The Labs I Run

[SWALE]

Total Testosterone
Bioavailable Testosterone (sometimes called “Free and Loosely Bound”)
Free Testosterone (if Bio T is not available)
SHBG
DHT
Estradiol (specify by the “Extraction Method” or “Ultra-Sensitive”)
Total Estrogens
LH
FSH
Prolactin
Cortisol
Thyroid Panel (TSH, FT3, FT4)
CBC
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
Lipid Panel
Homocysteine
PSA (if over 40)
IGF-1 (if HGH therapy is desired)
Fasting Insulin


At the one month point, I follow-up with these assays:
Total Testosterone
Bioavailable Testosterone
Free T and SHBG (if Bio T is not available)
Estradiol (specify by the “Extraction Method” or “Sensitive”)
DHT (if patient is using a transdermal delivery system)
SHBG
FSH (3rd gen "sensitive" assay)
CBC
Lipid Panel
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
(if ALT/AST from above are elevated, then get a GGT)

...I hope this helps!


__________________

 

[SWALE]

I usually use Quest. However, Labcorp is very good, too. If the patient's insurance requires a particular lab, then we go there.

 

[scrappy]

This may be a dumb question but do you need to fast before these labs or no?
If so how long?

 

[SWALE]

This is a very important question.

you only need to fast if you are wanting to get a good triglyceride level. You can actually check CHOL, HDL, lDL etc without fasting.

Other than Lipid Profile assays, there is no need to fast.

 

[scrappy]

Thanks Swale,
Is like an overnight, 8 hour, fast good enough?

 

[SWALE]

Here is the standard order for my over 40 patients:

"Even though you will be fasting for 12 hours, please remember to drink lots of water. Also, no alcohol or working out for 24 hours beforehand. Since I will be drawing a PSA, no sex for 24 hours, either."

Now, what they do as far as recovering from their food consumption and abstinence from sex is their business once I have my blood sample.

 

[loopfitt]

Swale do you know of anyway I can get these tests done in Toronto,Ontario?

 

[SWALE]

Yes, contact my good friend and coleague Dr. Larry Komer at:

info@mastersmensclinic.com

 

[patches prescott]

liver enzymes

what can i ask for to check damage to my liver?

 

[SWALE]

Good question. Th estandard Comprehensive Metabolic Panel includes AST and ALT. An important addition is GGT as a marker for hepatotoxicity.

 

[STRENGTH222]

Good question. Th estandard Comprehensive Metabolic Panel includes AST and ALT. An important addition is GGT as a marker for hepatotoxicity.

WOW I AM EXTTREMELY IMPRESSED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND PROFESSIONALISM SWALE HAS. ITS ABOUT TIME THERE IS SOMEONE TO ANSWER SERIOUS MEDICAL QUESTIONS. BEFORE THIS IT WAS ALL HERESAY. I BELIEVE THIS IS WHAT THIS BOARD REEALLY NEEDED A PROFESSIONAL SCHOILAR WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THE HUMAN ANATOMY. BLESS YOU BRO

 

[willie2]

Great information swale...as are all your posts. You are not only a great addition to this board but the others you post on as well. How do you find the time with your practice?
Are you an MD or DO? I have found that DO's are alot more open to new ideas and in helping their patiences within certain areas that MD's are not....not that MD"s are bad mind you...


willie2

 

[SWALE]

Thank you.

I am proudly a D.O. Many who are unfamiliar with us do not know we learn all that MD's do, plus about 25% more (structural evaluation and treatment). We also tend to practice in a more holistic manner, and receive higher grades for our communication skills.

Or, as one Drug Rep told a colleague of mine, "You can always tell the DO's--they have better houses, cooler cars, and prettier women."

 

[muscleup]

Swale would you recommend a online lab to get bloodwork done ?...They are so much more affordable...And my insurance is to expensive for me to carry...Thank You.

 

[ironcowboy]

Thanks for the advice on tests to run. Most of those hormone levels would not be included in a typical full blood test so it's good to know the specific extras to ask for.

 

[kram]

Online Lab

I'm also interested in a more affordable online lab as I'm in the same boat no insurance

Swale would you recommend a online lab to get bloodwork done ?...They are so much more affordable...And my insurance is to expensive for me to carry...Thank You.

 

[ironcowboy]

I use www.healthcheckusa.com for all my private (non-PCP) testing. I think the prices are good. You can get a test with 50 different criteria for $38. However, that doesn't inlcude all the hormones SWALE listed above.

 

[kram]

SWALE

How much does the below tests cost and how many times does it need to be taken at the begining of the TRT ?

Total Testosterone
Bioavailable Testosterone (sometimes called Free and Loosely Bound)
Free Testosterone (if Bio T is not available)
DHT
Estradiol (specify by the Extraction Method or Sensitive)
LH
FSH
Prolactin
Cortisol
Thyroid Panel
CBC
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
Lipid Panel
PSA (if over 40)
IGF-1 (if HGH therapy is desired)


At the one month point, I follow-up with these assays:
Total Testosterone
Bioavailable Testosterone
Free T and SHBG (if Bio T is not available)
Estradiol (specify by the Extraction Method or Sensitive)
DHT (if patient is using a transdermal delivery system)
FSH (3rd gen "sensitive" assay)
CBC
Lipid Panel
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
(if ALT/AST from above are elevated, then get a GGT)

...I hope this helps!


__________________

 

[SWALE]

I am sorry, but there is no way to give you an accurate answer. Not all labs are run on each patient, many have health insurance to pay allor part of them, and prices vary widely across the country.

 

[gymrat1977]

Total Testosterone
Bioavailable Testosterone (sometimes called Free and Loosely Bound)
Free Testosterone (if Bio T is not available)
DHT
Estradiol (specify by the Extraction Method or Sensitive)
LH
FSH
Prolactin
Cortisol
Thyroid Panel
CBC
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
Lipid Panel
PSA (if over 40)
IGF-1 (if HGH therapy is desired)


At the one month point, I follow-up with these assays:
Total Testosterone
Bioavailable Testosterone
Free T and SHBG (if Bio T is not available)
Estradiol (specify by the Extraction Method or Sensitive)
DHT (if patient is using a transdermal delivery system)
FSH (3rd gen "sensitive" assay)
CBC
Lipid Panel
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
(if ALT/AST from above are elevated, then get a GGT)

...I hope this helps!


__________________

This might be a stupid question, but do some of these show up in the same tests? If so, what tests do we actually want to get done? And do you know of anyone in the Kansas City area?