Blood Test Information

5-alpha Dihydrotestosterone
(a.k.a DHT)
minimum sample volume required ~ 5ml

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Test Code: DHT

Tube type: SST

Special instructions
There will also be simultaneous measurement of testosterone by LC-MS and provision of calculated DHT/testosterone ratio

Reference range DHT
<6 months: interpretive comment provided
6 months to onset of puberty: <0.16
Adult male: 0.28 - 2.51
Adult female: <0.52
Post menopausal female: <0.3

Reference range testosterone
<6 months male: <13.9
<6 months female: <0.4
6 months to onset of puberty: <0.4
Adult male: 8.3 - 33.0
Adult female: 0.3 - 2.1

Reference range Testosterone:DHT ratio
Male: 6.2 - 17.2
Female: 0.9 - 6.5

Sent away to Kings College Hospital, London

Units
nmol/L

Turnaround Time
14 days

Department: Biochemistry

Clinical Application
5-αDHT measurement is used in:
- Identifying patients with 5 alpha-reductase deficiency.
- Androgenic alopecia (male-pattern baldness).
- Monitoring patients receiving 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor.
- In idiopathic hirsuitism about 40% of the patients have an increased DHT level.

Webpage updated: March 2024