Free Testosterone Test Options

Free testosterone measures the testosterone portion not bound to proteins in the blood. It differs from total testosterone, which reflects the overall testosterone amount measured in the sample. The free result is often considered alongside total testosterone and binding proteins because those results describe different parts of the same hormone picture.

Pairing free and total testosterone provides two reported values for review: the unbound portion and the overall measured amount. Testosterone, Free and Total, LC/MS/MS reports both, while Testosterone, Free, LC/MS/MS reports free testosterone alone. The paired results give a professional more information when interpreting a result in relation to symptoms or prior laboratory findings.

SHBG and albumin are proteins associated with how testosterone is carried in blood. Testosterone, Free, Bioavailable and Total, LC/MS/MS reports both proteins along with free, total, and bioavailable testosterone. SHBG levels may affect how a free result relates to total testosterone, so these measurements help describe the binding pattern rather than simply adding another testosterone number.

Bioavailable testosterone is a separately reported testosterone measurement in Testosterone, Free, Bioavailable and Total, LC/MS/MS. That panel also measures free testosterone, total testosterone, SHBG, and albumin. It is suited to someone whose question calls for all five reported measurements rather than a free result alone or a free-and-total pair.

Testosterone, Free, LC/MS/MS is the focused choice because it measures free testosterone without reporting total testosterone, SHBG, albumin, or bioavailable testosterone. A free testosterone test with fewer reported measurements fits a narrow request for that single result. If the result needs interpretation against total testosterone or protein binding, a paired or expanded panel supplies those additional values.

Testosterone, Free (Dialysis), Total (MS) and Sex Hormone Binding Globulin explicitly includes free testosterone by dialysis, total testosterone measured by MS, and SHBG. Testosterone, Free and Total, LC/MS/MS reports free testosterone and total testosterone measured by MS, without SHBG in its listed measurements. The dialysis option therefore adds a reported binding-protein result to the free-and-total combination.

No. Testosterone, Free, Mass Spectrometry/Equilibrium Dialysis is explicitly named for free testosterone with mass spectrometry/equilibrium dialysis, while the other available options have different listed measurement combinations. For example, the free-and-total LC/MS/MS test reports total testosterone, and the expanded LC/MS/MS panel reports SHBG, albumin, and bioavailable testosterone as well. Compare the reported measurements first.

No. A free testosterone result is one laboratory measurement and does not diagnose a condition by itself. Total testosterone, SHBG, albumin, bioavailable testosterone, symptoms, timing, and medical history can all matter to interpretation. Discuss an unexpected result or persistent symptoms with a qualified healthcare professional, especially when results will inform medical decisions.

Free and total testosterone describe different measurements, and binding proteins help explain their relationship. A result pattern involving total testosterone, free testosterone, SHBG, and albumin requires more than a single reference-range comparison. Professional review places the reported values alongside symptoms, health history, and other relevant clinical information without treating any one value as a diagnosis.

You'll receive it via email within 60 seconds of your order unless it requires additional processing (only very complex orders do).

Many general wellness test results are typically available online within 2-3 business days. However, some tests will require additional processing time. You will immediately receive an email & SMS notification when your results are available.

We do not share your results with your physician, insurance company, or any other third party.