The PicoAMH Elisa diagnostic test measures circulating levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), a granulosa cell product in ovaries that is present only until menopause. In research settings, AMH levels have been used to predict menopause and to confirm the occurrence of menopause; levels have been shown to track well with antral follicle count (J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011 Aug 1;96[8]:2532-9).
“Diagnostic results about a woman’s menopausal status may prompt discussions about preventative care for women experiencing menopausal symptoms,” Courtney H. Lias, PhD, director of the division of chemistry and toxicology devices in the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, said in a press release announcing the marketing permission. “This test, when used in conjunction with other clinical assessments and laboratory findings, can help inform discussions about preventative care, such as ways to help prevent loss in bone mineral density or to address cardiovascular disease, both of which are known to increase after menopause.”
As Dr. Lias emphasized, the new test is designed to be used along with a thorough clinical assessment and other laboratory tests. Having a reliable test for circulating AMH for clinical use allows measurement of a hormone that, unlike follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone, does not fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle for premenopausal women.
JoAnn Pinkerton, MD, executive director of the North American Menopause Society, provided clinical context about the utility of the new assay. “AMH levels appear to provide valuable information about timing of menopause. While not needed for women undergoing a natural menopause at age 51, it will be very helpful for women at risk of early ovarian failure, such as following chemotherapy for cancer or genetic or endocrine reasons,” said Dr. Pinkerton. “Women desiring pregnancy who are skipping periods can be more reassured if their AMH is normal, as studies suggest, that AMH is highly predictive of timing of menopause.”*
In permitting marketing of the PicoAMH Elisa assay, the FDA looked at data drawn from the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation. For 690 women aged 42-62 years, “the PicoAMH Elisa test performed reasonably well at determining levels of AMH in the blood,” the FDA said in the press release. The test also was able to identify women who had already had their last menstrual period, and to determine women who were at least 5 years away from stopping menstruation, according to the longitudinal study.
The PicoAMH Elisa test will be marketed by Ansh Labs. Since the device’s review went through a de novo premarket pathway designed for novel devices of low to medium risk, there will be an additional set of criteria, called special controls, put in place to monitor the safety and effectiveness of the test.
*This article was updated on 10/26/2018.