 82157
- SNOMED
- 167718005
- Specimen volume
- 1-2 mL of serum
- Stability
- Room temperature: 24 hours; Refrigerated (2-8°C): 7 days; Frozen (-20°C or below): 6 months; Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles
- Hemolysis max
- 100
- Lipemia max
- 100
- Icterus max
- 50
- TAT
- 24–72 hours
- Order
- routine
A complete blood count, or CBC, is a routine blood test that measures the cells circulating in your blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, giving your healthcare team a broad picture of your overall health.
The androstenedione test measures whether this androgen hormone is present in your blood serum or plasma. Androstenedione is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands, ovaries (in women), and testes (in men). It serves as a precursor to other hormones like testosterone and estrogen. This presence/absence test helps healthcare providers determine if androstenedione production is occurring when it should or shouldn't be.
This test is performed to detect a wide range of conditions, such as anemia, infections, and blood disorders, to investigate symptoms like fatigue, fever, weakness, or unusual bruising, and to monitor existing conditions or how well a treatment is working.
Your doctor may order this test if you show symptoms of hormonal imbalance, such as irregular menstrual periods, excessive hair growth (hirsutism), acne, or voice deepening in women. It helps evaluate conditions affecting the adrenal glands or reproductive organs. The test may also be used to monitor certain treatments or to differentiate between various causes of androgen excess.
The test is done by drawing a small sample of blood, usually from a vein in your arm. A trained professional cleans the site, inserts a thin needle, collects the blood into a tube, and sends the sample to a laboratory for analysis; the procedure usually takes only a few minutes.
A healthcare professional will draw a small blood sample from a vein in your arm using a needle. The blood is collected into a tube and sent to a laboratory for analysis. The test simply detects whether androstenedione is present (positive) or not present (negative) in your blood. The procedure only takes a few minutes and is generally well-tolerated.
The risks are very low. You may feel a brief sting when the needle is inserted, and mild soreness, bruising, or slight bleeding at the puncture site can occur. Serious complications such as infection are rare, and most people return to their normal activities right away.
The risks are minimal and include slight pain or bruising at the injection site, lightheadedness, or rarely, infection. These side effects are usually temporary and resolve quickly. If you have a bleeding disorder or take blood thinners, inform your healthcare provider before the test.
Reference range
Adult males: 0.6-3.1 ng/mL; Adult females: 0.5-2.7 ng/mL (varies by assay and laboratory); Pediatric and pubertal ranges vary by age and Tanner stageN/A
No special preparation required; however, sample collection timing relative to diurnal variation should be considered. For women with regular menstrual cycles, sample may be collected in the follicular phase for baseline evaluation.
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
Detecting androstenedione presence is clinically important for diagnosing polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), where elevated androgen levels are common. It also helps identify adrenal gland disorders such as adrenal hyperplasia, adrenal tumors, or Cushing's syndrome. In men, abnormal levels may indicate testicular or adrenal issues. The test assists in determining the cause of symptoms like hirsutism, acne, menstrual irregularities, and infertility. Additionally, it can help differentiate between ovarian and adrenal sources of androgen excess.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to fast before this test?
What does a positive result mean?
Can this test be done during my period?
Will I need other tests?
Sources
- 1
- 2
- 3
Click any link to access the full source. PubMed Central (PMC) links provide free full-text access.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you have about a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Medically reviewed by WellAlly Editorial Team Last reviewed August 10, 2026. · Read our editorial policy