E3- Estriol Test:
Why E3-Estriol Test?
CLINICAL INFORMATION
In females, there are different types of estrogens but only three among them are predominant. They are Estrone (E1), Estradiol (E2) and Estriol (E3). The third estrogen – Estriol (E3: weak estrogen) is one of the essential estrogen types of steroid hormones produced by the female (mainly during pregnancy). Estriol is produced by the placenta (with concentrations rising throughout a woman’s pregnancy) and since Estriol is a part of the second trimester of pregnancy – maternal serum screening is performed to evaluate fetal risk due to certain chromosomal abnormalities. E3 is shown to enhance endothelial function, improve the bone mineral density by inhibiting bone absorption etc. Usually, low levels of E3 exist in non-pregnant women and trace levels of E3 are found in men (insignificant). High levels of estriol in female patients are also found to be directly associated with the incidence of breast cancer (as estriol level proportionately elevates the levels of 16 alpha-hydroxy estrone – 16-OH-E1). Decreased levels of Estriol (E3) is associated with certain conditions eg. Very low levels of Estriol are found to be associated with various genetic disorders (including down's syndrome), neural tube defects and adrenal abnormalities. E3 – Estriol test is performed predominantly in maternal blood (pregnancy) also for prenatal biochemical screening for fetal health (diagnosis of multiple congenital abnormalities) and well-being of pregnant mother (test for fetal-placental status during early stages of pregnancy in monitoring developing baby – High-risk pregnancies). Moreover, Estriol (E3) test is conducted often since Estriol is measured in the 15th to 20th week of gestation as a part of the triple/quad screen. While E3 test can also be measured in (female patients) blood or urine sample specimen, in few other pathological conditions like ovarian cancers, hormonal imbalances (abnormal vaginal bleeding), symptoms of menopause (lack menstrual periods), female infertility cases, unusual (early or late) sex organ development, hypopituitarism, hypogonadism – (dysfunction of ovaries), PCOs in female and gynecomastia (signs of feminization) in men.
General Instructions:
Sample Requirement: Specimen - Blood sample collected from the vein. Test Preparation: None.
NOTE - Sample for specimen collections may vary based on the patient’s condition/cases according to the patient’s presenting complaints/signs or symptoms:
SPECIMEN REQUIREMENT (Special or Rare Cases) - As instructed and guided by Physician / Clinician / Pathologist / as per Laboratory’s requirements, according to procedures and protocols.
This Multi-Specialty Clinical Referral Laboratory RTDIAGNOSTICS providesprecise and accuracy tests with an extensive range of testing service to the medical centers to help in the diagnosis and identification of pathology in the test specimens for infectious diseases and also to evaluate the function of organ systems of the patient. It prevents further complications and helps to stabilize and restore health to near normalcy at the earliest without delay.
