A testosterone blood test measures how much testosterone is in your blood. In Australia it is usually taken in the morning, and often after fasting, because levels are highest early in the day and food can lower them. One low result isn’t enough to diagnose low testosterone: Australian guidance calls for a repeat test. At HealthScreen, testosterone is not part of the routine comprehensive blood panel. Instead, your physician can request it during your program when there is a clinical reason, such as symptoms or relevant history, and read it alongside your metabolic and body composition results.
Medically reviewed by Dr David Badov, Medical Director, HealthScreen
What does a testosterone blood test measure?
The main result is total testosterone: all the testosterone in your blood, measured in nmol/L. Most of it travels bound to a protein called sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), and some to albumin.
You may also see:
- SHBG. Helps explain a result. High SHBG can make total testosterone look healthy while less is available to your body.
- Free testosterone. Usually a calculated figure, worked out from total testosterone, SHBG and albumin.
- LH and FSH. Hormones from the pituitary gland. LH tells the testes to make testosterone and FSH supports sperm production. Doctors check both to see whether a problem starts in the testes or the pituitary.
The Endocrine Society of Australia recommends total testosterone as the main measure, and says there is no evidence that free or bioavailable testosterone is a better guide to clinical decisions.
What is a normal testosterone level?
For healthy young men aged 21 to 35, the reference interval is about 10.4 to 30.1 nmol/L, according to the Endocrine Society of Australia’s position statement. Levels are naturally lower later in life.
| Group | Reference interval (total testosterone) |
|---|---|
| Healthy men aged 21 to 35 | 10.4 to 30.1 nmol/L |
| Very healthy men aged 70 to 89 | 6.4 to 25.7 nmol/L |
Ranges vary between labs and testing methods, so your report will show the range your lab uses. Women make much smaller amounts of testosterone, in the ovaries and adrenal glands, and have their own reference range.
When should you have a testosterone blood test, and do you need to fast?
Book it for the morning. The Endocrine Society of Australia recommends taking the sample between 8am and 10am, because testosterone is highest early in the day and falls through the afternoon. Healthdirect advises you usually need to fast beforehand.
Timing matters most when a result comes back low. Up to 30% of men with a single low reading have a normal level when they are retested, so guidance calls for at least two measurements, taken on different mornings, before low testosterone is diagnosed. Keep the conditions the same each time: same time of day, same fasting.
What are the symptoms of low testosterone?
Healthy Male, the Australian men’s health organisation, lists these common signs of testosterone deficiency:
- Low energy and poor concentration
- Low mood
- Reduced muscle mass and strength
- Increased body fat
- Poor sleep
- Low sex drive and erection problems
The catch is that every one of these has other common causes, from poor sleep and stress to thyroid problems, iron deficiency or high blood sugar. A symptom checklist can’t tell them apart, and neither can one testosterone number on its own. That is why HealthScreen looks at symptoms like these alongside your full program results before deciding whether testosterone testing is clinically indicated.
What can affect a testosterone blood test result?
Several things can move a testosterone result without any change in your underlying health:
- Time of day. Levels are highest in the morning and fall through the day, so an afternoon sample can read low.
- Food. Eating before the test can lower the result, which is why fasting is usually advised.
- Alcohol, liver disease and steroid use. Pathology Tests Explained lists all three as factors that can lower testosterone.
- The lab and method. Reference intervals depend on how the lab measures testosterone, so compare results from the same lab where you can.
If your result is borderline, the fix is usually simple: repeat it under the same morning conditions before drawing any conclusion.
Can women have a testosterone blood test?
Yes. Women produce small amounts of testosterone in the ovaries and adrenal glands. Doctors may check it when investigating irregular or absent periods, fertility problems or signs such as excess facial or body hair. Results are read against a female reference range.
How testosterone testing fits into your HealthScreen program
HealthScreen doesn’t sell a standalone testosterone test. It is not part of the routine core panel. Instead, it is an additional test your physician can request during the HealthScreen Program or Platinum Program when there is a clinical indication, such as symptoms or relevant history. Your core panel already covers thyroid function (TSH), blood sugar, cholesterol and ferritin, which helps rule out other common causes of the same symptoms. Your physician reads your hormones next to your body composition results, because muscle mass and body fat are part of the same story.
On your diagnostic day, you fast from midnight the night before: no food, juice, milk, other caloric drinks or coffee, but water is encouraged. Keep taking your regular prescribed medications, including on the morning of your appointment, unless your prescribing doctor or a HealthScreen physician has advised otherwise, and bring a complete list of your medications and supplements.
Where testosterone testing is clinically indicated, a fasting morning sample is preferred, ideally between 8 am and 10 am. Your physician will advise on the appropriate timing and whether a separate morning sample is needed.
Your results are typically ready within two weeks, and anything that needs prompt attention is followed up straight away. A 14-day follow-up consultation with your HealthScreen physician is included in both programs, and your physician signs off every result. From there, next steps are at your physician’s clinical judgement: further testing, a specialist referral, or no further action.
“One low testosterone result is a reason to investigate, rather than an automatic reason to treat. We look for relevant symptoms, repeat the test under appropriate morning conditions and consider factors such as illness, sleep and medications before deciding what it means.”
– Dr David Badov, Medical Director, HealthScreen
There are no Medicare or private health rebates on HealthScreen program fees. Pathology is bulk billed with a valid Medicare card, and any out-of-pocket costs for individual tests are discussed with you on the day.
Biomarkers vary between patients. Your Physician requests the tests that are clinically appropriate for your individual risk profile and medical history. A valid Medicare card is required. Patients ineligible for Medicare, including overseas visitors, will incur additional fees for pathology and ECG services.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a testosterone blood test cost in Australia at HealthScreen?
Testosterone isn’t sold as a separate test. Where it is clinically indicated, your physician requests it as part of one of the HealthScreen diagnostic programs.
Do I need a referral?
No, simply book online or contact our team to get started. You don’t need a referral for a HealthScreen program, and your physician decides during your consultation whether testosterone testing is clinically appropriate for you.
Should I stop supplements or medicines before the test?
Tell your physician about any supplements, medicines or hormones you take, including steroids, as these can change your result. Don’t stop a prescribed medicine without talking to your doctor.
How often should testosterone be tested?
If your first result is normal, your physician will advise whether it needs rechecking. If it is low, expect a repeat morning test before any conclusion is drawn.
Know where your hormones really sit
A testosterone number means more when it is taken at the right time, repeated when it needs to be, and read with the rest of your health. That is what a HealthScreen diagnostic day is built to do.
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