Do I need to fast for a testosterone test?

For the most reliable result, yes: testosterone falls after eating, so come fasted after a good night’s sleep. Water is fine.

What is the difference between total and free testosterone?

Total testosterone measures all the testosterone in your blood. Most of it is bound to SHBG and albumin; free testosterone is the small, unbound part your body can use directly. Free testosterone is most useful when your SHBG is unusually high or low.

Should I choose Basic or Enhanced?

Basic covers testosterone, SHBG, albumin, free testosterone and the free androgen index. Enhanced includes everything in Basic and adds LH, FSH and oestradiol, which help explain the cause of a low result and are often checked on TRT. Ask our team if you are not sure which you need.

When should I have bloods taken on TRT?

Follow your prescriber’s advice. For injections, bloods are usually taken just before the next dose. Tell us what treatment you use and when you last took it so your results can be read correctly.

Testosterone Monitoring Blood Test at Jace Medical

Hormones & fertility

Private blood test

Testosterone Monitoring Blood Test

Testosterone panels for men who need regular monitoring, for example while on testosterone therapy.

5 biomarkers
Fasting recommended

Choose your panel

Basic5 biomarkers£49Enhanced8 biomarkers£69

Testosterone Monitoring Basic

£49Includes sample collection

Book this test Ask a question

We confirm your appointment and any preparation, such as fasting, before you attend.

What’s included

5 biomarkers in Testosterone Monitoring Basic.

Fasting recommended before this test

Liver1

Enzymes and proteins that show how well your liver is working.

Albumin

Hormones & fertility4

Reproductive, stress and adrenal hormones.

Free Androgen Index
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG)
Testosterone
Free Testosterone

About this test

Is the Testosterone Monitoring Blood Test right for you?

Who it’s for

You are on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and need regular monitoring alongside your prescriber’s plan.
You have symptoms that can be linked to low testosterone, such as low sex drive, erection problems, low energy, low mood or loss of muscle.
You want to repeat a previous low or borderline testosterone result, which is needed before low testosterone can be confirmed.

What it can show

Total testosterone is the main measurement.
SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin) and albumin carry testosterone in the blood. When SHBG is high or low, free testosterone and the free androgen index give a better estimate of the testosterone your body can use.
The Enhanced option measures LH, FSH and oestradiol. LH and FSH are the pituitary signals that tell the testes to make testosterone, so they help show where a problem starts, and oestradiol is often monitored on TRT.

What it can’t tell you

Testosterone is highest in the morning and drops after eating and after poor sleep, so results from later in the day can look falsely low.
A single low result needs repeating on another morning before low testosterone can be confirmed.
Short-term illness can lower testosterone, so avoid testing while you are unwell.
On TRT, results depend on when you had your last dose. Tell us your treatment and when you last took it.
We provide the test and doctor-reviewed results. Decisions about starting or changing treatment are made with your prescriber.

How it works

From booking to results in three steps.

Step 1
Request your test
Send a booking request online or call us. We confirm your clinic, appointment time and any preparation.
Step 2
Visit the clinic
A short appointment for professional sample collection at Greysteel or Letterkenny. No GP referral needed.
Step 3
Receive your results
Usually within a couple of working days, emailed to you once a doctor has reviewed them.

Common questions

Questions about this test.

In the morning, before 11am, when testosterone is at its highest. UK guidance says samples taken later in the day should not be used to diagnose low testosterone.