Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assay for androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone, and testosterone with pediatric and adult reference intervals.

Background: Measurement of serum androgens is important in adult, geriatric, pediatric endocrinology, and oncology patients. We developed a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assay for simultaneous measurement of androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and testosterone in these patients.

Methods: We spiked 200 muL of serum or plasma with isotope-labeled internal standards and performed extraction with methyl t-butyl ether.