CLINICAL STUDY n a d T

(Correspondence should be add (The details of the EMAS Gr Methods: We compared serum testosterone and E2 measurements in a large sample of middle-aged/elderly European Journal of Endocrinology (2012) 166 983–991 ISSN 0804-4643 DOI: 10.1530/EJE-11-1051q 2012 European Society of Endocrinologymen using a common platform IA and a gas chromatography (GC)–MS method, in order to assess their limitations and advantages, and to diagnose male hypogonadism. Of subjects from the European Male Aging Study (nZ3174; age 40–79 years), peripheral serum testosterone and E2 were analyzed using established commercial platform IAs (Roche Diagnostics E170) and in-house GC–MS methods. Results: Over a broad concentration range, serum testosterone concentration measured by IA and MS showed high correlation (RZ0.93, P!0.001), which was less robust in the hypogonadal range (!11 nmol/l; RZ0.72, P!0.001). The IA/MS correlation was weaker in E2 measurements (RZ0.32, P!0.001, at E2!40.8 pmol/l, and RZ0.74, P!0.001, at E2 O40.8 pmol/l). Using MS as the comparator method, IA ascertained low testosterone compatible with hypogonadism (!11 nmol/l), with 75 % sensitivity and 96.3 % specificity. The same parameters with IA for the detection of low E2 (!40.7 pmol/l) were 13.3 and 99.3%, and for high E2 (O120 pmol/l) 88.4 and 88.6%. Conclusion: A validated platform IA is sufficient to detect subnormal testosterone concentrations in the diagnosis of male hypogonadism. The IA used for E2 measurements showed poor correlation with MS and may only be suitable for the detection of high E2 in men. European Journal of Endocrinology 166 983–99