Why Take this Test?
Helpful in assessing testicular function in male and managing hirsutism, virilization in females.
Direct immunoassays, however, are still suitable for measuring testosterone levels in adult males, in whom the levels are expected to be higher. In addition, immunoassays have typically a faster turnaround time.
We can not order this test for children at this time.
Can our LC/MS/MS test measure testosterone and epitestosterone separately?
Most healthy males have a testosterone to epitestosterone ratio of about 1:1. Since exogenous administration of testosterone does not affect epitestosterone levels in the body, the ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone has been used to identify athletes who might be using illegal anabolic steroids. Epitestosterone may potentially interfere with LC/MS/MS determinations. Therefore, we designed our assay to separate epitestosterone from testosterone. We do NOT measure or report epitestosterone in our current LC/MS/MS testosterone method. If an epitestosterone measurement is required, we suggest you approach a testing site that uses a World Anti-doping Agency (WADA)-approved assay.
