Comparison of automated methods for the determination of antimüllerian hormone in women.

Abstract

Antimüllerian hormone (AMH), a protein secreted by granulosa cells, is a quantitative marker of the ovarian reserve. Due to its clinical value, the anti-müllerian hormone is a test highly prescribed by doctors, especially in the medically assisted procreation (MAP) department. The antral follicle count (AFC) and the result of the AMH test, are systematically evaluated during a fertility preservation consultation and also as part of the monitoring of ovarian function. Different methods for the measurement of AMH level exist, but none of them is currently available in our hormonology laboratory at Bordeaux University Hospital. The introduction of one of these technical assays in our laboratory could shorten the delay of reaching the result. According to our objectives, our study made it possible to observe the performance and analytical limits of the Biomerieux and Fujirebio technology, by comparing it with Roche technology, known as the reference, by analysing 50 AMH samples, on each of them and evaluating the results. In our study, despite a good agreement between the three assay methods, the importance of an international standard from a diagnostic point of view was once again noted. National medical commissions do strongly insist on the need of setting up an international standard in order to facilitate the development of reference values, decrease inter-laboratory variability and the cost due to repeated assays, as well as to improve patient safety by avoiding poor estimation of values.