Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) is a sex hormone (androgen) created in men and to a lesser extent, women.
It has a role to play in developing male secondary sexual characteristics at puberty and it can be metabolised by the body into more potent androgens, such as: testosterone and androstenedione, or changed into the female hormone oestrogen.
DHEAS is produced primarily in the adrenal cortex - the outer portion of the adrenal gland - with much smaller amounts coming from the woman's ovaries and man's testes. DHEAS secretion is controlled by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and other pituitary factors.
Since DHEAS is primarily produced by the adrenal glands, it is useful as a marker for adrenal function. Adrenal tumours, cancers, and hyperplasia (excess growth of hormone producing tissue) can lead to the overproduction of DHEAS.
A specially labelled blood sample collection kit containing everything needed by a nurse or doctor to take the blood sample. The kit will be unique and coded specifically to you.
A Medical History & Lifestyle questionnaire is included with this test. It covers important areas such as illness, injuries, medical conditions, medication, family health history and much more.
The Medical History & Lifestyle questionnaire provides us with vital information which can affect how your results are interpreted and what advice you receive.
You will have secure online access to your medical reports and results held on our secure web servers. If required, we will also send you a hard copy by post.
Our web servers are secure and protected by the latest SSL certificate. The 128bit SSL encryption assures that information is kept private between our web servers and your web browser.
Phlebotomy
