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How long does it take to get blood testosterone results?
Depending on the test performed, most tests are completed and reported to your ordering healthcare provider within about 24 hours of receiving the sample for testing. Certain tests take several days to weeks. Results are sent directly to the ordering healthcare professional.
What is the best time of day to check a total testosterone level?
The best time for testing is between 7 and 10 a.m. “Different hormones have different patterns of secretion,” says Ronald Swerdloff, MD, chief of endocrinology at Harbor UCLA Medical Center. “Normal testosterone ranges are based on morning samples, when the average person is at a higher level.
What can mess up a testosterone test?
Stress, age, comorbid illnesses (such as obesity, diabetes, depression, thyroid disorders), and certain medications (opiates and glucocorticoids, for example) affect testosterone levels. The effect is often indirect, via an impact on sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG).
Does a blood test tell testosterone levels?
A simple blood test can reveal your testosterone level. The normal range is 300 ng/dL to 1,000 ng/dL—remember that testosterone levels fluctuate throughout the day. Because they are normally highest in the morning, your doctor will probably want to do the blood test in the morning.
How reliable are testosterone tests?
In a 2014 study, researchers wrote that the accuracy of salivary testosterone tests was “mostly questionable.” Their research found that testosterone was bound to the proteins in saliva, making study subjects’ testosterone levels seem higher than they actually were (Fiers, 2014).
What is considered low testosterone in a blood test?
Low testosterone. Low testosterone, or low T, is diagnosed when levels fall below 300 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL). A normal range is typically 300–1000 ng/dL, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. A blood test called a serum testosterone test is used to determine your level of circulating testosterone.
How do I know if my testosterone level is normal?
Blood Testing for Testosterone Levels. The most accurate way to determine your testosterone levels is with a simple blood test. Women may also experience Low T (although the blood levels have a range lower than men.) The so-called “normal” testosterone levels for men and women changes as you age.
Do women need a test for testosterone?
Women may also experience Low T (although the blood levels have a range lower than men.) The so-called “normal” testosterone levels for men and women changes as you age. There is no special preparation required for either a total testosterone test, or a free testosterone test.
When is the best time to take a testosterone blood test?
If you answer yes to one or more, it is possible that low testosterone could be the cause. – Hence the need for the test. Doctors recommend that a testosterone blood test is best taken in the early morning, between 7 and 10am.