DHEA (Unconjugated) Test
This test measures unconjugated DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), a hormone made mainly by the adrenal glands. DHEA is a building block the body uses to make other sex hormones, so clinicians look at it when questions about adrenal or androgen activity come up.
About this test
DHEA is produced primarily in the outer layer of the adrenal glands, with smaller contributions from the ovaries and testes. The body uses it as a precursor: through several enzyme steps it can be converted into testosterone and into estrogens.
There are two related tests, and the distinction matters. Most routine testing uses DHEA sulfate, the longer-lived sulfated form that circulates in far greater quantity and stays fairly stable through the day.
Who might consider this test?
- People often look into DHEA while exploring adrenal-related questions with a clinician, or when androgen symptoms are on the table
- irregular cycles, acne, unwanted hair growth, or hair thinning in women, and hormone balance questions in men.
- It also comes up when someone is following an existing situation over time under a clinician's guidance.
Test details
| Quest code | 19894 |
|---|---|
| Methodology | Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry |
| Sample type | 0.5 mL frozen serum |
| Patient preparation | Fast overnight before your blood draw if you can. |
| Collection | Quest patient service center |
Related tests and panels
Quest resources
Additional details
Unconjugated DHEA versus DHEA sulfate
The two forms are chemically related but behave differently in the bloodstream. DHEA sulfate circulates in much larger amounts and changes slowly, which makes it a steady marker of overall adrenal androgen output. Unconjugated DHEA is present in smaller amounts, turns over quickly, and reflects a nearer-term picture that varies with the time of day.
Neither form is better in the abstract. They answer slightly different questions, and clinicians pick the one that fits the situation. If you have had DHEA sulfate measured before, mention it, because comparing unlike forms across visits leads to confusion.
Why DHEA is described as a precursor
The body uses DHEA as raw material. Enzymes in the adrenal glands, gonads, skin, and fat tissue convert it along pathways that end in testosterone or in estrogens. How much conversion happens, and where, varies from person to person and changes with age.
This is why a DHEA measurement is interpreted as part of a chain rather than an endpoint. A clinician considers where in the pathway a question sits and which additional markers would help clarify it.
Markers often reviewed with it
Depending on what is being explored, DHEA may be considered next to DHEA sulfate, total and free testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin, estradiol, cortisol, or 17-hydroxyprogesterone. Each of these describes a different point along adrenal and gonadal hormone production.
A clinician weighs the pattern across those results together with symptoms, age, medications, and any supplements being taken. Adrenal and androgen questions are rarely settled by one measurement, and treating a single value as an answer tends to mislead.
How ordering works
You select the test online and pay the listed cash price, which covers the laboratory work and the physician's order. Sample collection takes a few minutes at a Quest patient service center, and results are delivered to you securely.
Order online and a physician order is included — no doctor's visit and no insurance needed. Your sample is collected at a Quest Diagnostics patient service center.
Laboratory results should always be interpreted by a licensed clinician who knows your health history. This page is information about a test, not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is DHEA?
DHEA, or dehydroepiandrosterone, is a hormone made mostly by the adrenal glands. The body uses it as a building block for testosterone and estrogens, which is why it is described as a precursor hormone.
How is this different from a DHEA sulfate test?
DHEA sulfate is the longer-lived sulfated form that circulates in larger amounts and stays steadier through the day. This test measures the unconjugated form, which turns over faster and varies more with the adrenal daily rhythm.
How much does a DHEA test cost?
The cash price appears next to the order button on this page and includes the physician's order. No insurance is billed and there is no separate visit charge.
Does the time of day matter?
It can. Unconjugated DHEA follows the adrenal daily rhythm, so a morning collection is commonly requested. Follow whatever preparation instructions your ordering clinician provides.
Do supplements affect the result?
Taking DHEA or related products can influence what is measured. Tell your clinician about any supplements you use so the result is interpreted with that context in mind.
Do I need to prepare for this test?
Fast overnight before your blood draw if you can. This is the preparation Quest publishes for this test; if your clinician gives you different instructions, follow theirs.