How to get accurate testosterone level results on blood work

[Docd187123]

Mods I'm new to this forum so let me apologize in advance if I've violated any rules. If I have, please feel free to edit my post or let me know to make the necessary changes myself. I'm not affiliated with any one the following labs in any way, I just found them to be the cheapest and to be very reliable in my research. This is a post I made and wrote on another board so I hope I can just copy it here and let the members of this board use the information to their benefit.



I'm on my first cycle currently and like everyone else was curious about if it was possible to get accurate testosterone level numbers instead of the dreaded >1500. This is what I did to get it to work and you can see in the pics below that the privatemd labs panel showed >1500 and the other panel reads 2834.6 ng/dL. Both panels were taken the same day, same time, same labcorp location, and with the same 21G needle lol. I'll also give you a few different options you can choose from depending on what panels and values you want to get.

*Mods If I cannot talk about another company besides privatemd labs or our new sponsor, I apologize and edit out my post but otherwise sorry for the long read and here's how (skip to the bottom if you just want to see how quickly lol):

During my research I came across evidence that the results were dictated by which state the company that you payed to get your blood requisition form resides in and for some reason any company based out of Florida gave the real values. The company whose name I saw mentioned was personal labs. I looked up their info and sure enough they were based out of Florida so I figured I'd give it a shot. I still got the female hormone panel on privatemd labs for reasons which will be clear later and I picked a testosterone panel with thyroid values from personal labs and paid for it. This is where it gets tricky, I no longer think it has to do with the state. I saw codes for a panel that was going to be run on both requisitions so it got me thinking and searching for answers and now I believe you can get your actual serum test levels from any company, any labcorp location, any state, and any regional lab (though the test for the actual testosterone numbers will usually be sent out to a different lab than the rest of the panels). I'm pretty sure the results of the test are only based on which panel code is requested and the number you're looking for is 070001. A quick search of privatemd labs turns up it has this code BUT I HAVEN'T TRIED IT. I stuck with personal labs bc they were cheaper.

So on privatemd labs you can search for code 070001 OR look for this test Testosterone, Total - Women, Children, and Hypogonadal Males, LC/MS-MS its $59.99 for the test (again didn't try it personally but it should work). Under the description you'll see it say That part is key. With this panel you'll only get actual total serum testosterone values (not >1500 result) and nothing else.


On personal labs they have 2 tests with this code. Searching by code number didn't work for me but going under male health tests (have to click on it twice sometimes to get the vertical list) you'll see Low T (Testosterone) Profile for $48. The description says The key part. With this panel you'll get only actual total serum testosterone values (no >1500 results) and nothing else.


And the second test is called BASIC Erectile Dysfunction Profile for $93. The description says Again the highly sensitive is key and ends up being code 070001. With this test you'll get actual total serum testosterone (no >1500results), CBC with Differential/Platelet Count, and a thyroid panel which has free thyroxine (T4), T3 Uptake (THBR), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and total thyroxine (T4).

^^^thats the one I chose since I wanted to see thyroid values as well.


As you can see you can come up with a few different options on what to get etc and I'll try and break them all down so you know what you'll get with each. As far as I know, these are the cheapest prices I've found for the panels but I only checked a few other companies out and privatemd labs still has the cheapest female hormone panel.


Option 1) You don't care about anything but the usual female hormone panel from privatemd labs. Probably best for pre and post cycle bloods since test levels should be normal ranges. All you want is the basics (LH, FSH, Total test, E2, AST/ALT, CBC with Differential/Platelet Count, and metabolic profile) and don't care about an actual test level number. Go to privatemd labs as usual for the female hormone panel, total cost: $59.99 (before online coupon).

Private MD - Buy Lab Tests Online

^^^link for the panel for option 1

Option 2) All you want is actual total test results AND NOTHING ELSE (no E2, no LH, no FSH, etc). Maybe your mid cycle, short on cash, already know the rest of your blood work is good, know how to control estrogen, and whatever other reason I'd pick this. Go to personal labs and get the Low T (Testosterone) Profile, total cost: $48 (before online coupon).

