Sex Hormone Contingency Test (Quantitative, 24-Hour Urine Collection)
This test measures certain sex hormones excreted over a 24-hour period in your urine, helping assess hormonal balance or detect potential endocrine conditions.
["A 24-hour urine test for sex hormones helps track hormone levels over time, useful for diagnosing or monitoring conditions like hormonal imbalances or certain cancers."]
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 85689-8
- Short code
- Sex cont w CT &or NG case
- Synonyms
- Sex cont w CT &or NG case
- Category
- chemistry
- Sample
- serum
- Container
- Red-top tube (SST)
- Units
- N/A
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- 18–65 years
- Specimen volume
- 5 mL
- Stability
- Room temperature: 4h, Refrigerated: 24h, Frozen: 7d
- Hemolysis max
- 500
- Lipemia max
- 1000
- Icterus max
- 500
- TAT
- 4–24 hours
- Order
- routine
Why This Test Is Done
Your healthcare provider may recommend this test if you have symptoms like irregular periods, hormonal-related issues, or if you’re being evaluated for conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), androgen excess, or certain cancers (e.g., prostate or breast). It can also be used to monitor treatment responses or screen for hormonal imbalances in conditions like congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
What to Expect Before the Test
You’ll need to collect all urine for a full 24-hour period, starting after you wake up and ending just before you wake up the next morning. Drink plenty of water to ensure adequate urine volume. Avoid certain medications or supplements that could interfere with results, and inform your provider about any recent hormonal treatments.
During the Test
You’ll be provided with a clean container to collect urine in small increments throughout the day. Store the urine in a refrigerator until you return it to the lab. Some tests may require specific handling, so follow the instructions provided with your collection kit carefully.
After the Test
Once the urine is collected, it will be sent to a lab for analysis. Results may take several days to process, depending on lab workload. Your provider will discuss the results with you, explaining any findings or next steps.
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
Clinical Significance
Frequently asked questions
This test helps identify abnormal hormone levels that may indicate conditions such as hormonal imbalances, endocrine disorders, or certain cancers. Elevated or low levels of specific hormones can guide treatment decisions, such as adjusting medications or exploring further diagnostic testing.
Results can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on the lab’s processing time and workload. Your healthcare provider will contact you once results are available, so check in with them if you haven’t heard back within the expected timeframe.
Yes, but inform your healthcare provider about any medications or supplements you’re taking, as some may affect hormone levels or interfere with test accuracy. Avoid medications specifically listed as contraindicated for this test if provided by your lab instructions.
Sources
- 1
- 2Lab Tests OnlineSource
- 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 16, 2026. · Read our editorial policy