Steroid Panel for Premature Adrenarche Test
Short Name: Steroid Panel
Also known as: Premature Adrenarche Steroid Profile, Adrenarche Steroid Panel, Adrenal Androgen Panel
Steroid Panel for Premature Adrenarche Test test available at DNA Labs India for ₹4,500. Uses LC-MS/MS on Serum samples. Results in Samples received Monday or Thursday by 9 AM are processed; reports are delivered on Wednesday or Saturday respectively.. Free home collection in 300+ cities across India.
🩺 Medically Reviewed By
Dr Ramarao Paidisetty
Consultant Biochemist · Reg: 21504
Last reviewed: September 7, 2026
Overview
The purpose of the Steroid Panel for Premature Adrenarche is to evaluate adrenal androgen secretion in children presenting with signs of early adrenarche. This panel helps clinicians confirm the diagnosis of premature adrenarche, rule out other adrenal enzyme defects (like 21-hydroxylase deficiency), and differentiate from central precocious puberty. It provides a hormonal profile that guides further investigation, surveillance, and management.
- Test Code
- 3662
- ICD Code
- E27.0
- Price
- ₹4,500
- Sample Type
- Serum
- Result Time
- Samples received Monday or Thursday by 9 AM are processed; reports are delivered on Wednesday or Saturday respectively.
- Fasting Required
- Yes (8 hours)
- Method
- LC-MS/MS
Sample Collection
The patient should fast for at least 8 hours before the test. The sample must be collected between 8-10 am or 4-6 pm. The exact date and time of collection should be recorded and communicated to the laboratory.
Method: Blood draw
Laboratory Analysis
A small amount of blood (2 mL) will be drawn from a vein in the arm. Rarely, mild pain, bruising, or light-headedness may occur. The collection takes only a few minutes.
Report Delivery
Apply gentle pressure to the site for a few minutes. Keep the provided bandage on for 15 minutes. resume normal diet and activities immediately after the collection.
Timeline: Samples received Monday or Thursday by 9 AM are processed; reports are delivered on Wednesday or Saturday respectively.
Patient Instructions
About This Test
Who Should Get This Test
The purpose of the Steroid Panel for Premature Adrenarche is to evaluate adrenal androgen secretion in children presenting with signs of early adrenarche. This panel helps clinicians confirm the diagnosis of premature adrenarche, rule out other adrenal enzyme defects (like 21-hydroxylase deficiency), and differentiate from central precocious puberty. It provides a hormonal profile that guides further investigation, surveillance, and management.
How to Prepare
- Collect sample between 8-10 am or 4-6 pm to account for diurnal variation.
- Use a Red Top (No Additive) tube; do NOT use SST or gel barrier tubes.
- Specify time and date on the specimen container and test request form.
- Ship samples refrigerated or frozen.
- Inform the laboratory if the child has taken any corticosteroid or hormonal medication.
Doctor's Notes
Reviewed by Dr Ramarao Paidisetty — MBBS, MD (Biochemistry) · Reg. No. 21504
"Early detection of premature adrenarche is crucial to differentiate it from true precocious puberty or adrenal tumours. The steroid panel provides a reliable hormonal snapshot that guides appropriate management and reassures families."
Last medically reviewed: September 7, 2026
Test Parameters & Specifications
Sample Stability
- Specimen collected in SST (gel barrier) tube
- Sample not collected within specified time window
- Haemolysed or grossly lipaemic sample
- Improperly labelled sample
- Sample transported at room temperature for more than 8 hours
Understanding Your Results
Supports a clinical diagnosis of premature adrenarche when pubic/axillary hair appears early.
Suggests possible 21-hydroxylase deficiency (non-classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia) and requires confirmatory ACTH stimulation testing.
May indicate true central precocious puberty; further evaluation with GnRH stimulation and brain MRI is advised.
The symptoms may not be related to adrenal hyperandrogenism; alternative causes should be explored.
Consult a pediatrician or pediatric endocrinologist if your child shows signs of early puberty or adrenal androgen excess, such as pubic hair growth before age 8 in girls or 9 in boys, acne, rapid height gain, or deepening of voice. Also, consult if the test results are abnormal or if you have any concerns about your child’s development.
Limitations
- ⚠Results must be interpreted in the context of the child's age, gender, clinical findings, and bone age.
- ⚠A single elevated value may not be conclusive; repeat testing may be necessary.
- ⚠The panel does not directly diagnose central precocious puberty; additional tests such as GnRH stimulation may be required.
- ⚠Reference ranges are method-specific and age-dependent; direct comparison with other laboratories may not be valid.
Risks & Considerations
- ●Mild bruising or swelling at the puncture site
- ●Dizziness or light-headedness during or after blood collection
- ●Small risk of infection (very rare, but proper sterile technique is always used)
Interfering Factors
- ●Corticosteroid therapy may suppress adrenal androgen levels.
- ●Oral contraceptive use or oestrogen supplements may alter binding proteins.
- ●Ketoconazole and certain antifungals may affect steroid synthesis.
- ●Sample collection outside the recommended time window can affect diurnal variations.
- ●Haemolysis, lipaemia, or the use of a serum separator tube can compromise sample integrity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is premature adrenarche?
What symptoms indicate the need for this test?
Which hormones are measured in this panel?
Is fasting required for the steroid panel?
What is the best time for blood collection?
How is the steroid panel test performed?
How long does it take to get the results?
What is the cost of the Steroid Panel for Premature Adrenarche at DNA Labs India?
Is home sample collection available?
What do abnormal results mean?
Can premature adrenarche be treated?
Is this test suitable for both boys and girls?
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