Low T (Testosterone) Profile | Men's Health Blood Tests, Online Blood Testing, Health Tests

^^^link for the panel for option 2

Option 3) You want real testosterone values AND thyroid profile and CBC with Differential/Platelet Count. Probably for some of the same reasons as option 2 but you'd like to include thyroid and CBC with Differential/Platelet Count and its mid-cycle where testosterone values are high. You will NOT get LH, FSH, E2 or metabolic profile with this option. Go to personal labs and get the BASIC Erectile Dysfunction Profile, total cost: $93 (before online coupon).

BASIC Erectile Dysfunction profile | Men's Health Blood Tests, Online Blood Testing, Health Tests

^^^link for the panel for option 3

Option 4) You want everything normally given with female hormone panel from privatemd labs (E2, FSH, LH, CBC with Differential/Platelet Count, AST/ALT, and metabolic profile BUT you ALSO want real test numbers. Again same reasons as 2 & 3, best mid cycle probably. This option WILL NOT give thyroid values. Go to privatemd labs and get the Hormone Panel for Females AND go to personal labs and get the Low T (Testosterone) Profile, total cost: $59.99 + $48 (before online coupons for BOTH).

Low T (Testosterone) Profile | Men's Health Blood Tests, Online Blood Testing, Health Tests
Private MD - Buy Lab Tests Online

^^^links for panels for option 4...you need to purchase the panel from each link.

Option 5) The big daddy of them all, includes EVERYTHING. You're mid-cycle and want a handle on ALL your values actual serum testosterone values, FSH, LH, E2, thyroid profile, CBC with Differential/Platelet Count, ADT/ALT, and Metabolic Profile. Go to privatemd labs and get the Hormone Panel for Females AND go to personal labs and get the BASIC Erectile Dysfunction Profile, total cost: $59.99 + $93 (before online coupons for both).

BASIC Erectile Dysfunction profile | Men's Health Blood Tests, Online Blood Testing, Health Tests
Private MD - Buy Lab Tests Online

^^^links for panels for option 5...you need to purchase the panel from each link

Private MD - Buy Lab Tests Online

^^^this link is if you want to get the accurate testosterone level test from privatemd labs. I personally didn't use it because it was more expensive than perosnal labs but I figured I'd throw it in here regardless just in case.

As you can see there are a few options you could choose from depending on what you want to see in your panels and what you're willing to spend. I went option 5 for mid-cycle bc I had the money laying around and wanted all my values (tried t3 few wks back and wanted to see how my thyroid came back).

Also just so it's clear, I paid for the privatemd labs and personal labs requisitions on the same day, printed them both out within minutes of each other, went to the same labcorp location, took both samples on the same visit/day/time and just gave them two different reqs. Don't give them any CC info or insurance info. They may ask for drivers license which you could try and argue but they didn't for me.

I hope this has been written clearly enough to understand, I ramble a lot as is evident in this very sentence lol. If you're confused about any part of it, post up your question or pm me and I'll do my best to answer it as soon as I can and be as helpful as possible. This should work for EVERYONE who goes through labcorp or any lab and wants real numbers. Hopefully the rest of the members here can out this info to good use and start seeing the results we've all been wanting to see for a while now (except you lucky bastards who've always had actual numbers lmao).

The first two pics are from privatemd labs and the hormone panel for females and the second two pics are from personal labs and their basic erectile dysfunction test. That's what I got and it should provide you with an idea of the results you'll get and evidence that you CAN get actual numbers from personal labs even when privatemd labs gives >1500 all from the same location!

Edit* some of the links won't work bc they were edited out. If you read through the whole thing you should know enough to get results from whichever place you go to or know which places I went through.

[DexterMorgan]

Hi Doc. and Good info.

[Docd187123]

Hi Doc. and Good info.

Nice to see you Dex!

[Zodiac85]

Great info, thanks!

[DexterMorgan]

Bumping up good thread

[brazuka]

thanks!

[BluPhin]

Thanks for the info. I have not used online labs before, so I have a few questions. So, you order and pay for testing online, where, when, how do you actually provide the blood sample? In other words, what are the sequential steps from ordering blood tests to receiving reports.

