Quick Facts
- Sample: Blood specimen
- Fasting: 12 hours required; discontinue biotin 72 hours prior
- Turn-around: 3-4 business days. May take longer based on weather, holiday, or lab delays.
Benefits
- Comprehensive hormone analysis - 14 tests in one panel for a complete health picture
- No doctor visit required - Direct access testing with 80% cost savings
- Fast results delivery - Secure online results in 3-4 days
- Nationwide accessibility - Available at thousands of convenient lab locations across most U.S. states
Who Is This Test For?
- Men experiencing low energy, fatigue, or decreased stamina
- Those with reduced libido or erectile dysfunction symptoms
- Men noticing mood changes, irritability, or depression
- Individuals with unexplained weight gain or muscle loss
- Men considering or currently on hormone replacement therapy
- Health-conscious men seeking preventive hormonal health screening
How It Works – Just 3 Steps
- Order online - Purchase your test and receive a lab requisition instantly
- Visit the lab - Schedule an appointment and visit any participating lab with your ID and lab requisition
- Get results - Access secure results online in 3-4 business days
FAQ
What hormones does this panel test? Total and free testosterone, estradiol, cortisol, DHEA-S, thyroid hormones (TSH and free T4), insulin, FSH, LH, growth hormone, IGF-1, progesterone, prolactin, PSA total, and vitamin D.
Do I need to fast for this test? Yes, fast for 12 hours and stop biotin supplements 72 hours before testing for accurate results.
When is the best time to collect my sample? Schedule morning collection (6:00-10:00 AM) for optimal testosterone assessment accuracy.
How do I interpret my results? Results include reference ranges, but consultation with a healthcare provider is recommended for personalized interpretation and treatment planning.
What if my results show hormone imbalances? Abnormal results warrant discussion with a healthcare provider who can recommend appropriate treatment options, including lifestyle changes or hormone therapy.
More Details
What is the purpose of this test?
This comprehensive panel evaluates multiple hormones to identify imbalances contributing to symptoms such as low libido, fatigue, mood changes, and metabolic dysfunction. The test provides insights into reproductive health, adrenal function, thyroid function, and insulin sensitivity using advanced LC-MS/MS methodology for superior accuracy (Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 2024).
Who would benefit from this test?
Men experiencing symptoms of hormonal imbalance, including low sex drive, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, mood swings, decreased muscle mass, weight gain, hair loss, or sleep issues, would benefit from this comprehensive assessment. The test is also valuable for monitoring hormone therapy and establishing baseline values before treatment (Endocrine Society 2018).
When should I order this test?
Consider ordering if experiencing persistent symptoms of hormonal imbalance, for baseline assessment before starting hormone therapy, or for routine monitoring during treatment. Morning collection is optimal for testosterone assessment, and symptoms should be present for several weeks to warrant testing.
How do I interpret the results?
Testosterone (Total)
- Low (<300 ng/dL)
What it means: Possible hypogonadism
Typical action: Evaluate symptoms, repeat morning testing, consider therapy - Borderline (300–400 ng/dL)
What it means: Age-dependent, may still be symptomatic
Typical action: Assess free testosterone, symptoms, lifestyle factors - Normal (400–916 ng/dL)
What it means: Adequate levels for most adult men
Typical action: Monitor if symptoms persist
Free Testosterone
- Low (<9.3 pg/mL)
What it means: Reduced bioavailable testosterone
Typical action: Evaluate SHBG, consider treatment if symptomatic - Normal (9.3–26.5 pg/mL)
What it means: Adequate active testosterone
Typical action: No action unless symptoms present
Estradiol (E2)
- Low (<7.6 pg/mL)
What it means: May affect bone health, libido
Typical action: Evaluate testosterone balance - Normal (7.6–42.6 pg/mL)
What it means: Balanced estrogen levels in men
Typical action: Monitor - Elevated (>42.6 pg/mL)
What it means: Possible increased aromatization (T → estrogen)
Typical action: Assess testosterone-to-estrogen ratio
