Multicenter analytical performance evaluation of a fully automated anti-Müllerian hormone assay and reference interval determination

Abstract

Objectives: Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is an established biomarker for assessing ovarian reserve and predicting response to controlled ovarian stimulation. Its routine clinical use is hampered by the variability and low-throughput of available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The presented study examined if a fully automated AMH electrochemiluminescence assay (ECLIA; Elecsys® AMH assay, Roche Diagnostics) was suitable for measuring AMH levels in healthy women and in those diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Design andmethods: Five European laboratories evaluated the Elecsys® AMH assay independently under routine conditions over eightmonths. Within-run imprecision, repeatability, intermediate precision, linearity and functional sensitivity were assessed. The Elecsys® AMH assay was compared to a manual ELISA microtiter plate format test (AMH Gen II ELISA,modified version; Beckman Coulter Inc.) using 1729 routine serum samples. AMH reference intervals were determined in 887 healthy women with regularmenstrual cycle aged 20-50 years, and 149 women diagnosed with PCOS. Results: The fully automated Elecsys® AMH assay showed excellent precision, linearity, and functional sensitivity. The coefficient of variationwas 1.8% for repeatability and 4.4% for intermediate precision. Values measured with the Elecsys® AMH assay were highly correlated with the manual ELISA method (modified version) but 24-28% lower. Reference intervals showed the expected AMH decline with age in healthy women and increased AMH levels in women with PCOS. Conclusions: The Elecsys® AMH assay demonstrated good precision under routine conditions, and is suitable for determining AMH levels in serum and lithium-heparin plasma.