Free and Total Testosterone Blood Test
    Free and Total Testosterone Blood Test
    Free and Total Testosterone Blood Test
    Free and Total Testosterone Blood Test

Free and Total Testosterone Blood Test

£44 £55
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Measure the amount of testosterone in your blood that is free to bind with your body's tissues.

  • Results estimated in 2 working days
  • Convenient testing options
  • Bespoke doctor’s report
  • Free delivery

How do you want to take your sample?

  • Collect your own finger-prick blood sample at home  
    Free

    We’ll send you everything you need to collect your blood sample from your finger at home.

  • Book a venous draw at a clinic   Venous
    +£35

  • Book a venous draw at home with a nurse Venous
    +£59

  • Self-arrange a professional sample collection Venous
    Free

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Is it for you?

Do you suspect that you have low levels of testosterone for your age?

With our at-home finger-prick blood test, you can measure the total testosterone, albumin, and SHBG in your blood to estimate the amount of testosterone available in your body.

Biomarker table

Hormones

Testosterone

Learn more
Testosterone is a hormone that causes male characteristics. For men, it helps to regulate sex drive and has a role in controlling bone mass, fat distribution, muscle mass, strength and the production of red blood cells and sperm. Testosterone is produced in the testicles of men and, in much smaller amounts, in the ovaries of women. Testosterone levels in men naturally decline after the age of 30, although lower than normal levels can occur at any age and can cause low libido, erectile dysfunction, difficulty in gaining and maintaining muscle mass and lack of energy. Although women have much lower amounts of testosterone than men, it is important for much the same reasons, playing a role in libido, the distribution of muscle and fat and the formation of red blood cells. All laboratories will slightly differ in the reference ranges they apply because they are based on the population they are testing. The normal range is set so that 95% of men will fall into it. For greater consistency, we use the guidance from the British Society for Sexual Medicine (BSSM) which advises that low testosterone can be diagnosed when testosterone is consistently below the reference range, and that levels below 12 nmol/L could also be considered low, especially in men who also report symptoms of low testosterone or who have low levels of free testosterone.

Free testosterone - calc

Learn more
Most testosterone circulating in the blood is bound to proteins, in particular SHBG and albumin; only 2-3 % of testosterone is free and available to cells. This test uses an algorithm to calculate the level of free or unbound testosterone in relation to total testosterone, SHBG and albumin.

Proteins

Albumin

Learn more
Albumin is a protein which is made mainly in the liver. It helps to exert the osmotic pressure which holds water within the blood. It also helps carry nutrients and medications and other substances through the blood and is important for tissue growth and healing. Albumin also carries hormones around the body, therefore measuring the amount of albumin in the blood can help us calculate how much hormone is available to your tissues.

SHBG

Learn more
SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin) is a protein which transports the sex hormones (testosterone, oestrogen and dihydrotestosterone (DHT)) in the blood.Hormones which are bound to SHBG are inactive which means that they are unavailable to your cells. Measuring the level of SHBG in your blood gives important information about your levels of free or unbound hormones which are biologically active and available for use.
Special instructions

How to prepare for your test

Prepare for your Free Testosterone Blood Test by following these instructions. Take your sample between 6am and 10am. Avoid taking a finger-prick sample from a finger used to apply hormone gels/pessaries/patches in the past 4 weeks. Use gloves to apply these. Do not take biotin supplements for two days before this test, discuss this with your doctor if it is prescribed.

Supported by a team of specialist and qualified doctors

Dr Natasha Fernando

Medical Director

Dr Asia Ahmed

Digital Clinician

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How it works

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FAQs

What's included in this test?

Our free testosterone test looks at your total testosterone, albumin, and SHBG levels to calculate the amount of testosterone available in your body for your cells to use.

Who is this test for?

Our test is ideal for men who want to investigate low testosterone symptoms or who have previously had a normal or borderline-low result but still suffer symptoms. With this test, you can see how much free testosterone is available to your body’s tissues.

What is total testosterone?

Total testosterone is the amount of testosterone present in your body. However, not all this testosterone is available for the body to use because some of it is bound to a protein called sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and cannot be released to the cells. A proportion of testosterone is also loosely bound to another protein called albumin. The rest of the testosterone in the body (about 1-2%) is unbound or free for the cells to use.

Does this test measure high levels of testosterone?
Most testosterone tests set an upper detection limit of 52 nmol/L. If your result is higher than this, the lab will attempt a second measurement to get an actual reading, providing there is enough sample volume available.
Limitations of the test

Read before you order

If your testosterone result is beyond the upper detection limit (usually 52 nmol/L), we will attempt a second measurement to get an actual reading by diluting the sample, providing there is enough sample volume available. If this is not possible, or your result is still too high after dilution, we won't be able to calculate an exact free testosterone result. For this reason, if you take high doses of testosterone, we recommend taking a venous sample to maximise your chances of getting an actual reading.

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