In short
A GP orders it, a collection centre takes the blood in the morning after a fast, and a low result is repeated on a second morning.
On this page
A testosterone test is a blood test taken in the morning. In Australia a GP orders it, a pathology collection centre takes the sample, and a low result is always repeated on a second morning before anyone makes a diagnosis.
How to get one
- See a GP. In person or by telehealth. They ask about your symptoms and decide which tests you need.
- Take the request to a collection centre. No appointment is needed at most centres.
- Go in the morning, fasted. Testosterone is highest early in the day and drops after food. Aim for before 10am, after an overnight fast.
- Get your results from the GP. They usually take a few days.
What’s measured
- Total testosterone. The main test.
- LH and FSH. Hormones from the pituitary gland that tell the testes to work. They show where a problem is coming from.
- SHBG. A protein that carries testosterone in the blood. It helps interpret a borderline result.
- Others as needed. Prolactin, iron studies, thyroid, blood sugar and a full blood count, depending on your symptoms.
Not sure what your symptoms or results mean?
An Australian GP can go through them with you by phone or video, and arrange any tests you still need.
What’s a normal result?
Labs print their own reference range on the report, and that’s the one to use. As a guide, studies using the most accurate method found ranges of about 10 to 30 nmol/L in healthy young men and about 6 to 26 nmol/L in healthy men aged 70 to 89. A result near the bottom of the range means different things depending on your age, symptoms and the other hormones.
Why one test isn’t enough
Testosterone moves around from day to day, and illness, poor sleep and some medicines push it down for a while. A fair share of men with one low reading are normal on the repeat. The PBS also requires two morning results before it will subsidise treatment.
What it costs
When a GP orders the test for a medical reason, Medicare generally covers it. Ask the collection centre whether there’s any gap. You pay separately for the GP consult.
What about home test kits?
Finger-prick and saliva kits sold online are less reliable than a blood sample taken from a vein and run in an accredited lab, and they don’t come with the other hormones or a doctor’s interpretation. A low result from a kit still needs a proper morning blood test.
After the result
If two morning tests are low and you have symptoms, your GP looks for the cause and talks through the options. If they’re normal, low testosterone isn’t the explanation, and your GP looks at what else could be. See signs of low testosterone and why am I always tired.
Next step: talk to a GP
Request an appointment and we’ll be in touch to arrange a time. A consultation doesn’t guarantee a prescription.
References
- Yeap BB, et al. Endocrine Society of Australia position statement on male hypogonadism (part 1). Medical Journal of Australia. 2016.
- Healthy Male: Androgen deficiency
- Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme: Testosterone
This guide is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t replace a consultation with a doctor who knows your history. In an emergency, call 000.