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25135 Inhibin B, Serum (INHB)

Inhibin B, Serum (INHB)
Test Code: INHBSO
Useful For
Aiding in the diagnosis of granulosa cell tumors and mucinous epithelial ovarian tumors
 
Monitoring of patients with granulosa cell tumors and epithelial mucinous-type tumors of the ovary known to overexpress inhibin B
 
As an adjunct to follicle-stimulating hormone testing during infertility evaluation
Specimen Requirements
Specimen Type Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)
Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
Serum​ ​Serum Separator Tube (SST) ​Red Top Tube (RTT) ​1.0 mL ​0.6 mL
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature Time
​Serum ​ ​Refrigerated (preferred) ​14 days
​Frozen ​90 days
Rejection Criteria

Gross Hemolysis

Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Report Available Methodology/Instrumentation
​Mayo Clinic Laboratories Monday, Wednesday, Friday 1-6 days
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)​
Reference Lab
Test Information

Inhibins are heterodimeric protein hormones secreted by granulosa cells of the ovary in females and Sertoli cells of the testis in males. Inhibins selectively suppress the secretion of pituitary follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and also have local paracrine actions in the gonads. The inhibins consist of a dimer of 2 homologous subunits, an alpha subunit and either a beta A or beta B subunit, to form inhibin A and inhibin B, respectively.

In females, inhibin A is primarily produced by the dominant follicle and corpus luteum, whereas inhibin B is primarily produced by small developing follicles. Serum inhibin A and B levels fluctuate during the menstrual cycle. Inhibin A is low in the early follicular phase and rises at ovulation to maximum levels in the mid-luteal phase. In contrast, inhibin B levels increase early in the follicular phase to reach a peak coincident with the onset of the mid-follicular phase decline in FSH levels. Inhibin B levels decrease in the late follicular phase. There is a short-lived peak of the hormone 2 days after the midcycle luteinizing hormone (LH) peak. Inhibin B levels remain low during the luteal phase of the cycle. The timing of the inhibin B rise suggests that it plays a role in regulation of folliculogenesis via a negative feedback on the production of FSH. At menopause, with the depletion of ovarian follicles, serum inhibin A and B decrease to very low or undetectable levels.

Ovarian cancer is classified into 3 types: epithelial (80%), germ cell tumors (10%-15%), and stromal sex-cord tumors (5%-10%). Epithelial ovarian tumors are further subdivided into serous (70%), mucinous (10%-15%), and endometrioid (10%-15%) types. Granulosa cell tumors represent the majority of the stromal sex-cord tumors.

Elevations of serum inhibin A and/or B are detected in some patients with granulosa cell tumors. Inhibin B elevations have been reported in 89% to 100% of patients with granulosa cell tumors. In those patients, inhibin B levels tend to be elevated about 60-fold over the reference range value. The frequency of elevated levels varies amongst studies, likely due to the different specificities of the antibodies used in the immunoassays. Inhibin B also appears to be a suitable serum marker for epithelial tumors of the mucinous type with about 55% to 60% having elevated inhibin B levels. In contrast, inhibin is not a very good marker in non-mucinous epithelial tumors. At best, total inhibin is elevated in 15% to 35% of non-mucinous epithelial ovarian cancer cases.

Inhibin seems to be complementary to cancer antigen 125 (CA 125) as an ovarian cancer marker. CA 125 is not as good of a tumor marker for mucinous and granulosa ovarian cell tumors. Inhibin shows a better performance in those 2 types of ovarian cancer.

The majority of the studies for inhibin A and B as an ovarian cancer marker have been limited to postmenopausal women where the levels of inhibin are normally very low. Inhibin levels vary in relation to the menstrual cycle and, therefore, are difficult to interpret in premenopausal women.

Inhibin B has also been used as a marker of ovarian reserve. Every female is born with a specific number of follicles containing oocytes, a number that steadily and naturally declines with age. The number of follicles remaining in the ovary at any time is called the ovarian reserve. As ovarian reserve diminishes, it is increasingly more difficult for the hormones used for in vitro fertilization (IVF) to stimulate follicle development and, thus, the likelihood of successful oocyte retrieval, fertilization, and embryo transfer decreases, all leading to a lower chance of conceiving. As part of an infertility evaluation, attempts are made to estimate a woman's ovarian reserve. Tests to assess ovarian reserve include: day 3 FSH, day 3 inhibin B, and antimullerian hormone levels. The amount of inhibin B measured in serum during the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle (day 3) directly reflects the number of follicles in the ovary. Therefore, the higher the inhibin B, the more ovarian follicles present. The level of inhibin B that predicts a poor response to IVF treatment has not been established with this assay.

