Sign in →

Test Code PROG or LAB529 Progesterone, Serum or Plasma

Important Note

Patient Preparation: For 12 hours before this test do not take multivitamins or dietary supplements containing biotin (vitamin B7), which is commonly found in hair, skin, and nail supplements and multivitamins. Biotin can interfere with many immunoassay tests.

Specimen Requirements

Container Type:

Optimal: Gold or Mint*

*For STAT requests

Acceptable: Red or Green
Optimal Collection Volume: 

4.5mL; full tube
Minimum Volume:

1 mL whole blood
Collection Instructions:

Gently invert the sample 5-6 times after collection.
Specimen Transport:

Refrigerate
Processing Instructions: 

1. If serum, allow the specimen to clot for 30 minutes.

2. Centrifuge specimen within 2 hours of collection.

3. After centrifugation, specimen tubes without a gel barrier should have the serum or plasma aliquoted to a false bottom container.

4. Keep serum or plasma refrigerated until testing can be performed.

Specimen Stability

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Serum* Refrigerated 5 days
Room Temperature 24 hours
Frozen 6 months

*Note: Heparinized plasma in gel separator tubes is less stable than serum and is only suitable for add-on testing up to 2 days following sample collection.

Specimen Rejection Criteria

Hemolysis Mild OK; Moderate OK; Gross Reject
Lipemia Mild OK; Moderate OK; Gross Reject
Icterus Mild OK; Moderate OK; Gross Reject
Other Quantity not sufficient

Useful For

  • Ascertaining whether ovulation occurred in a menstrual cycle
  • Assessment of infertility
  • Evaluation of abnormal uterine bleeding
  • Evaluation of placental health in high-risk pregnancy
  • Determining the effectiveness of progesterone injections when administered to women to help support early pregnancy
  • Workup of some patients with adrenal disorders

Methodology

Roche Cobas - Electrochemiluminescence assay

Reference Ranges

Males

Median (ng/mL)

2 SD Range (ng/mL)

< 0.1

0.0-0.1

 

Females: non-pregnant

Phase

Median (ng/mL)

2 SD Range (ng/mL)

Follicular Phase

0.2

 0.1-0.9

Ovulation Phase

 0.5 0.1-12.0

Luteal Phase

 10.0 1.8-23.9

Post-menopause

 < 0.1 0-0.1

 

Females: pregnant

Trimester

Median (ng/mL)

2 SD Range (ng/mL)

1st

24

 11-44

2nd 

 48 25-83

3rd

 107 59-214

Interpretive

Ovulation results in a midcycle surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) followed by an increase in progesterone secretion, peaking between day 21 and 23. If no fertilization and implantation has occurred by then, supplying the corpus luteum with human chorionic gonadotropin-driven growth stimulus, progesterone secretion falls, ultimately triggering menstruation. Typically, day 21 to 23 serum progesterone concentrations of more than 10 ng/mL indicate normal ovulation and concentrations below 10 ng/mL suggest anovulation, inadequate luteal phase progesterone production, or inappropriate timing of sample collection.

 

Increased progesterone concentrations are occasionally seen with some ovarian cysts, molar pregnancies, rare forms of ovarian cancer, adrenal cancer, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and testicular tumors. Increased progesterone may also be a result of overproduction by the adrenal glands.   

 

Low concentrations of progesterone may be associated with toxemia in late pregnancy, decreased ovarian function, amenorrhea, ectopic pregnancy, and miscarriage.

 

Source: Mayo Medical Labs

Day(s) Performed

24/7

Expected TAT

Same day

Performing Laboratory

Bronson Laboratory, Chemistry - Kalamazoo

Sample Retention Time

7 days

CPT Code

84144

LOINC Code

2839-9