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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Chevy Chase, MD– The American Medical Association’s (AMA) House of Delegates unanimously adopted a resolution introduced by The Endocrine Society calling for the standardization of testosterone assays, including increased measures of analytical accuracy by laboratory associations and education for clinicians who use the assays. Adoption of this resolution which was co-sponsored by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) and the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) means that it is now AMA policy and wholly supported by the full House of Delegates.
The use of testosterone assays for patient care and research is on the rise as new research links testosterone to a variety of diseases and conditions. The assays, or tests, measure testosterone levels to diagnose and treat disorders including: testicular or pituitary diseases in men potentially leading to erectile dysfunction and decreased sexual drive; polycystic ovary syndrome which may cause menstrual disturbances and infertility in women; and early or late pubertal development in children.
Although testosterone assays are heavily used, the discrepancies and inaccuracies in measurements from the various assays are widespread. The variability in these tests limits their broad and effective use, potentially threatening the health of patients who rely on accurate measurement for their medical care. The Society’s resolution addresses this critical health issue.
“The standardization of testosterone tests to produce measurements that are accurate, reliable and comparable over time will benefit everyone from the scientists conducting research to the patients and their physicians who rely on the tests for diagnosis and treatment,” said Kelly E. Mayo, PhD, president of The Endocrine Society. “The Society looks forward to working with the AMA and others in the medical community to encourage action needed to ensure testosterone assay standardization.”
Specifically, the resolution states that:
* AMA supports efforts to standardize testosterone assays;
* AMA will work with the appropriate laboratory associations to increase use of analytic accuracy in testosterone assays; and
* AMA will work with other medical associations to educate clinicians about the variability of testosterone analytical accuracy.
Following a consensus conference convened by The Endocrine Society and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in February 2010, the Society and a number of other organizations issued recommendations for improving and standardizing testosterone testing in a consensus statement published in the October 2010 issue of the Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).
Founded in 1916, The Endocrine Society is the world’s oldest, largest and most active organization devoted to research on hormones and the clinical practice of endocrinology. Today, The Endocrine Society’s membership consists of over 14,000 scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in more than 100 countries. Society members represent all basic, applied, and clinical interests in endocrinology. The Endocrine Society is based in Chevy Chase, Maryland. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at www.endo-society.org.
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