DHEA-Sulfate (DHEA-S)
- Low (<138.5 µg/dL)
What it means: Possible adrenal insufficiency or aging-related decline
Typical action: Consider adrenal evaluation - Normal (138.5–475.2 µg/dL)
What it means: Healthy adrenal androgen production
Typical action: Monitor - High (>475.2 µg/dL)
What it means: Possible adrenal overactivity
Typical action: Further endocrine testing
Cortisol
- AM Low (<6.2 µg/dL)
What it means: Possible adrenal insufficiency
Typical action: Further adrenal testing - AM Normal (6.2–19.4 µg/dL)
What it means: Normal stress hormone rhythm
Typical action: Monitor - PM Normal (2.3–11.9 µg/dL)
What it means: Expected evening decline
Typical action: Monitor - Elevated (above range)
What it means: Possible chronic stress or cortisol dysregulation
Typical action: Evaluate lifestyle and endocrine causes
Thyroid Markers
TSH (0.45–4.50 µIU/mL)
- High (>4.5) → Possible hypothyroidism
- Low (<0.45) → Possible hyperthyroidism
- Action: Full thyroid panel evaluation
Free T4 (0.82–1.77 ng/dL)
- Low → Underactive thyroid
- High → Overactive thyroid
- Action: Correlate with TSH
Prolactin
- Low (<4.0 ng/mL)
What it means: Usually not clinically significant - Normal (4.0–15.2 ng/mL)
What it means: Normal pituitary function - Elevated (>15.2 ng/mL)
What it means: May suppress testosterone
Typical action: Evaluate pituitary causes
Hemoglobin A1c
- Normal (4.8–5.6%)
What it means: Healthy blood sugar control - Prediabetes (5.7–6.4%)
What it means: Increased diabetes risk
Typical action: Lifestyle intervention - Diabetes (>6.4%)
What it means: Diabetes diagnosis range
Typical action: Medical management
Insulin
- Low (<2.6 µIU/mL)
What it means: Possible low insulin production - Normal (2.6–24.9 µIU/mL)
What it means: Normal insulin response - Elevated (>24.9 µIU/mL)
What it means: Possible insulin resistance
Typical action: Assess metabolic health
IGF-1 (Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1)
- Low (<101 ng/mL)
What it means: Possible growth hormone deficiency - Normal (101–307 ng/mL)
What it means: Normal growth hormone activity - High (>307 ng/mL)
What it means: Possible excess growth hormone
Typical action: Further endocrine evaluation
Growth Hormone (GH)
- Low/Normal (0.0–10.0 ng/mL)
What it means: Random levels vary widely - Elevated (>10.0 ng/mL)
What it means: May require stimulation/suppression testing
Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy)
- Deficient (<20 ng/mL)
What it means: Increased risk for bone and immune issues - Insufficient (21–29 ng/mL)
What it means: Suboptimal levels - Optimal (30–100 ng/mL)
What it means: Healthy vitamin D status
Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)
- Normal (0.0–4.0 ng/mL)
What it means: Typical prostate range - Elevated (>4.0 ng/mL)
What it means: Possible prostate enlargement, inflammation, or cancer
Typical action: Urology evaluation
Progesterone
- Normal (0.0–0.5 ng/mL)
What it means: Expected low levels in men - Elevated (>0.5 ng/mL)
What it means: Possible hormonal imbalance
Disclaimer: Reference ranges may vary by laboratory. Listed ranges are general guidelines and may differ from those used by the performing lab. Always consult your healthcare provider for interpretation.
Pre-test preparation
Fast for at least 12 hours before blood collection and discontinue biotin supplements 72 hours prior to testing. Schedule morning collection (6:00-10:00 AM) for optimal testosterone assessment. Avoid collection during or after heparin administration. Present your lab order at any participating laboratory location - no appointment necessary.
How often should I get tested?
- Initial screening: Baseline, then annually
- Symptomatic men: Every 6-12 months
- Hormone therapy monitoring: Every 3-6 months initially
- Stable hormone therapy: Every 6-12 months
- Post-therapy assessment: 3-4 weeks after changes
Why early detection matters
The economic burden of hypogonadism is substantial, with estimated 20-year costs ranging from $190-525 billion for US men aged 45-74 (Urology Research and Practice). Early detection through accessible testing enables proactive management before symptoms progress to serious health complications, potentially preventing cardiovascular disease, metabolic dysfunction, and decreased quality of life.
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