Also Known As
17-OHP
17-OH progesterone
Progesterone - 17-OH
Formal Name
17-Hydroxyprogesterone
This article was last reviewed on
This article waslast modified on 4 March 2021.
At a Glance
Why Get Tested?

To screen for, detect, and monitor treatment for congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to a deficiency in the 21-hydroxylase enzyme; sometimes to help rule out other conditions.

When To Get Tested?

1. in some countries as part of a routine newborn screen
2. when an infant has atypical genitalia i.e. it is unclear if the child is male or female
3. when a young female has hirsutism (excess hair) or other symptoms of virilisation
4. when a child has premature sexual development
5. periodically to monitor CAH treatment
6. in ‘salt-wasting’ presentations in infants
7. rarely in investigation of infertility

Sample Required?

A blood sample is obtained by inserting a needle into a vein in the arm or by pricking the heel of an infant.

A saliva sample can be obtained by asking the patient to spit into a small container. Saliva samples may be suitable for analysis in some specialist laboratories.

Test Preparation Needed?

There is no preparation such as fasting for this test, but the doctor may request an early morning collection. The doctor may also request that blood be collected in the first half of a woman's menstrual cycle.

On average it takes 7 working days for the blood test results to come back from the hospital, depending on the exact tests requested. Some specialist test results may take longer, if samples have to be sent to a reference (specialist) laboratory. The X-ray & scan results may take longer. If you are registered to use the online services of your local practice, you may be able to access your results online. Your GP practice will be able to provide specific details.

If the doctor wants to see you about the result(s), you will be offered an appointment. If you are concerned about your test results, you will need to arrange an appointment with your doctor so that all relevant information including age, ethnicity, health history, signs and symptoms, laboratory and other procedures (radiology, endoscopy, etc.), can be considered.

Lab Tests Online-UK is an educational website designed to provide patients and carers with information on laboratory tests used in medical care. We are not a laboratory and are unable to comment on an individual's health and treatment.

Reference ranges are dependent on many factors, including patient age, sex, sample population, and test method, and numeric test results can have different meanings in different laboratories.

For these reasons, you will not find reference ranges for the majority of tests described on this web site. The lab report containing your test results should include the relevant reference range for your test(s). Please consult your doctor or the laboratory that performed the test(s) to obtain the reference range if you do not have the lab report.

For more information on reference ranges, please read Reference Ranges and What They Mean.

What is being tested?

This test measures the amount of 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) in the blood. 17-OHP is a steroid that is used by the body to make cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands that helps break down protein, glucose, and lipids, maintains blood pressure, and regulates the immune system. The production of cortisol is stimulated by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), a hormone produced by the pituitary gland....

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