[FRDave]

Thanks for the info. I have not used online labs before, so I have a few questions. So, you order and pay for testing online, where, when, how do you actually provide the blood sample? In other words, what are the sequential steps from ordering blood tests to receiving reports.

Order and pay online. They will send you requisition papers via email that you will print out and take to a local Lab Corp whom will do the blood draw. Lab Corp will then send the results to the company you ordered/payed for online in which you will log into your account that they will have you create and can view/print your results.

I use private MD labs and usually get my blood drawn on Sat morning and have my results by Mon or Tues at the latest.

[DexterMorgan]

Thanks for the info. I have not used online labs before, so I have a few questions. So, you order and pay for testing online, where, when, how do you actually provide the blood sample? In other words, what are the sequential steps from ordering blood tests to receiving reports.

I don't think Doc has been here for a while, so I'll answer it for him.
When you order online, you will have to select a Lab location. Most times it's going to be LabCorp.
Once you pay, within few minutes you will receive an email from private md labs.
They will send you the requisitions that you will print out and bring to LabCorp.
Walk in, give them papers that you've printed out, they will tell you to wait few minutes.
Then they will invite you in to get your samples.
Day or 2 later you will gen an email from private md labs with your results in PDF file.

[BluPhin]

Order and pay online. They will send you requisition papers via email that you will print out and take to a local Lab Corp whom will do the blood draw. Lab Corp will then send the results to the company you ordered/payed for online in which you will log into your account that they will have you create and can view/print your results.

I use private MD labs and usually get my blood drawn on Sat morning and have my results by Mon or Tues at the latest.

Thanks for instructions.

[BluPhin]

I don't think Doc has been here for a while, so I'll answer it for him.
When you order online, you will have to select a Lab location. Most times it's going to be LabCorp.
Once you pay, within few minutes you will receive an email from private md labs.
They will send you the requisitions that you will print out and bring to LabCorp.
Walk in, give them papers that you've printed out, they will tell you to wait few minutes.
Then they will invite you in to get your samples.
Day or 2 later you will gen an email from private md labs with your results in PDF file.

Thanks, good explanation.

[Docd187123]

I don't think Doc has been here for a while, so I'll answer it for him.
When you order online, you will have to select a Lab location. Most times it's going to be LabCorp.
Once you pay, within few minutes you will receive an email from private md labs.
They will send you the requisitions that you will print out and bring to LabCorp.
Walk in, give them papers that you've printed out, they will tell you to wait few minutes.
Then they will invite you in to get your samples.
Day or 2 later you will gen an email from private md labs with your results in PDF file.

Thanks for answering that Dex. Haven't checked out this forum in too long lol.

[austinite]

Good write up Doc!

Bump.

[austinite]

To the top.

[SkinnyManJuice]

Newb here. Males get a hormone panel for females?

[MisterD]

Im trying to get a test which has total testosterone and free test.... Which one do I get?

[lovbyts]

Im trying to get a test which has total testosterone and free test.... Which one do I get?

Option #4 at the top. You dont want to go without testing your E2

[ickythump]

Since this has already been bumped recently, I'd like to add, to any new members or people who didn't know, you can't order labs online, or in any fashion without a doctor, in some states. NY is one, so you'll need to order labs with a doctor, and idk why but some are hesitant, like they don't want you to know what's happening in your own body

[MisterD]

Lovbyts,

3 months ago I order # 5 The Big Daddy and I got everything except Free Test just Total...

I want to get it right this time.......

[Docd187123]

Bumping this at the request of big Kelkel for those that need blood work done cheaply and discreetly.

[DrewZ]

This is a great write-up Doc.

I wish I'd done more searching a few months ago.

I spent more $ got less info

I vote sticky!

[enzo729]

What would be recommended pre, mid & post? Would option #4 be the best for all 3 tests for a first timer?

[kelkel]

All tests are not needed throughout so save your money. For example, LH & FSH will basically shut down on cycle so there's zero need to test them. Pre and post, yes. Just look at the options listed again. Also check out Austinites "Educational Articles Database" at the top of this forum and read the "How to Run A Successful First Cycle" thread which includes BW advice.

