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Testosterone, Total, Adult Male

Total Testosterone – Testing for Adult Males, Testosterone, Adult Male

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB7029, Beaker: TESTG, Antrim: 19638

Department

Chemistry

Instructions

This test measures total testosterone by chemiluminescent immunoassay and is not appropriate for females or children. Please refer to Testosterone, Total, Females or Children.

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: One Gold-top SST tube. (Minimum Whole Blood: 4.0 mL)

• Contact the Laboratory for acceptability of other tube types.
• It is recommended that the specimen be collected between 6:00 am – 10:00 am, however, it is not required, and specimens collected at other times will not be rejected. 

Note: Patient Preparation (Royal Oak ONLY): Twenty-four (24) hours before this test, the patient should not take multivitamins or dietary supplements containing biotin (vitamin B7) which is commonly found in hair, skin and nail supplements and multivitamins.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Let SST specimens clot 30-60 minutes then immediately centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F) the centrifuged SST tube within two hours of collection.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Centrifuged SST tube, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 0.5 mL)

Rejection Criteria

• Grossly hemolyzed specimens.
• Red-top tubes with serum not separated from cells within two hours of collection.

In-Lab Processing

Let SST specimens clot 30-60 minutes. Centrifuge SST tubes or Microtainers^® to separate serum from cells. Deliver immediately to the appropriate testing station.

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Centrifuged SST Tubes and Microtainers^® with Separator Gels
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 2-4 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Red-top Tubes and Microtainers^® without Separator Gels
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 2-4 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): Unacceptable
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Serum Specimens (Pour-Overs)
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 2-4 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 7 days

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days

Laboratory

Dearborn Chemistry Laboratory
Royal Oak Automated Chemistry Laboratory

Performed

Sunday – Saturday, 24 hours a day.
Results available within 24 hours of receipt in the Laboratory.

Reference Range

Adult Male:
18 – 39 Years:  240-1080 ng/dL.
40 – 59 Years:  240-890 ng/dL.
>60 Years:  240-720 ng/dL.

Test Methodology

Chemiluminescent Immunoassay.

Interpretation

• Heterophilic antibodies in human serum can react with reagent immunoglobulins, interfering with in vitro immunoassays. Patients routinely exposed to animals or animal serum products can be prone to this interference and anomalous high values can be observed. Additional information may be required for diagnosis.
• Clinical evaluation of serum testosterone, along with serum luteinizing hormone (LH), assists in evaluation of hypogonadal males.
• Major causes of lowered testosterone in males include hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, testicular failure, hyperprolactinemia, hypopituitarism, some types of liver and kidney diseases, and critical illness.
• Testosterone levels are much lower in females compared to males.
• Increased serum testosterone levels in females may be indicative of polycystic ovary syndrome and adrenal hyperplasia, among other conditions. Clinical manifestations of excess testosterone in females include: infertility, hirsutism, amenorrhea, and obesity.

Clinical Utility

Serum testosterone assays aid in the evaluation of males with erectile dysfunction, gynecomastia, osteoporosis, infertility, delayed or precocious puberty, and for monitoring replacement therapy, evaluation of women with hirsutism, virilization, and oligomenorrhea, and in the evaluation of infants with ambiguous genitalia and/or virilizing syndromes.

CPT Codes

4403

Contacts

Last Updated

10/29/2023