Testosterone, Free and Total, Adult
Label Mnemonic: FTSTM
Epic code: LAB4140
Order form: Laboratory Requisition
Supply order: Supply Order Form
Billing: Billing Policies
CPT code: 84403 Testosterone, 84270 Sex Hormone Binding Globulin
Specimen(s):
Plasma
Collection Medium:
Plasma Separator Tube 4.5 mL
Minimum:
3 mL whole blood in light green top or TWO Microtainer® devices
Rejection Criteria:
EDTA plasma
Testing Schedule:
24 hrs/day, 7 days a week, including holidays.
Turn Around Time:
1 hour (upon receipt in laboratory)
Reference Range:
Testosterone, total
Adult Males:
  19-49 years old       249-836 ng/dL
  50 years and older    193-740 ng/dL

Adult Females:
  19-49 years old       8-48 ng/dL
  50 years and older    2-41 ng/dL

Boys
  <1 month              75-400 ng/dL
  1-5 months            14-363 ng/dL
  6-24 months           Less than 37 ng/dL
  2-5 years             Less than 19 ng/dL
  6-9 years             Less than 13 ng/dL
  10-11 years           3-327 ng/dL
  12-13 years           29-432 ng/dL
  14-15 years           40-778 ng/dL
  16-18 years           238-1048 ng/dL

  Tanner stage 1        Less than 15 ng/dL
  Tanner stage 2        3-432 ng/dL
  Tanner stage 3        65-778 ng/dL
  Tanner stage 4        180-763 ng/dL
  Tanner stage 5        188-882 ng/dL

Girls
  Up to 30 days         20-64 ng/dL
  1-5 months            Less than 20 ng/dL
  6-24 months           Less than 9 ng/dL
  2-3 years             Less than 20 ng/dL
  4-5 years             Less than 30 ng/dL
  6-7 years             Less than 13 ng/dL
  8-9 years             1-8 ng/dL
  10-11 years           3-32 ng/dL
  12-13 years           3-50 ng/dL
  14-15 years           6-52 ng/dL
  16-18 years           9-58 ng/dL

  Tanner stage I        Less than 17 ng/dL
  Tanner stage II       Less than 40 ng/dL
  Tanner stage III      5-63 ng/dL
  Tanner stage IV-V     6-58 ng/dL

Sex hormone binding globulin
  Males 10-80 nmol/L
  Females, non-pregnant 20-130 nmol/L
Reference ranges not well established during pregnancy.

Free testosterone 
Males
  0-9 years             Less than 1 pg/mL
  10-11 years           Less than 4 pg/mL
  12-13 years           Less than 68 pg/mL
  14-15 years           2-95 pg/mL 
  16-17 years           26-119 pg/mL 
  18 years and older    32-168 pg/mL 

  Tanner stage I        Less than 3 pg/mL
  Tanner stage II       Less than 15 pg/mL
  Tanner stage III      Less than 68 pg/mL
  Tanner stage IV       24-117 pg/mL
  Tanner stage V        28-165 pg/mL 

Females
  0-9 years             Less than 1 pg/mL
  10-11 years           Less than 3 pg/mL
  12-13 years           Less than 5 pg/mL
  14-15 years           Less than 6 pg/mL
  16-17 years           Less than 7 pg/mL
  18-30 years           1-5 pg/mL
  31-40 years           1-6 pg/mL
  41-50 years           1-4 pg/mL
  51 years and older    Less than 3 pg/mL

  Tanner stage I        1-12 pg/mL
  Tanner stage II       4-28 pg/mL
  Tanner stage III      7-44 pg/mL
  Tanner stage IV-V     8-43 pg/mL

% free testosterone 1.1-2.5%
Interpretive Data:
The concentration of free testosterone is derived from a mathematical expression based on the constant for the binding of testosterone to sex hormone binding globulin.
Methodology:
Electrochemiluminescence Immunoassay
Instructions:
Specimen should ideally be collected between 6:00 - 10:00 a.m.

Not recommended for children 18 years and younger (especially girls) due to lower concentrations of total testosterone that may be below assay limit of detection.
Sample Processing:
Centrifuge at a speed and time necessary to get barrier separation of plasma/serum and cells.
Separate plasma or serum into labeled container and cap.
Sample Storage:
Refrigerate.
Transport Instructions:
Place labeled specimen into zip-lock type biohazard bag; seal bag.
Place completed requisition into outside pocket of bag.
Transport in cooler with refrigerated coolant packs.
CPT Code:
84403 Testosterone, 84270 Sex Hormone Binding Globulin
 
See also:
Testosterone, Total, Plasma