Requesting Full Blood Panel, Technical Name? Reasons?

[tempest2003]

hello all, im young in my mid 20's and want to get a full blood test including testosterone etc but want to have good reason for doing so. are there different types of tests and or one i should request specifically to get testosterone levels evaluated in addition to values that test liver efficency? what are some reasons i could use that are legitimate as far as feeling the necesity for these tests?

 

[centy]

You may have a hard time getting your regular doctor to do it on a whim. Especially if you are trying to get it covered by insurance. A no bullshit option is someplace like privatemdlabs.com or something. You pay them and they email you Doctors orders to go to a lab near you. When the results are in, they email them back to you. No questions asked.

You probably want your standard CBC with Differential, liver function profile, and Testosterone, Serum and Free.

 

[NYBodyguard]

You may have a hard time getting your regular doctor to do it on a whim. Especially if you are trying to get it covered by insurance. A no bullshit option is someplace like privatemdlabs.com or something. You pay them and they email you Doctors orders to go to a lab near you. When the results are in, they email them back to you. No questions asked.

You probably want your standard CBC with Differential, liver function profile, and Testosterone, Serum and Free.

good tip there are like a million different tests there how do u pick all needed tests

 

[tempest2003]

good tip there are like a million different tests there how do u pick all needed tests

good question

 

[centy]

Yeah - There are a ton of tests. I'm no expert, but I would say the basic "Deluxe Male Checkup" from privatemdlabs.com would be a great place to start. It's $120 and includes a ton o shit:

- Complete Blood Count w/ Differential
- Healthy Heart Cholesterol Profile
- Liver Function Profile
- Kidney Function Profile
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
- Serum Iron
- Complete Urinalysis Profile
- Serum Electrolytes

Then add on an al a carte testosterone test. Serum Testosterone is $48, Testosterone (Free), Serum With Total is $112.

 

[njmuscleguy]

These are the values that you need to have checked, especially if you're concerned with testosterone deficience (or considering HRT). It's pretty comprehensive:

• Total Testosterone
• Bioavailable Testosterone
• Free Testosterone
• SHBG
• DHT
• Estradiol (specify “ultrasensitive” assay for males)
• LH
• FSH
• Prolactin
• Cortisol
• Thyroid Panel
• CBC
• Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
• Lipid Profile
• PSA (if over 40)

If you have insurance and want to keep your doctor in the loop, just be honest with him, tell him that you're feeling lethargic all the time, your libido is shot, poor erections, you can't focus during the day at work/school. This should signal a good doctor to check your testosterone levels, otherwise just tell him that someone had the same problem and recommended you ask your doctor about it. Be warned though, some doctors don't even know what SHBG or Prolactin are (one of my doctors didn't)...so you may have to "steer" him if he's willing.

 

[centy]

^^ Nice.

That's pretty comprehensive. If one had to pay out of pocket though, all of the above tests would be probably over $1K. If you had to pick and choose just a coupe of those (prioritize) what would you recommend?

 

[halfcenturian]

These are the values that you need to have checked, especially if you're concerned with testosterone deficience (or considering HRT). It's pretty comprehensive:

• Total Testosterone
• Bioavailable Testosterone
• Free Testosterone
• sex hormone binding globulin
• dihydrotestosterone
• Estradiol (specify “ultrasensitive” assay for males)
• lh - leutenizing hormone -
• FSH - follicle stimulating hormone -
• Prolactin
• Cortisol
• Thyroid Panel
• CBC
• Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
• Lipid Profile
• PSA (if over 40)

If you have insurance and want to keep your doctor in the loop, just be honest with him, tell him that you're feeling lethargic all the time, your libido is shot, poor erections, you can't focus during the day at work/school. This should signal a good doctor to check your testosterone levels, otherwise just tell him that someone had the same problem and recommended you ask your doctor about it. Be warned though, some doctors don't even know what SHBG or Prolactin are (one of my doctors didn't)...so you may have to "steer" him if he's willing.

That's the ticket!

 

[yourmomgoestocollege]

Centy and NJmuscleguy have it right is you combine them. I just had my bloodwork done and it included pretty much everything they listed. Good list!

I am honest with my doc and he knows what I take. Actually I was surprised he was as knowledgeable about gear as he was.

 

[njmuscleguy]

^^ Nice.

That's pretty comprehensive. If one had to pay out of pocket though, all of the above tests would be probably over $1K. If you had to pick and choose just a coupe of those (prioritize) what would you recommend?

• Total Testosterone
• Bioavailable Testosterone
• Free Testosterone
• sex hormone binding globulin
• dihydrotestosterone
• Estradiol (specify “ultrasensitive” assay for males)
• lh - leutenizing hormone -
• FSH - follicle stimulating hormone -
• Prolactin
• Cortisol
• Thyroid Panel
• CBC
• Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
• Lipid Profile
• PSA (if over 40)

Well, it depends on what you're looking to find out from bloodwork... if it's for test deficiency, then everything in that list is pretty much a must... it gives a complete pictures as to why your body isn't producing test. If you just want the basics, you can probably do without the Prolactin, S H B G, F S H, L H, Estradiol, D H T... checking test levels is actually costly too.