Free or bioavailable testosterone tests may provide supportive information after a total testosterone test. The selection of a test may be based on clinical judgment and preference.
These tests are suitable for measuring a wide range of testosterone concentrations and are most useful when low concentrations are expected, regardless of the patient’s sex assigned at birth. Immunoassay-based tests may be more cost-effective if high testosterone concentrations, such as those found in cisgender males, are expected; refer to the Free or Bioavailable Testosterone Test Options (Adult Males or Individuals on Testosterone Hormone Therapy) table.
Method | Results Reported | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Test Name and Number | IA | MS | ED | Calc | Total T | Free T | Bio T | SHBG |
Testosterone, Free (Adult Females, Children, or Individuals on Testosterone-Suppressing Hormone Therapy) 0081059 |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|||||
Testosterone, Free and Total, Includes Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (Adult Females, Children, or Individuals on Testosterone-Suppressing Hormone Therapy) 0081056 |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|||
Testosterone, Bioavailable and Total, Includes Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (Adult Females, Children, or Individuals on Testosterone-Suppressing Hormone Therapy) 0081057 |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
||
Bio, bioavailable; Calc, calculation; ED, equilibrium dialysis; IA, immunoassay; MS, mass spectrometry; SHBG, sex hormone-binding globulin; T, testosterone |