A direct assay for the routine measurement of testosterone, androstenedione, dihydrotestosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

BACKGROUND: The measurement of androgens in many laboratories is often limited to testosterone. To more accurately determine the androgen status in both sexes, the measurement of other androgens such as dihydrotestosterone, the more potent metabolite of testosterone, and androstenendione and dehydroepiandrosterone, the most abundant circulating androgens in women would be informative. We report a combined liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for the measurement of these androgens.

METHODS: Internal standards in methanol (10 µL) were added to 100 µL serum followed by the addition of zinc sulphate (100 µL). After mixing, 100 µL of acetonitrile was added and was further mixed. The samples were centrifuged and the steroids extracted using an automated online solid phase extraction on a C18 cartridge by a Waters Acquity with online sample manager coupled to a TQS mass spectrometer.

RESULTS: Separation of the androgens was achieved by liquid chromatography. The run time was 6.5 min per sample. The lower limit of quantitation was 0.1 nmol/L for testosterone, androstenedione and dihydrotestosterone and 1 nmol/L for dehydroepiandrosterone. The coefficient of variation of the assay in serum for testosterone was <6%, androstenedione <8% and dihydrotestosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone <10%.

DISCUSSION: We have developed a rapid assay for the liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry measurement of testosterone, androstenedione, dihydrotestosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone in a routine clinical laboratory. The assay requires a small volume of serum, and all analytes are measured simultaneously. The assay is rapid and simple to execute offering the potential for routine clinical application.