In males, inhibin B levels are higher in men with apparently normal fertility than in those with infertility and abnormal spermatogenesis. Serum inhibin B, when used in combination with FSH, is a more sensitive marker of spermatogenesis than FSH alone. However, the optimal level of inhibin B to assess male infertility has not been established.

Reference Range Information

Males

<15 days: 68-373 pg/mL

15-180 days: 42-516 pg/mL

6 months-7 years: 24-300 pg/mL

8-30 years: 47-383 pg/mL

31-72 years: <358 pg/mL

>72 years: Not established

 

Females

< or =12 years: <183 pg/mL

13-41 years Regular Cycle (Follicular Phase): <224 pg/mL

42-51 years Regular Cycle (Follicular Phase): <108 pg/mL

13-51 years Regular Cycle (Luteal Phase): <80 pg/mL

>51 years (Postmenopausal): <12 pg/mL

Interpretation
Inhibin B levels are elevated in approximately 89% to 100% of patients with granulosa cell tumors and in approximately 55% to 60% of patients with epithelial ovarian tumors. A normal inhibin B level does not rule out a mucinous or granulosa ovarian cell tumor. Testing for inhibin A in these cases might be informative. Consider ordering INHAB/Inhibin A and B, Tumor Marker, Serum.
 
For monitoring of patients with known ovarian cancer, inhibin B levels decrease to very low or undetectable levels shortly after surgery. Elevations of inhibin B after treatment are suggestive of residual, recurrent, or progressive disease. In patients with recurrent disease, inhibin B elevation seems to be present earlier than clinical symptoms. Patients in remission show normal levels of inhibin B.  
 
For infertility evaluation, an inhibin B level in the postmenopausal range is suggestive of a diminished or depleted ovarian reserve.
Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)
Quantity Description Comments
​83520
Ordering Applications
Ordering Application Description
​Centricity Inhibin B, Serum (INHB)
​Cerner ​None
​COM ​Inhibin B, Serum
If the ordering application you are looking for is not listed, contact your local laboratory for assistance.
Specimen Requirements
Specimen Type Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)
Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
Serum​ ​Serum Separator Tube (SST) ​Red Top Tube (RTT) ​1.0 mL ​0.6 mL
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature Time
​Serum ​ ​Refrigerated (preferred) ​14 days
​Frozen ​90 days
Rejection Criteria

Gross Hemolysis

Useful For
Aiding in the diagnosis of granulosa cell tumors and mucinous epithelial ovarian tumors
 
Monitoring of patients with granulosa cell tumors and epithelial mucinous-type tumors of the ovary known to overexpress inhibin B
 
As an adjunct to follicle-stimulating hormone testing during infertility evaluation
Reference Range Information

Males

<15 days: 68-373 pg/mL

15-180 days: 42-516 pg/mL

6 months-7 years: 24-300 pg/mL

8-30 years: 47-383 pg/mL

31-72 years: <358 pg/mL

>72 years: Not established

 

Females

< or =12 years: <183 pg/mL

13-41 years Regular Cycle (Follicular Phase): <224 pg/mL

42-51 years Regular Cycle (Follicular Phase): <108 pg/mL

13-51 years Regular Cycle (Luteal Phase): <80 pg/mL

>51 years (Postmenopausal): <12 pg/mL

Interpretation
Inhibin B levels are elevated in approximately 89% to 100% of patients with granulosa cell tumors and in approximately 55% to 60% of patients with epithelial ovarian tumors. A normal inhibin B level does not rule out a mucinous or granulosa ovarian cell tumor. Testing for inhibin A in these cases might be informative. Consider ordering INHAB/Inhibin A and B, Tumor Marker, Serum.
 
For monitoring of patients with known ovarian cancer, inhibin B levels decrease to very low or undetectable levels shortly after surgery. Elevations of inhibin B after treatment are suggestive of residual, recurrent, or progressive disease. In patients with recurrent disease, inhibin B elevation seems to be present earlier than clinical symptoms. Patients in remission show normal levels of inhibin B.  
 
For infertility evaluation, an inhibin B level in the postmenopausal range is suggestive of a diminished or depleted ovarian reserve.
For more information visit:
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Report Available Methodology/Instrumentation
​Mayo Clinic Laboratories Monday, Wednesday, Friday 1-6 days
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)​
Reference Lab
For billing questions, see Contacts
Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)
Quantity Description Comments
​83520
For most current information refer to the Marshfield Laboratory online reference manual.