Testosterone, Free and Total
A complete view of testosterone: total levels plus the free portion available for your body to use.
Consider this test if:
- Low libido, fatigue, low mood, or loss of muscle and strength
- A borderline total testosterone result that does not match how you feel
- Acne, irregular cycles, or unwanted hair growth being worked up for PCOS
- Setting a baseline or tracking testosterone on TRT or after a training and weight-loss change
- Conditions that shift SHBG, such as thyroid disease, obesity, diabetes, or liver disease
- HSA/FSA eligible
- Typical results in 1-2 days · Reviewed by a real clinician
- Drawn at a CLIA/CAP-accredited lab near you ·
Pre-test considerations
Draw in the morning, ideally before 10 am, when testosterone peaks. Fasting is not strictly required but a morning sample matters more. A low result should be confirmed with a repeat morning draw before acting on it. If you take testosterone or other androgens, note the dose and timing, since they directly affect the result and suppress SHBG.
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What this test is for
This test measures total testosterone along with SHBG and albumin, then calculates free testosterone, the small unbound fraction (roughly 0.5 to 2% of the total) that can enter cells and act on receptors. Total testosterone is the standard screening number, but it can mislead when SHBG is shifted: aging, hyperthyroidism, estrogen, and liver disease raise SHBG, while obesity, diabetes, hypothyroidism, and steroid use lower it, changing how much testosterone is actually available. Low testosterone is commonly investigated alongside low libido, fatigue, low mood, loss of muscle or strength, poor exercise recovery, and erectile or fertility concerns; in women, high free testosterone is relevant to PCOS, acne, and unwanted hair growth.
Because it includes both the total and the calculated free value, this panel is the more complete default when total testosterone is borderline or symptoms do not match the total. If you only need the standalone numbers, the separate Total Testosterone and Free Testosterone tests cover those, and Bioavailable Testosterone or the Free Androgen Index report the available fraction in other forms.
Biomarkers tested
Includes 4 biomarkers
Albumin is the protein your liver churns out in the largest quantity, and it does double duty: it holds water inside your blood vessels (so fluid doesn't leak into tissue) and ferries hormones, fatty acids, and medications through your bloodstream. Low albumin points to liver disease, kidney protein loss, chronic inflammation, or poor nutrition, and often shows up alongside swelling, fatigue, or unexplained weight loss. Because it reflects both liver production and overall protein status, it's a useful baseline check and a quick way to see whether inflammation or malnutrition is quietly dragging your protein reserves down.
- Specimen
- Serum or plasma
- Measures
- Mass concentration
Free testosterone is the small unbound fraction, roughly 1-2% of total testosterone, that's actually available to enter cells and act on muscle, brain, bone, and libido. Total testosterone can look normal while free testosterone runs low if sex hormone binding globulin is high, so this is the number that best explains low libido, fatigue, poor recovery, mood flatness, or difficulty building muscle despite training hard. It's also the marker to track if you're on testosterone therapy or optimizing training and body composition, since it reflects the hormone your tissues actually see, not just what's circulating in reserve.
- Specimen
- Serum or plasma
- Measures
- Mass concentration
SHBG is a liver-made protein that binds testosterone and estradiol, controlling how much hormone is free to act on tissue rather than locked up in transit. High SHBG (common with high estrogen, hyperthyroidism, or liver disease) can leave you hormonally starved even when total testosterone looks normal, while low SHBG (seen with insulin resistance, obesity, or hypothyroidism) inflates free hormone activity. Pairing SHBG with total testosterone gives you an actual free testosterone picture, useful for investigating low libido, fatigue, mood changes, or irregular cycles, and for tracking how weight loss or metabolic changes are shifting your hormone availability over time.
- Specimen
- Serum or plasma
- Measures
- Substance concentration
Total testosterone measures the hormone your testes (or ovaries and adrenal glands in women) produce to drive libido, muscle mass, bone density, energy, and mood. Low levels show up as fatigue, low sex drive, harder recovery from training, mood changes, and difficulty building or keeping muscle, while high levels in women can signal PCOS or point to an androgen-secreting source. It is the standard baseline for anyone tracking hormonal health with age, evaluating symptoms, or checking response to training, weight loss, or testosterone therapy.
- Specimen
- Serum or plasma
- Measures
- Mass concentration
What to expect
- 1 Book instantly
Click, book, done. Choose a convenient lab location near you. Transparent, up-front pricing.
- 2 Quick lab visit
Testing to fit your busy schedule, usually 15 minutes or less. Walk-in and appointments available.
- 3 Typical results in 1-2 days
Your results post straight to your dashboard as soon as the lab completes them.
- 4 Expert guidance
Included with Mito membership. A clinician reviews your results and your personalized action plan follows, with clear next steps.
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Order any test or consult without joining. For $9/month, members unlock member prices, trend tracking, and year-round clinician guidance.
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Frequently asked questions
View all FAQsHow does pricing work?
Every test shows the member price next to the standard non-member price, so you can see what membership saves you. The member price is our cost — covering the lab and what it takes to run the service — never a profit on the test itself; Mito makes its money on the $9 membership, not on marking up your tests. Membership is $9/mo, and you still pay the lab’s order fee. Prices are itemized before you pay, with no hidden fees.
Where do I get tested?
Choose a partner lab (Quest, Labcorp, or BioReference) at checkout. If your cart spans multiple tests, we consolidate the whole order onto a single lab so you only make one visit.
Is this eligible for HSA/FSA?
Yes. This test is HSA/FSA eligible, and you can pay with your HSA/FSA card at checkout.
When will I get my results?
Your results post to your dashboard once your lab completes them, then a clinician reviews them and your full analysis and personalized action plan (with clear next steps) follow. Turnaround varies by test: specialty assays and at-home kits take longer, and each test shows its expected turnaround before you buy.
Do I need a doctor’s order?
No. Mito provides the lab order for you, so you can book and get tested without a separate doctor visit.
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