Introduction: Immunoassays, specifically chemiluminescent assays are commonly used in clinical laboratories for analyzing protein antigens and steroid hormones such as testosterone due to their availa..
Introduction: Immunoassays, specifically chemiluminescent assays are commonly used in clinical laboratories for analyzing protein antigens and steroid hormones such as testosterone due to their availability as commercial kits, low cost and simplicity. We present a case of falsely elevated serum testosterone. Clinical Case: A 17-year-old female with facial acne was referred to us for elevated testosterone levels. She was of Greek descent and reported having had coarse dark hair growth on upper lip, chin, chest for which she previously underwent laser therapy. Her menstrual cycles were regular and predictable. She was not on any medications. On physical examination, she was normotensive with BMI of 22kg/m2. She had coarse dark hair on upper abdomen, lower abdomen and medial thighs with Ferriman-Gallwey score of 7, genital exam did not reveal clitoromegaly. On initial testing, serum total testosterone was 417ng/dL (range: