Falsely Elevated Testosterone Levels: Role of LC-MS/MS in Reducing Unnecessary Testing

The study presented a case of a 17-year-old female with falsely elevated testosterone levels detected by chemiluminescent immunoassays, which led to unnecessary testing and imaging. Upon re-evaluation using liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), her testosterone levels were found to be significantly lower and consistent with her clinical presentation. The study concluded that while immunoassays are commonly used due to their availability and cost-effectiveness, they are prone to errors such as cross-reactivity and heterophilic antibody interference. Therefore, LC-MS/MS should be considered for accurate measurement of steroid hormones to avoid unnecessary procedures.