Quest Diagnostics' T Normal Ranges for Men Are Now Age-Based

[DavidZ]

Quest Diagnostics changed their normal ranges for Total and Free T in March of this year. The new normal ranges are now based on age and are very different from the old ranges.

New ranges for Total T (old range was 260 to 1000 ng/dL)

18-29......189-1111 ng/dL
30-39......236-1076
40-49......217-1107
50-59......119-1104
60-69......168-796
70-79......117-819
80-89.......<873

New ranges for Free T (old range was 50 to 210 pg/mL)

18-29......40-150 pg/mL
30-39......31-160
40-49......20-120
50-59......11-141
60-69......55-90 (this range makes no sense considering the prior age range)
70-87......39-150

The new ranges for Total T are wider (bottom is lower and top is higher) while the new ranges for Free T lower (both top and bottom are lower), except for the bottom of the range for age 60-69?!

I think these ranges will cause confusion. For one thing, since the bottom of the range for Total T is significantly lower at all ages, more men with low T will be considered "normal" and less doctors will be willing to prescribe T. Ironically, the top of the normal ranges for men 59 and younger are about 100 ng/dL higher than the old range.

The new Free T ranges are significantly lower than the old ranges, except for the bottom of the range for age 60-69?! I think this will have a similar effect, namely, many men with low Free T will be considered "normal" by their doctors. Also, look at the ranges for age 60 to 87. The bottom of the range is significantly less than the younger ages?!

While it does make some sense to have normal ranges based on age, I don't think that these new ranges will improve the diagnosis and treatment of hypogonadism. In fact, I think it will just cause confusion.

 

[Sonny]

David,

I've been using Quest for the past year. I've had a standing order with them since January of this year.

Their ranges are:

Total T: 241 - 827
Free T: 9.5 - 43.0

Perhaps it is not a nationwide change?

Last year, I had lab work done by them and it showed a normal Total T range of 260-1000. Free T wasn't tested at that time.

It'd sure be nice if there was a common standard!

Sonny

 

[BigRagu]

well i'm going to look into this because from what i understand their ranges were 270-1000.......but if they upped it to 1111 then i'm raising my dose....... i did raise my dose 10mg more we will see how high i'm boosted.......................

 

[Glaim]

18-29......189-1111 ng/dL

189 ng/dl at 18? I must be normal after all.

 

[dj75]

I guess i'm was all worried about nothing..........i'm well within the normal ranges now.........

 

[pmgamer18]

The bottom line here is your Total and Free T should be in the upper 1/3 of the range for a young man. I is common seance that if your high T levels when you were young did not hurt you then why would they hurt you in old age. My Dr. feels if it was good for you at a young age then it is good for you a any age.
Phil

 

[BigRagu]

well they have no clue what my test was at b4 all this crap happened to me......... so i just go by the guildline is more is better.......as long as it don't mess with my health....... all i know is i feel better.....so higher test must be better then lower test....... my bf is down i'm the biggest i have ever been and i'm stronger then i have ever been....and i know my test will never get low in my old age...... HRT 4 THE WIN!

 

[cpeil2]

It wouldn't make sense for the new ranges to apply retroactively, would it? Wouldn't you have to have new test results to find out where you stood relative to these new ranges?

David, do you know whether or not they changed their assay methods? The new ranges don't seem to have anything to do with the old one. It's pretty unlikely that their patient population would have changed much, so it seems like the new ranges have to be a result of a change in method.

But as Phil said, your target is to be in the upper third of the range for the youngest bracket. Figuring it out is a little harder, but it doesn't really change things much for people inthe highest and lowest quartiles. It could affect guys in the lower middle quartile.

 

[DavidZ]

It wouldn't make sense for the new ranges to apply retroactively, would it? Wouldn't you have to have new test results to find out where you stood relative to these new ranges?

AFAIK, there's no retroactively here.

David, do you know whether or not they changed their assay methods?

I don't think the assay method has changed.

The new ranges don't seem to have anything to do with the old one.

Yes, but note that the ranges for total T are generally wider at the top AND the bottom.

It's pretty unlikely that their patient population would have changed much, so it seems like the new ranges have to be a result of a change in method.

I believe that lab ranges are usually based surveys done on their own staff.

But as Phil said, your target is to be in the upper third of the range for the youngest bracket. Figuring it out is a little harder, but it doesn't really change things much for people inthe highest and lowest quartiles. It could affect guys in the lower middle quartile.

Like I said at the outset, I think these new ranges will cause confusion and result in less men with low T being diagnosed with hypogonadism, which is a very bad thing.

 

[bigmark]

I wonder is this just a quest thing or a nationwide protocol?

 

[DavidZ]

I wonder is this just a quest thing or a nationwide protocol?

It's only Quest. And based on what Sonny said above, it may only apply to my region (midwest).