In vitro bioassays for androgens and their diagnostic applications

In 2007, androgen levels were primarily measured using immunoassays, with testosterone being the most commonly assessed androgen. However, these methods often provided insufficient quality, especially in cases of low androgen levels, such as in women and children, leading to poor correlation with clinical symptoms. In vitro bioassays emerged as a promising alternative, offering a more clinically relevant measure of total androgen bioactivity in serum. Although not yet suitable for routine diagnostics, these bioassays were valuable for clinical research into androgen production disturbances and for screening androgenic and antiandrogenic activities in various substances. The article aimed to highlight the limitations of traditional immunoassays and discuss the potential of in vitro bioassays in clinical research.