Men's Hormone

A fuller look at men's hormones, from testosterone to thyroid.

Everything in Men's Essentials (total and free testosterone, estradiol, complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel and lipid panel), plus SHBG, FSH, LH, prolactin, TSH, free T4, DHEA sulfate and hemoglobin A1c. 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. PSA is available as an add-on. 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.

Ordering opens soon.

What’s included

• Testosterone, total and free: Total testosterone measured by mass spectrometry, and free (unbound) testosterone measured by equilibrium dialysis.
• SHBG: Sex hormone-binding globulin, the protein that carries testosterone and estradiol in the blood.
• Estradiol (standard): Estradiol, a form of estrogen, measured by a standard immunoassay.
• FSH: Follicle-stimulating hormone, a pituitary hormone that signals the ovaries or testes.
• LH: Luteinizing hormone, a pituitary hormone that signals the ovaries or testes.
• Prolactin: Prolactin, a hormone made by the pituitary gland.
• TSH: Thyroid-stimulating hormone, the pituitary hormone that signals the thyroid.
• Free T4: Free (unbound) thyroxine, the main hormone the thyroid releases.
• DHEA sulfate: DHEA sulfate, a hormone made mainly by the adrenal glands.
• 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.
• Hemoglobin A1c: The percentage of hemoglobin with glucose attached, which reflects average blood sugar over about the past three months.

Tests you can add

• PSA, total: Total prostate-specific antigen, a protein made by the prostate.
• Free T3: Free (unbound) triiodothyronine, the active form of thyroid hormone.
• Cortisol, morning: Cortisol, a hormone made by the adrenal glands, in a sample drawn between 7 and 9 a.m.
• GGT: Gamma-glutamyl transferase, an enzyme found mostly in the liver and bile ducts.
• Vitamin D (25-hydroxy): 25-hydroxyvitamin D, the main form of vitamin D circulating in the blood.

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.