How much do hormone panels generally cost?

Never had one done for my first cycle but I'm about to start my 2nd and I want to get my base levels all checked beforehand. I was just gonna do it from the drs office since I have to get blood work for something else anyways. Anyone have any clue how much it might cost (roughly) to add on a hormone panel? The drs office seemed to have no clue when I asked... just curious as to how much money I'm looking at and if I'd be better off looking at some kind of third party source to get it done. And on the note of third party bloodwork, does anyone know an online way to do this? Would consider that too so I don't have my dr questioning me on why I want it done lol.

http://www.privatemdlabs.com/

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Originally Posted by MickeyKnox

http://www.privatemdlabs.com/

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Thanks for the link. Which one do I want to select out of these (there are quite a few options haha just wanna make sure I'm getting what I need). Also do you think this would be cheaper than the drs?

EDIT: Just noticed you live in canada, so I guess I'll have to wait for someone from the US to chime in on that last part lol

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Originally Posted by lifeofdefiance

Thanks for the link. Which one do I want to select out of these (there are quite a few options haha just wanna make sure I'm getting what I need). Also do you think this would be cheaper than the drs?

EDIT: Just noticed you live in canada, so I guess I'll have to wait for someone from the US to chime in on that last part lol

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Ultimate Anti-Aging Panel

-Lipid Profile
-Complete Blood Count w/ Differential
-Estradiol
-Hemoglobin A1c
-Cardiac C-Reactive Protein Test, High Sensitivity
-Insulin Growth Factor (IGF -1)
-Thyroxine-Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
-Gamma Glutamyl Transpeptidase (GGT)
-Insulin, Fasting
-Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
-Luteinizing Hormone(LH)
-Testosterone , Serum
-Sex Hormone binding Globulin, Serum
-Urinalysis, Routine
-Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
-Magnesium, Serum
-Thyroxine (T4) Free, Direct
-Iron, Serum w/ TIBC
-Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate (DHEA)

Includes:

Cholesterol, total; high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol; low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (calculation); triglycerides; very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol (calculation);

Hematocrit; hemoglobin; mean corpuscular volume (MCV); mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH); mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC); red cell distribution width (RDW); percentage and absolute differential counts; platelet count; red cell count; white blood cell count;

Estradiol, serum; Sensitive Assay

Hemoglobin (Hgb) A1c; Cardiac C-Reactive Protein, High Sensitivity; IGF-1;

Thyroxine-Stimulating Hormone (TSH);Gamma Glutamyl Transpeptidase (GGT); Insulin; A:G ratio; albumin, serum; alkaline phosphatase, serum; ALT (SGPT); AST (SGOT); bilirubin, total;

BUN; BUN:creatinine ratio; calcium, serum; carbon dioxide, total; chloride, serum; creatinine, serum; globulin, total; glucose, serum; potassium, serum; protein, total, serum; sodium, serum; Luteinizing Hormone(LH); Testosterone, Serum; Sex Hormone binding Globulin, serum; Color, appearance, specific gravity, pH, protein, glucose, ketones, occult blood, leukocyte esterase, nitrite, bilirubin, and urobilinogen.

These tests are done on all routine urinalysis ordered and if protein, leukocyte, occult blood, nitrite, and turbidity are all negative, microscopic examination is not performed; just the above parameters are reported; Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH), serum; Magnesium, serum; Thyroxine (T4) Free, Direct; Percent of saturation, serum iron, total iron binding capacity, unsaturated iron binding capacity; Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate (DHEA).

Patient Instructions: Patient should fast for 12-14 hours before collection of the specimen. If using a testosterone cream please be sure you have not rubbed any into the antecubital area of your arm for the last 24 hours as it can give elevated results.

Categories: Hormones and Metabolism, Fitness, Nutrition and Anti-Aging

Price: $299.49

Thanks for the info. $300 is quite expensive though (especially since I need some for before and after), so I may look into some other options.

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Originally Posted by lifeofdefiance

Thanks for the info. $300 is quite expensive though (especially since I need some for before and after), so I may look into some other options.

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Of course. That was just one example. It depends on what you want tested. :)

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Originally Posted by MickeyKnox

Of course. That was just one example. It depends on what you want tested. :)

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Do you think this one might be sufficient? I'm not really sure what all is important to be tested.

http://www.privatemdlabs.com/lab_tes...14&search=#793

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Originally Posted by lifeofdefiance

Do you think this one might be sufficient? I'm not really sure what all is important to be tested.

http://www.privatemdlabs.com/lab_tes...14&search=#793

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Sufficient for what?? What is it that you're after? Need more info. :)

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Originally Posted by MickeyKnox

Sufficient for what?? What is it that you're after? Need more info. :)

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lol I don't really know. I guess pretty much just any relevant hormone levels. I just want to have some base values to compare to with my post cycle blood work. I'm still a bit of a n00b when it comes down to the science of all this so I'm not really sure which are the most important to get checked. I just had some basic bloodwork done with things like cholesterol and all that, so I shouldn't need any of that, just basic hormone info so I can make sure my recovery is sufficient when I get tested again post cycle.

This is a cut and paste from my friend Kelkel. Hope this helps..


"INITIAL LABWORK:

After a complete Medical History, which laboratory assays should be run as part of your initial hypogonadism workup? Following is a list, but certainly other specialists in this area may run expanded or attenuated panels, per individual clinical experience and expertise. Of note, additional tests which should be included to complete a comprehensive Anti-Aging Medicine workup, inflammatory markers, insulin , comprehensive thyroid study and as always, the panel needs to be tailored to the individual patient. Here are examples only recommended by Dr. John Crisler in his paper “Current Best thoughts on How to Administer TRT for Men.”

• Total Testosterone
• Bioavailable testosterone (aka Free and Loosely Bound)
• Free Testosterone
• SHBG
• DHT (gel users especially pay attention to this)
• Estradiol (specify “sensitive” assay for males)
• LH
• FSH
• Prolactin
• Cortisol
• Thyroid Panel (complete)
• CBC
• Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
• Lipid Panel
• PSA (age dependent)
• IGF-1, IGFBP-3 (if HGH therapy is being considered)
• Vitamin D


FOLLOW-UP LABS:

• Total Testosterone
• Bioavailable Testosterone
• Free Testosterone
• Estradiol (specify “sensitive” assay for males)
• LH
• FSH
• CBC
• Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
• Lipid Profile
• PSA (for those over 40 with family history of prostate CA. >45 all others)
• IGF-1, IGFBP-3 (if GH therapy has been initiated already)


Get the actual test results from the lab or doctors office. You paid for them therefore they are yours. Begin to maintain a chronological file for all your lab work. An excel spread-sheet is even nicer. It will pay off later when analyzing progress. If you’re not being treated at LowTestosterone.com do not accept that “your results are normal.” Many doctors don’t know what normal is and “normal” is really a relative term. Get your own results and do your own research. Always insist on seeing your actual results. Get a copy for your own records as stated above."

So I ended up going to the drs and they were pretty cool about it, even tried to make sure the tests would be covered by my insurance. I didn't know exactly what all hormones I needed so I just asked for a complete hormone panel. I know they at least got test, estradiol, tsh, lh, fsh, not sure what else though. I also was already getting liver bloods for something different so I should have all those as well and I already have a recent lipid panel on file.