Lab test · Endocrinology
Free Testosterone
Male hormone (testosterone) level
- Blood sample
- No fasting
- Report within 3 days
- Home collection
What this test is for
Male hormone (testosterone) level
Most testosterone in the blood is attached to proteins, mainly sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and albumin. Only a small part circulates unbound, or free, and is directly available to the body. This test measures that free part, which helps your doctor when a total testosterone result may not reflect how much hormone is actually available.
Why a doctor may order it
- When total testosterone is borderline and there are symptoms of low testosterone
- When binding proteins may be abnormal, for example with obesity, ageing, liver disease or thyroid problems
- In women, to look into excess hair growth, acne or irregular periods
- To help assess PCOS, where free testosterone may be raised even when the total is normal
How to prepare
Fasting: Not needed.
Eating beforehand is fine. Like total testosterone, free testosterone is highest early in the day, so a morning sample is preferred. Continue your usual medicines unless your doctor says otherwise, and let your doctor know about hormone treatments, supplements or anabolic steroid use.
At home
- Sample
- Blood sample
- How it works
- A trained collector comes in the morning at your booked time and draws a small amount of blood from a vein in your arm. If both total and free testosterone have been requested, they can be measured from the same visit.
- Report
- Within 3 days of collection.
What the results can mean
The result is shown with the laboratory's range for your sex and age. In men, a low free testosterone with matching symptoms may support a diagnosis of low testosterone, while in women a high level can be seen with PCOS or other conditions that raise male hormones. Measuring methods differ between laboratories, so results are best compared within the same laboratory. Your doctor will interpret it alongside total testosterone and your symptoms.
What's included
One test: Free Testosterone, from one blood sample.
Related tests
- Testosterone (Total)Male hormone (testosterone) level৳550
- Luteinising Hormone (LH)LH is a hormone made by the pituitary gland.
- Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)FSH is a hormone released by the pituitary gland.
- DHEA Sulphate (DHEA-S)DHEA-S (dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate) is a hormone made almost entirely by the adrenal glands, which sit on top of the kidneys.
- ProlactinFertility & breast milk hormone৳550
- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)Thyroid function৳400
Questions people ask
Is free testosterone more important than total testosterone?
Total testosterone is usually the first test. Free testosterone adds useful information when the total is borderline or when binding proteins are likely to be unusual, so doctors often look at both.
What is SHBG?
Sex hormone-binding globulin is a protein made by the liver that carries testosterone and oestrogen in the blood. Its level affects how much testosterone is free, and it can change with weight, age, liver health and thyroid function.
Why is free testosterone tested in women?
In some women with excess hair growth, acne or irregular periods, total testosterone is normal but free testosterone is raised because SHBG is low. This pattern can be seen in PCOS.
How much does a Free testosterone test cost in Dhaka?
With Mukti Health the price is ৳750, and the sample is collected at your home in Dhaka. You see the price again before you confirm the booking in the Mukti Health app.
Can I do the Free testosterone test at home in Dhaka?
Yes. Book it in the Mukti Health app and a trained sample collector comes to your home in Dhaka to take the blood sample. You do not need to go to a laboratory.
How long does the Free testosterone report take?
The report is usually ready within 3 days of the sample being collected.