Men's Essentials

The starting point for men: testosterone plus a core health check.

Total and free testosterone, estradiol, a complete blood count (including hemoglobin and hematocrit), a comprehensive metabolic panel and a standard lipid panel. Estradiol is measured by a standard immunoassay. Standard immunoassays are less precise at the lower estradiol levels typical in men; where offered, you can switch to the sensitive LC/MS method, which is designed for low levels. For men checking their hormones, including men on testosterone therapy. Your clinician decides which tests you need and how often.

Blood is drawn at a Quest Diagnostics patient service center. Prices depend on the laboratory and state. Enter your ZIP code to see the laboratories near you and your price.

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What’s included

• Testosterone, total and free: Total testosterone measured by mass spectrometry, and free (unbound) testosterone measured by equilibrium dialysis.
• Estradiol (standard): Estradiol, a form of estrogen, measured by a standard immunoassay.
• Complete blood count (CBC): Red cells, white cells with a breakdown by type, and platelets, plus hemoglobin, hematocrit and red-cell size.
• Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP): Glucose, sodium, potassium, chloride, carbon dioxide, calcium, the kidney tests BUN, creatinine and eGFR, total protein, albumin, bilirubin and the liver enzymes ALP, ALT and AST.
• Lipid panel: Total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides, with calculated LDL cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol and the cholesterol-to-HDL ratio.

Tests you can add

• SHBG: Sex hormone-binding globulin, the protein that carries testosterone and estradiol in the blood.
• PSA, total: Total prostate-specific antigen, a protein made by the prostate.
• Iron, TIBC and ferritin: Serum iron, total iron-binding capacity, iron saturation and ferritin, the body's iron-storage protein.
• Vitamin D (25-hydroxy): 25-hydroxyvitamin D, the main form of vitamin D circulating in the blood.
• ApoB: Apolipoprotein B, the main protein on LDL and other cholesterol-carrying particles.

Before your draw

Fasting required.

Fast for 9 to 12 hours before your draw; water is fine. If you are on testosterone therapy, test when your clinician tells you to relative to your dose. If they have not said, or you are not on therapy, book a morning appointment, ideally before 10 a.m. Skip hard training, especially heavy lifting, for at least 48 hours before your draw. Note if you take creatine. If you take insulin or other diabetes medicine, ask your clinician how to take it while you fast. Don't stop your usual medicines unless your clinician tells you to. If you take biotin (vitamin B7), including in hair, skin and nail supplements or multivitamins, have your blood drawn at least 8 hours after a usual dose, or at least 72 hours after a high dose. If biotin was prescribed, ask your clinician before stopping it.