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Bioavailable Testosterone details
What Bioavailable Testosterone shows
Bioavailable testosterone refers to the portion of your total testosterone that isn't tightly bound to sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) — meaning it's either completely free or loosely attached to albumin, and readily available for your body's tissues to actually use. This is considered by many clinicians to be a more accurate reflection of your usable testosterone than a total testosterone level alone, especially in situations where SHBG is unusually high or low (which can happen with thyroid disorders, liver disease, obesity, or certain medications) and could otherwise make total testosterone misleading. It's often calculated from total testosterone, SHBG, and albumin levels rather than measured completely directly, and is commonly used when evaluating symptoms of low testosterone.
Tests that include Bioavailable Testosterone
The Comprehensive Female Panel measures the levels of several hormones and other markers to provide a comprehensive assessment of a patient's health.
Biomarkers
- Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) An enzyme found mainly in the liver and bones. High levels can signal liver disease, bile duct blockage, or bone conditions.
- Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) A liver enzyme released into the blood when liver cells are damaged. One of the main markers used to screen for liver inflammation or injury.
- Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) An enzyme found in the liver, heart, and muscles. Elevated levels can point to liver damage, though it's less liver-specific than ALT.
- Albumin The main protein made by your liver, which helps balance fluids and carries hormones, vitamins, and medications through your blood. Low levels can point to liver, kidney, or nutrition issues.
- Albumin/Globulin Ratio Compares your two main blood protein types, albumin and globulin. An abnormal ratio can point toward liver disease, kidney problems, or immune system conditions.
- BUN/Creatinine Ratio Compares two kidney-related waste markers to help distinguish the cause of abnormal kidney values, such as dehydration versus a kidney-specific problem.
- Bioavailable Testosterone The portion of your testosterone that's either free or loosely bound to albumin — the amount actually usable by your body's tissues.
- Calcium Measures the total calcium in your blood, important for bone health, muscle function, nerve signaling, and blood clotting.
- Carbon Dioxide Reflects the bicarbonate level in your blood, a key part of your body's acid-base balance. Abnormal levels can point to metabolic or respiratory issues.
- Chloride An electrolyte that works with sodium and potassium to maintain fluid balance and acid-base status in your body.
- Creatinine A waste product from muscle metabolism, filtered by your kidneys. One of the main markers used to assess kidney function.
- Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate (DHEA-S) The sulfated, more stable form of DHEA. A reliable marker of adrenal androgen production, used to evaluate adrenal function and androgen excess.
- Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) A pituitary hormone that drives egg development in women and sperm production in men. Key marker for fertility and menopause evaluation.
- Ferritin Reflects your body's stored iron levels. Low levels point to iron deficiency; high levels can indicate iron overload or, since it's also an inflammation marker, other conditions.
- Free Testosterone The small portion of your testosterone that's unbound and biologically active, considered a more accurate reflection of usable hormone than total testosterone.
- Globulin A group of blood proteins that includes antibodies and various transport proteins. Assessed together with albumin to evaluate liver, kidney, and immune function.
- Glucose Your blood sugar level at the time of the test — a core marker for diagnosing and monitoring diabetes and metabolic health.
- Hematocrit The percentage of your blood volume made up of red blood cells. Used to help diagnose anemia or polycythemia (excess red blood cells).
- Hemoglobin The oxygen-carrying protein in your red blood cells. A core marker for diagnosing anemia and other blood disorders.
- Luteinizing Hormone (LH) A pituitary hormone that triggers ovulation in women and stimulates testosterone production in men. Used to evaluate fertility, menstrual irregularities, and reproductive hormone disorders.
- Potassium An essential electrolyte that plays a critical role in heart rhythm, muscle function, and nerve signaling.
- Progesterone A hormone essential for the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. Used to confirm ovulation, evaluate fertility, and monitor early pregnancy.
- Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (SHBG) A protein that binds and transports testosterone and estrogen in your blood, determining how much hormone is 'free' and active. Important for interpreting sex hormone results.
- Sodium An essential electrolyte that regulates fluid balance, blood pressure, and nerve and muscle function.
- Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) A pituitary hormone that signals your thyroid to produce hormone. The primary screening test for both underactive and overactive thyroid conditions.
- Testosterone The primary male sex hormone, also present in women in smaller amounts. Evaluated for low testosterone symptoms, fertility, and reproductive hormone imbalances.
- Total Bilirubin The combined level of both processed and unprocessed bilirubin in your blood, a byproduct of red blood cell breakdown. Used to evaluate liver function and jaundice.
- Total Cholesterol The combined measure of all cholesterol in your blood — HDL, LDL, and other lipoproteins together. A foundational marker of cardiovascular risk.
- Total Protein The combined amount of all proteins in your blood, mainly albumin and globulins, used to help evaluate liver, kidney, and nutritional status.
- Triglycerides A type of fat in your blood used for energy storage. Elevated levels are linked to increased cardiovascular risk and often reflect diet, weight, or metabolic health.
- T3, Free (fT3) The unbound, biologically active portion of triiodothyronine (T3), the more potent thyroid hormone. Used to evaluate thyroid function.
