Wallach's Interpretation of Diagnostic Tests: Pathways to Arriving at a Clinical Diagnosis (1219 page)

   Drugs: estrogens (e.g., certain oral contraceptives, phenytoin [hepatic enzyme induction])

   Use of dexamethasone in the treatment of women with hyperandrogenic hirsutism

Decreased In

   Hirsutism

   Acne vulgaris

   Polycystic ovary syndrome

   Hypothyroidism

   Acromegaly

   Cushing disease

   Hyperprolactinemia

   Limitations

   SHBG can be increased with age, hyperestrogen states, marked weight loss and chronic exercise, HIV infection, cirrhosis.

   Decreased levels may also be due to obesity and protein losing nephropathies.

SICKLE SOLUBILITY TEST (SST)
*

   Definition

   The SST (also called “sickle cell screen”) was developed as a rapid screening for the presence of HbS. Red cells are lysed, and the released Hb is reduced by sodium hydrosulfite.