When ordering labs for testosterone be sure NOT to order the Hormone Panel (MALES ONLY). This panel uses a “standard immunoassay Testosterone Total serum test” which when on synthetic test will give a skewed inaccurate result. It even comes with the following warning”
“Use of synthetic steroids, various supplements and/or high doses of biotin may interfere with the accuracy of the standard immunoassay Testosterone Total serum test included in this panel. If you are taking any of these it is recommended that you order a panel that includes the Testosterone LC/MS-MS methodology for testing.”
The test you want to order is the hormone panel for females, as it will use the lc/ms-ms twist and will give accurate results (or any panel that uses the lc/ms-ms - there are lots).
I know this to be true on a first hand basis as I accidentally ordered that test because it said it would report up to 3000 and come back much quicker than the lc/ms-ms. When I got my bloods back on 300mg my results were around 950. I thought something was weird because I definitely felt good on the test, so I was skeptical and that’s when I went back and read and found that notice on the male panel. When I restested with the female my results came back at 1500+ and right in line.
I know this to be true for labsmd, but am not sure about privatemdlabs, as their male panel says “Equilibrium Ultrafiltration” as the test and I am not sure if that’s the same as the immunoassay or not. Theirs does not have the warning message about synthetic test usage. Either way I would not risk it. Just spend the little extra and get the lc/ms-ms test no matter what. That way you can be sure your results are correct and you aren’t possibly innacurately accusing sponsors of something.
Hopefully this read helps out both members and sponsors. It’s a very easy mistake to make as you would THINK the MALE panel would be fine, which it is if you get the “hormone panel for males” just not the “Hormone Panel (MALES ONLY). Why they’d name two so close together I have no clue.
@SemperFi @Bigmurph @TG @PHD not sure if this can be sticky’d In this section but may be a good thing to keep at top.
“Use of synthetic steroids, various supplements and/or high doses of biotin may interfere with the accuracy of the standard immunoassay Testosterone Total serum test included in this panel. If you are taking any of these it is recommended that you order a panel that includes the Testosterone LC/MS-MS methodology for testing.”
The test you want to order is the hormone panel for females, as it will use the lc/ms-ms twist and will give accurate results (or any panel that uses the lc/ms-ms - there are lots).
I know this to be true on a first hand basis as I accidentally ordered that test because it said it would report up to 3000 and come back much quicker than the lc/ms-ms. When I got my bloods back on 300mg my results were around 950. I thought something was weird because I definitely felt good on the test, so I was skeptical and that’s when I went back and read and found that notice on the male panel. When I restested with the female my results came back at 1500+ and right in line.
I know this to be true for labsmd, but am not sure about privatemdlabs, as their male panel says “Equilibrium Ultrafiltration” as the test and I am not sure if that’s the same as the immunoassay or not. Theirs does not have the warning message about synthetic test usage. Either way I would not risk it. Just spend the little extra and get the lc/ms-ms test no matter what. That way you can be sure your results are correct and you aren’t possibly innacurately accusing sponsors of something.
Hopefully this read helps out both members and sponsors. It’s a very easy mistake to make as you would THINK the MALE panel would be fine, which it is if you get the “hormone panel for males” just not the “Hormone Panel (MALES ONLY). Why they’d name two so close together I have no clue.
@SemperFi @Bigmurph @TG @PHD not sure if this can be sticky’d In this section but may be a good thing to keep at top.
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