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Table 3 Analysis of blood samples for PCOS sub-study

From: Study Protocol – Diabetes and related conditions in urban Indigenous people in the Darwin, Australia region: aims, methods and participation in the DRUID Study

Test

Preservative

Instrument

Method principle

Testosterone

Lithium heparin

n/a

RIA (radioimmunoassay)

Sex-hormone binding globulin SHBG

Lithium heparin

n/a

IRMA (immunoradiometric assay)

Free androgen index (FAI)

N/A

Calculated

Calculated

Free testosterone

N/A

Calculated

Derived from mass equations

17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP)*

Lithium heparin

n/a

RIA (radioimmunoassay)

Prolactin*

Lithium heparin

Centaur

ICLMA (immunochemiluminometric assay)

Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)*

Lithium heparin

Centaur

ICLMA (immunochemiluminometric assay)

  1. * These additional tests were performed for women with oligomenorrhoea plus at least one of the following: a positive questionnaire response to a question on problems with acne; a positive questionnaire response to a question on problems with hair; or FAI of 5.5 nmol/L or more. Women were categorised as having oligomenorrhoea if they reported irregular menses or reported that their menstrual cycles were either less than 24 days long or 35 or more days long. (Women who were post-menopausal or had undergone a hysterectomy were excluded.) All women in this group are currently being followed up as part of the PCOS sub-study.