Apparent Hyperandrogenemia Due to Immunoassay Interference Resolved by Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry
June 2025
in “
JCEM Case Reports
”
TLDR False high testosterone levels were corrected using a more accurate test.
A 43-year-old female patient exhibited persistently elevated serum testosterone levels due to immunoassay interference, which complicated her diagnosis. Despite extensive evaluations, no cause was found until liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) confirmed normal testosterone levels, revealing that the initial results were falsely elevated. The interference was caused by heterophilic antibodies, as identified through a protein precipitation assay. This case underscores the need to consider immunoassay artifacts when diagnosing unexplained biochemical hyperandrogenism, especially when clinical signs of androgen excess are absent.
