Preanalytical Factors, Informed Consent, Biostatistics, and Disturbing Factors in Hormone Assay

All relevant functional tests are explained with a detailed presentation of indications, contraindications, side effects, test preparation, framework conditions, concrete instructions for the actual test execution, as well as the interpretation of the test results. Specific normal ranges and cut-off values are always provided, even for special situations (gender, age, BMI, puberty phases, menstrual cycle phases, acute illnesses, medications, etc.). A special feature is the emphasis on test preparation, execution, and interpretation, as well as the interdisciplinary nature. More than with any other laboratory tests, preanalytics are of great importance for both basal hormone determinations and dynamic endocrinological test procedures. In individual cases, test preparation is so crucial that the quality of a test procedure and thus the interpretation stands or falls with it. The following are exemplary principles of preanalytics and important interfering factors with examples. The detailed presentation of test preparation and execution is provided for the individual tests in the corresponding chapters.