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Comparative Study
. 2019 Feb;133(2):343-348.
doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000003066.

Concordance of Fingerstick and Venipuncture Sampling for Fertility Hormones

Erin E Burke  1 , Safedin Beqaj, Nataki C Douglas, Robert Luo
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Concordance of Fingerstick and Venipuncture Sampling for Fertility Hormones

Erin E Burke et al. Obstet Gynecol. 2019 Feb.

Abstract

Background: Minimally invasive fingerstick sampling allows testing of reproductive hormone levels at home, providing women with increased access to tests that can screen for conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, primary ovarian insufficiency, and pituitary and thyroid dysfunction.

Method: We present a measurement procedure comparison study of matched venipuncture and fingerstick samples from 130 women aged 18-40 years, tested on menstrual cycle day 3. Samples were measured for anti-müllerian hormone, estradiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL), testosterone, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and free thyroxine (T4) levels. Samples were tested using U.S. Food and Drug Administration-cleared immunoassays, with a modified reconstitution step for fingerstick samples.

Experience: Venipuncture and fingerstick hormone values were concordant and linear across all assay ranges. There was no evidence of systematic bias across the assay ranges, and bias measures were below recommended guidelines. The correlation between venipuncture and fingerstick was between 0.99 and 1.0 for each hormone. Each assay displayed a high degree of precision (less than 13% coefficient of variation) and a high level of accuracy (average recovery equaled 95.5-102.3%).

Conclusion: Venipuncture and fingerstick samples can be used interchangeably to measure anti-müllerian hormone, E2, FSH, LH, PRL, testosterone, TSH, and free T4 levels. Fingerstick sampling provides doctors and women more convenient testing options.

Funding source: The study was sponsored by Modern Fertility.

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Comment in

  • Concordance of Fingerstick and Venipuncture Sampling for Fertility Hormones.
    Zava T, Harrington J, Zava D. Zava T, et al. Obstet Gynecol. 2019 Aug;134(2):418. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000003344. Obstet Gynecol. 2019. PMID: 31348210 No abstract available.
  • In Reply.
    Burke E, Beqaj S, Douglas N. Burke E, et al. Obstet Gynecol. 2019 Aug;134(2):418-420. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000003350. Obstet Gynecol. 2019. PMID: 31348211 No abstract available.

References

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