- T4, Free (fT4) The unbound, biologically active portion of thyroxine (T4), your main thyroid hormone. A core marker for evaluating thyroid function.
- Blood Urea Nitrogen Blood urea nitrogen, a waste product filtered by your kidneys. Used along with creatinine to assess kidney function and hydration status.
- Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate Estimated glomerular filtration rate — a calculated estimate of how well your kidneys are filtering waste from your blood, based on creatinine and other factors.
- Estradiol The main and most potent form of estrogen. Key for reproductive health in women and also present in men; used to evaluate menstrual, fertility, and hormone-related concerns.
- HDL Cholesterol The 'good' cholesterol that helps remove excess cholesterol from your bloodstream. Higher levels are generally linked to lower cardiovascular risk.
- C-Reactive Protein, High Sensitivity (hs-CRP) A sensitive marker of low-grade inflammation in the body, commonly used to help assess cardiovascular disease risk.
- Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1), LC/MS Insulin-like growth factor 1, a hormone that reflects your average growth hormone activity over time. Used to evaluate growth hormone excess or deficiency.
- LDL Cholesterol, Calculated The 'bad' cholesterol that can build up in artery walls. A core marker used to assess cardiovascular disease risk.
- Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration — the average concentration of hemoglobin within your red blood cells, used to help classify types of anemia.
- Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin — the average amount of hemoglobin per red blood cell, used to help classify types of anemia.
- Mean Corpuscular Volume Mean Corpuscular Volume — the average size of your red blood cells, a key value used to help determine the cause of anemia.
- Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) Measures the average size of your platelets, the cells that help blood clot, and is read alongside your platelet count.
- Non-HDL Cholesterol Total cholesterol minus HDL — capturing all the potentially artery-clogging ('bad') cholesterol particles in one number.
- Platelet Count Cell fragments that help your blood clot. Counted to screen for bleeding or clotting risk and various blood disorders.
- Red Blood Cell Count (RBC) Red blood cell count — the number of oxygen-carrying red blood cells in your blood, used to help diagnose anemia or polycythemia.
- Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) Red Cell Distribution Width — measures how much your red blood cells vary in size, helpful for narrowing down the cause of anemia.
- Total Cholesterol / HDL Ratio Compares your total cholesterol to your HDL ('good') cholesterol, offering a quick snapshot of cardiovascular risk balance.
- White Blood Cell Count (WBC) White blood cell count — the total number of white blood cells in your blood, key immune cells. Used to help detect infection, inflammation, and other blood disorders.
- Z-Score Shows how far your IGF-1 result is from the average for people of your age and sex, measured in standard deviations.
Testosterone, Bioavailable (Total, Free, Bioavailable, SHBG) offers a full evaluation of testosterone status. It measures total and free testosterone, as well as the portion that is loosely bound to albumin (bioavailable), alongside SHBG, to determine the amount of testosterone readily available for the body to use.
Biomarkers
- Bioavailable Testosterone The portion of your testosterone that's either free or loosely bound to albumin — the amount actually usable by your body's tissues.
- Testosterone The primary male sex hormone, also present in women in smaller amounts. Evaluated for low testosterone symptoms, fertility, and reproductive hormone imbalances.
- Testosterone, % Free+Weakly Bound The percentage of total testosterone that is free or loosely bound to albumin, used to work out bioavailable testosterone.
This test panel may be helpful in assessing androgen status and screening for hypogonadism in men. This immunoassay cannot accurately measure the low testosterone levels generally found in women, children, and men with hypogonadism [1].
Biomarkers
- Albumin The main protein made by your liver, which helps balance fluids and carries hormones, vitamins, and medications through your blood. Low levels can point to liver, kidney, or nutrition issues.
- Bioavailable Testosterone The portion of your testosterone that's either free or loosely bound to albumin — the amount actually usable by your body's tissues.
- Free Testosterone The small portion of your testosterone that's unbound and biologically active, considered a more accurate reflection of usable hormone than total testosterone.
- Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (SHBG) A protein that binds and transports testosterone and estrogen in your blood, determining how much hormone is 'free' and active. Important for interpreting sex hormone results.
- Testosterone The primary male sex hormone, also present in women in smaller amounts. Evaluated for low testosterone symptoms, fertility, and reproductive hormone imbalances.
This test is crucial for evaluating testicular function in males and for managing conditions like hirsutism and virilization in females. It measures the levels of free, bioavailable, and total testosterone in the body, providing comprehensive insights into an individual's hormonal balance.
Biomarkers
- Albumin The main protein made by your liver, which helps balance fluids and carries hormones, vitamins, and medications through your blood. Low levels can point to liver, kidney, or nutrition issues.
- Bioavailable Testosterone The portion of your testosterone that's either free or loosely bound to albumin — the amount actually usable by your body's tissues.
- Free Testosterone The small portion of your testosterone that's unbound and biologically active, considered a more accurate reflection of usable hormone than total testosterone.
- Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (SHBG) A protein that binds and transports testosterone and estrogen in your blood, determining how much hormone is 'free' and active. Important for interpreting sex hormone results.
- Testosterone The primary male sex hormone, also present in women in smaller amounts. Evaluated for low testosterone symptoms, fertility, and reproductive hormone imbalances.
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