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National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals

HORMONE STANDARDIZATION

Steroid hormones, especially testosterone and estradiol, regulate and affect a wide range of body functions including growth and development, control of metabolic pathways, and the use and storage of energy. Thus, testing for steroid hormones has become an important tool in the research and management of hormone-related diseases and disorders.

Numerous scientific publications, clinical guidelines, and recommendations reflect the wide use of measurements of testosterone and estradiol in clinical research and patient care. At the same time, problems in the performance of these tests hamper their broad and effective implementation and the translation of research findings into information useful for patient care, such as in new evidence-based clinical guidelines. To overcome this challenge, the clinical and research community has stated the need for standardization of testosterone and estradiol tests.

In 2007, the Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) responded to this need by starting a project to standardize these tests. As part of this effort, CDC is working with researchers to develop and implement the technical components needed for standardization and has partnered with professional organizations, such The Endocrine Society, to help translate and disseminate information on testosterone and estradiol testing and interpretation to the clinical and research community.

Upcoming Workshop

Improving Steroid Hormone Measurements in Patient Care and Research Translation

March 17-18, 2008
Atlanta, Georgia

This two-day workshop will provide an opportunity for the clinical, research, and laboratory communities to:

• discuss current needs and problems in testosterone and estradiol testing;
• obtain information on CDC's current activities to improve testing; and
• initiate activities to address existing needs in steroid hormone testing and translational research.

Session Snapshot

Day 1: Session one of this workshop will focus on use of testosterone and estradiol testing in patient care and research. In this session, current and anticipated uses will be described. Presenters will discuss how to improve and translate uses, such as reference ranges and test performance needs.

Day 2: Session two will highlight current technologies and assays being used to measure testosterone and estradiol. Presenters will discuss method performance and performance-limiting issues. CDC scientists will share their approach to improving testosterone and estradiol measurements and participants will have an opportunity to discuss these efforts.

Anticipated Outcome

The anticipated outcome of this workshop is to:

• increase understanding of the uses and requirements of testosterone and estradiol testing in research and patient care, and of CDC's efforts to improve these tests;
• initiate efforts to help in the translation of research findings related to testosterone and estradiol testing into patient care; and
• launch plans to further educate the clinical and research community on testosterone and estradiol testing.

Registration

There is no registration fee. For further information, please send an e-mail to hormone_workshop@cdc.gov.

For More Information...

Non-Federal Resources

• The Endocrine Society