Testosterone Maintenance / Therapy Panel Popular

Our Testosterone Maintenance / Therapy Panel is used to evaluate important levels within the blood that can be affected during testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) or when receiving testosterone injections or boosters.

The Testosterone Maintenance / Therapy Panel includes the following tests and measurements:

• Testosterone Free and Total Test
• Estradiol, Ultrasensitive Test
• Complete Blood Count (CBC) with Differential & Platelets
• Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)

Testosterone testing is used to diagnose several conditions in both men and women, as well as detecting low levels or deficiencies (known as Low T) in men. Testosterone is the main sex hormone in men and is responsible for male physical characteristics. Levels of testosterone have been shown to decrease in males around the age of 40. Symptoms associated with low testosterone levels in men can include fatigue, loss of libido and muscle mass, difficulty sleeping and weight gain.

This testosterone testing panel is recommended quarterly for individuals receiving TRT or testosterone supplementation.

Testosterone Free and Total Test

This testosterone blood test measures the total amount testosterone that is bound to proteins in the blood as well as testosterone that is not bound (free testosterone), providing a complete analysis of all testosterone levels. Approximately two-thirds of testosterone circulates in the blood bound to SHBG and less than one-third is bound to albumin. A small percent (less than 4 percent) circulates in the blood as free testosterone.

Estradiol, Ultrasensitive Test

The estradiol ultrasensitive test is used to measure ranges of the hormone estradiol in the blood that are lower than the levels of the standard estradiol test. This type of estradiol test is recommended for when increased sensitivity to estradiol is expected and/or appropriate, as in situations with men. Estradiol is a form of estrogen, and men undergoing testosterone therapy may experience elevated levels of estradiol. In men, small amounts of estradiol is released by the testes to prevent sperm from dying prematurely. Testing estradiol levels may be useful in the evaluation of males for gynecomastia (also known as man boobs).

Complete Blood Count (CBC) with Differential & Platelets

A complete blood count (CBC) test can be ordered to help evaluate your overall health by measuring the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, among other things. These cells manage very important tasks for you, like carrying oxygen throughout the body and defending it from infections. The results from this test can paint a general picture of your overall health and can be used to diagnose certain ailments.

Our complete blood count test contains 10 separate components:

• Red Blood Cell Count - This measures the complete amount of red blood cells in the blood.
• White Blood Cell Count - Measures how many white blood cells are in the blood.
• Platelet Count - Determines how many platelets are in your blood.
• Percentage and Absolute White Blood Cell Differential Counts - This part of the test provides the relative percentage of each type of white blood cells to the total, as well as a count of each type of these white blood cells.
• Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) - Provides the range of sizes of the red blood cells in the sample.
• Hemoglobin - Measures the amount of hemoglobin in the blood. Hemoglobin the protein in red blood cells responsible for transporting oxygen, and for blood’s red color. A healthy individual has 12 to 16 grams of hemoglobin in every 100 ml of blood.
• Hematocrit - The hematocrit portion of this test measures the proportion of the blood that is red blood cells. About 38.8 to 50 percent of the blood in men should be red blood cells and between 34.9 to 44.5 percent for women.
• Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) - This portion of the CBC test provides the average size of your red blood cells.
• Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) - An MCH value is the average amount of hemoglobin found in a red blood cell. An MCH value should fall between 27.5 and 33.2 picograms (pg).
• Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) - The mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) test measures the average concentration of hemoglobin in your red blood cells.

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)

The CMP measures blood sugar (glucose) levels, electrolyte and fluid balance, kidney function, and liver function. The 14 measurements included in the CMP help to provide a look at the overall health of the body and its metabolism and chemical balance, and can help diagnose certain conditions like diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease and hypertension. The CMP aids in determining how the liver and kidneys are functioning and where glucose, calcium, protein, sodium, potassium, and chloride levels stand, and is especially relevant for monitoring liver health during therapy.

The CMP blood test panel measures levels of:

• Albumin
• Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
• Calcium
• Carbon dioxide (Bicarbonate)
• Chloride
• Creatinine
• Glucose
• Potassium
• Sodium
• Total bilirubin
• Total protein
• Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
• Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)
• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)

In addition to these measurements, the CMP test will also include these calculations:

• Albumin/Globulin Ratio (calculated) 
• BUN/Creatinine Ratio (calculated) 
• Globulin (calculated)

Fasting is required for the blood glucose test that is included in the CMP, but not for any of the other tests involved. Fasting is defined as no consumption of food or beverages other than water for at least 8 hours before testing.