Matter of fact, here it is for you:

My First Cycle: Planning and Executing a Successful First Cycle

[enzo729]

Thanks for the feedback Kelkel. Yes I know that thread, it's what I used to plan my first cycle, excellent information in there. So taking your advice into play, Option #4 would be good for pre and post and Option #2 would probably be best mid cycle or Option #3 for real test values and CBC?

[Lee_1978]

Great article - bookmarked!

[DrewZ]

Enzo, I was over analyzing this awhile back and austinite told me to go with the male hormone panel, that covers everything we need.

Google for the 15% off promo code, they have a new one every month.

[enzo729]

Well I guess I'm screwed. I live in NY and just got off the phone with Private Labs. I asked if I could purchase a test online and go to CT to get the blood work done and the lady said that the Lab Corp will ask for my ID and refuse me if once they see it's a NY state ID. What to do?

[ppwc1985]

Well I guess I'm screwed. I live in NY and just got off the phone with Private Labs. I asked if I could purchase a test online and go to CT to get the blood work done and the lady said that the Lab Corp will ask for my ID and refuse me if once they see it's a NY state ID. What to do?

I'm not saying to do it, but I live in Ct and never have been asked for id. They just hand me paperwork and ask if everything is correct. Just my .02.

[enzo729]

It's definitely a gamble. I'm just gonna step up my ninja skills and get a proper fake ID just in case they do ask. Problem solved.

[Sicko]

great write up Doc.
Thanks for the info!

[austinite]

This is a stick-worthy thread. Until then... There's a link to this article in Segment #5 of the "My First Cycle" thread in the stickies, so that you can always find it.

Thanks for the suggestion, Kelkel. And thank you, Docd for your outstanding contributions to this forum.

Docd is my brother from another mother.

[Docd187123]

Well I guess I'm screwed. I live in NY and just got off the phone with Private Labs. I asked if I could purchase a test online and go to CT to get the blood work done and the lady said that the Lab Corp will ask for my ID and refuse me if once they see it's a NY state ID. What to do?

I'm not saying to do it, but I live in Ct and never have been asked for id. They just hand me paperwork and ask if everything is correct. Just my .02.

NY is one of the communist states that don't allow private blood testing due to state insurance and medical billing laws. it used to be you could cross the border to CT or PA and get it done but they've changed their requirements recently. I know someone from NJ who came to CT and had it done but he was lucky he didn't get asked for ID.

PPWC, I too live in CT and we dont get asked for ID bc our state allows provatge blood testing.

[Docd187123]

This is a stick-worthy thread. Until then... There's a link to this article in Segment #5 of the "My First Cycle" thread in the stickies, so that you can always find it.

Thanks for the suggestion, Kelkel. And thank you, Docd for your outstanding contributions to this forum.

Docd is my brother from another mother.

It needs an overhaul Austin. So much has changed and newer options are available but I have no time just yet to update it. Thanks for the kind words and yes, you are a brother from another mother....just don't tell Kel or MuscleInk so they dont get jealous

[kelkel]

just don't tell Kel or MuscleInk so they dont get jealous

I heard that.

[oxfordbeta]

Awesome, Thanks!

[jsam]

Very informative but a little confusing. So if I get the hormone panel for males from private med labs for pre mid and post tests will I be good?

[Docd187123]

Very informative but a little confusing. So if I get the hormone panel for males from private med labs for pre mid and post tests will I be good?

Yes. The male panel is more expensive though but it's your choice.

[jsam]

Thanks

[enzo729]

So my fake ID idea won't work due to the way the checkout page is. Your billing address and everything must match up. Well I found another place, directlabs. You can google it, I can't post links. It's more expensive but you can't put a price on your health. With that being said, I'm a little lost on the correct tests to get.

There is a FSH & LH test.
There are 2 Estradiol (E2) tests, 1 for bound E2 and 1 for free flowing E2. Which one should I pick?
There are 2 Testosterone tests (with number values, not ranges). 1 for Serum only and 1 for Serum and Free Test. Which one should I pick?
There is a CBC w/ Diff & Plt test.
The CMP 14 Metabolic test.

Thanks for the help.

[2iron]

Just got option #5 thanks docd vey helpfull.