Testosterone Total Test (Men)
A total testosterone test measures all of the testosterone circulating in the blood — the portion carried by proteins plus the small share moving freely. It is usually the first hormone men ask about when energy, sex drive, mood, or strength start to feel different.
About this test
Testosterone is the main androgen in men. Most of it is made in the testes, with a smaller amount coming from the adrenal glands, and production is directed by signals from the brain and pituitary gland.
The sample is a quick blood draw at a Quest patient service center. Testosterone follows a daily rhythm in most men — it tends to run highest in the morning and drift down across the day — so clinicians usually ask for a morning collection, and often for a second draw on a different day before they read much into any one measurement.
Who might consider this test?
- Look into total testosterone when several changes show up together and are easy to dismiss one at a time: flat energy
- Difficulty building or holding muscle
- A shift in body composition
Test details
| Quest code | 873 |
|---|---|
| Methodology | Immunoassay |
| Sample type | 1 mL serum |
| Patient preparation | Due to changes in testosterone levels throughout the day, 2 morning (8:00-10:00 a.m.) sample obtained on different days are recommended by The Endocrine Society for screening. |
| Collection | Quest patient service center |
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Additional details
What "total" testosterone includes
This test counts the whole pool of testosterone in the sample: the fraction bound tightly to sex hormone binding globulin, the fraction loosely bound to albumin, and the small free fraction that is not attached to anything. Because the bound portion makes up nearly all of it, total testosterone largely reflects how much hormone the body is producing and how much binding protein is available to carry it.
That last part matters. Conditions and life stages that change binding protein levels — including aging, thyroid activity, liver health, and obesity — can shift a total result even when the freely available hormone has not moved much. This is exactly why clinicians rarely stop at one hormone value and often look at binding globulin or the free fraction when the picture is unclear.
Why the timing of your draw matters
Testosterone is not steady through the day. In most men it peaks in the earlier morning hours and declines later, so two honest measurements taken at different times can look quite different without anything having changed. Laboratories and clinicians generally prefer a morning sample so that results collected on different days can be compared fairly.
Quest lists preparation instructions for this test; they appear with the test details, and people follow any further instructions their ordering clinician provides. Following whatever preparation guidance your ordering clinician gives is the simplest way to make sure the result is worth comparing later.
Markers clinicians often review with it
Total testosterone is frequently considered next to free testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and sometimes prolactin or estradiol. Each of those describes a different link in the chain: how much hormone is available to tissues, how much carrier protein is present, and whether the signal coming from the pituitary is part of the story.
Looked at as a group, these markers say more than any one of them does by itself. A clinician weighs the pattern along with your symptoms, medications, and medical history before deciding whether anything needs attention.
Ordering online without insurance
Celio Health arranges the physician's order, so there is no referral to chase. The cash price shown next to the order button covers the test and the physician's order, with no insurance claim and no separate doctor's visit fee. Sample collection happens at one of Quest patient service centers, .
Order online and a physician order is included — no doctor's visit and no insurance needed. Your sample is collected at a Quest Diagnostics patient service center.
Laboratory results should always be interpreted by a licensed clinician who knows your health history. This page is information about a test, not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
What does a total testosterone test measure?
It measures all the testosterone in your blood sample — the portion bound to sex hormone binding globulin and albumin plus the small free portion. It reflects the total pool present at the moment of collection.
How much does a testosterone test cost?
The cash price is shown on this page next to the order button, and that is the full amount you pay. No insurance is billed, there is no separate charge for a doctor's visit, and the physician's order is included.
Do I need a doctor's visit or a referral first?
No. Celio Health arranges the physician's order for the test you select, so you can order online and go straight to a patient service center for the draw.
Should I be tested in the morning?
Clinicians commonly ask for a morning collection because testosterone tends to be highest earlier in the day. Follow whatever preparation instructions your ordering clinician provides, especially if other tests are collected at the same time.
How is total testosterone different from free testosterone?
Total counts every form of the hormone in the sample. Free measures only the small unbound fraction. Because binding proteins vary from person to person, clinicians sometimes look at both to understand what is actually available to tissues.
Are my results private?
Yes. Results are sent securely to you as a PDF, and you decide whether and when to share them with a clinician or anyone else.
Do I need to prepare for this test?
Due to changes in testosterone levels throughout the day, 2 morning (8:00-10:00 a.m.) sample obtained on different days are recommended by The Endocrine Society for screening. This is the preparation Quest publishes for this test; if your clinician gives you different instructions, follow theirs.