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HelpTest Code TETF Testosterone, Free and Total
Specimen and Container/Tube
Specimen Type: Serum
Preferred Specimen: Red Top
Other Acceptable specimens: None
Specimen Stability
|
Storage Temperature |
Stability |
|
Room temperature |
refer to individual component tests |
|
Refrigerated |
refer to individual component tests |
|
Frozen |
refer to individual component tests |
Collection Instructions
Collect specimen per standard laboratory collection procedures.
Specimen Handling and Transport Instructions
UCMC Onsite Instructions:
Collect specimen per standard collection procedure and send to laboratory immediately.
UCMC Offsite and UC MedLab Outreach Instructions:
- Samples should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection.
- Centrifuge specimens at >2500 x g for 10 minutes at room temperature.
- Aliquot sample into plastic transport tube containing a minimum of 0.2 mL of specimen.
- Samples must be sent room temperature at 15-25oC.
Rejection Criteria
- Common specimen rejected situations include: incorrect specimen type, insufficient volume, missing or incomplete specimen identifiers, incorrect specimen transport, or specimens outside stability limits.
- Specimens that are clotted or grossly hemolyzed.
- Specimens that were transported unspun/whole blood and draw time is greater than 6 hours.
Reference Values
|
Test |
Age |
Sex |
Reference Range |
|
Total Testosterone |
0 - 5 months |
Male |
75 - 400 ng/dL |
|
6 months - 9 years |
<20 ng/dL |
||
|
10 - 11 years |
<130 ng/dL |
||
|
12 - 13 years |
<800 ng/dL |
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|
14 years |
<1,200 ng/mL |
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|
15 - 16 years |
100 - 1,200 ng/dL |
||
|
17 - 18 years |
300 - 1,200 ng/dL |
||
|
19 - 55 years |
240 - 950 ng/dL |
||
|
56 - 75 years |
180 - 800 ng/dL |
|
Test |
Age |
Sex |
Reference Range |
|
Total Testosterone |
0 - 5 months |
Female |
20 - 80 ng/dL |
|
6 months - 9 years |
<20 ng/dL |
||
|
10 - 11 years |
<44 ng/dL |
||
|
12 - 16 years |
15 - 60 ng/dL |
||
|
17 - 40 years |
20 - 60 ng/mL |
||
|
41 - 60 years |
<60 ng/dL |
||
|
Post-menopausal (>60 yrs) |
5 - 70 years |
|
Test |
Age |
Sex |
Reference Range |
|
Albumin |
All |
All |
3.5-5.0 g/dL |
|
Test |
Age |
Sex |
Reference Range |
|
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin |
0 – 1 year |
Female |
Not applicable |
|
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin |
1 – 10 years |
Female |
28 – 124 nmol/L |
|
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin |
10 – 40 years |
Female |
20 – 100 nmol/L |
|
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin |
0 – 1 year |
Male |
Not applicable |
|
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin |
1 – 10 years |
Male |
28 – 124 nmol/L |
|
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin |
> 10 years |
Male |
10 – 80 nmol/L |
Critical Values
Not applicable
Turnaround Time
Turnaround times are relative to the time the specimen is received in the test laboratory.
STAT Turnaround Time: Not Available as STAT
Routine Turnaround Time: 4 - 7 Days
Testing Schedule: Test is setup two times per week, typically on Tuesdays & Thursdays
Clinical Indications
Testosterone test provides albumin and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), and total and free testosterone levels. Albumin and SHBG are proteins associated with testosterone and influence how much testosterone is available for bodily functions.
Test Components
Total Testosterone, Sex Hormone Binding Globulin, Albumin, Free Testosterone (Calculated by the modified Vermeulen equation)
Methodology
Total testosterone - Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), Sex Hormone Binding Globulin - Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) (Roche Diagnostics), Albumin - Colorimetric Assay Spectrophotometric (Roche Diagnostics
CPT Codes
84402
LOINC Codes
TBD
Synonyms/Keyword Search
Not applicable
Additional Information
- Results should always be assessed in conjunction with patient's medical history, clinical examination and other findings.
-
This test was developed and its performance characteristics validated by the UCH Section of Clinical Chemistry. It has not been approved by the FDA. The UCH Section of Clinical Chemistry is regulated under CLIA and is qualified to perform high complexity testing. This test should only be used for clinical purposes and should not be regarded as investigational or for research. Results obtained by LC-MS/MS
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References
1. Children: Bordini BD, Littlejohn EE, Rosenfeld RL. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2009; 94: 1168-1175
2. Women: Mortensen M, Ehrmann DA, Littlejohn E, Rosenfield RL. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2009; 94: 1579-86
3. Rosenfield RL, Mortensen M, Wroblewski K, Littlejohn E, Ehrmann DA. Determination of the source of androgen excess in functionally atypical polycystic ovary syndrome by a short dexamethasone androgen-suppression test and a low-dose ACTH test. Hum Reprod 2011;26:3138-46
4. Ober C, Loisel DA, Gilad Y. Sex-specific architecture of human disease. Nat Rev Gen 2008;doi:10.1038/nrg2415.
Last Review Date
4/18/2025
Volume
Preferred Volume: 4.0 mL
Minimum Volume: 0.5 mL