The Labs I Run

[crobar1]

I think that if you went to Life Extensoin, the male panel is for 399.

 

[crobar1]

Good posts SWALE

 

[Pablo34]

I'd like to go to Qwest and get those tests done, especially since I predict that I have low test levels. Since I do not have health insurance, I have no idea how much a test like that would cost.

 

[SWALE]

A LOT. For you, the panel would be greatly abbreviated.

 

[MrDurden]

I am insured, but want to keep the insurance company out of the loop. The lab fees from Quest are EXPENSIVE, and they don't discount for cash or payment up front.

If anyone has used a more cost-effective blood testing site, please post it.

 

[Finisher]

Good info......

Finisher

 

[gregxy]

A couple more questions,

What time of day should blood be taken? I have heard that free T can
vary by 2X depending on time of day


Are salivary tests any good? A salivary test said my free T was above
normal, but the blood test said it was below normal.

 

[Weatherlite]

Early morning is always the best time as a rule of thumb. Not sure if Free T can vary much throughout the day.

As for saliva tests....worth about as much as the saliva they test IMO. VERY inaccurate results WAY too often.

 

[ciobl]

As for saliva tests....worth about as much as the saliva they test IMO.

 

[doughbooy]

I see a lot of people saying to get your E2 checked? I don't think I see it listed below, did I miss it?

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!


__________________

 

[ciobl]

you see estradiol ? thats e2

 

[doughbooy]

you see estradiol ? thats e2

Yes, Thank you.

 

[12gauge]

thanks for this list, i brought it with me to me check up today. my dr didnt know what most of these test were. The lab technician taking my blood had to call the labs just to find out what was needed.

my arm is killing with all the blood they took!!!

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!


__________________

 

[hackskii]

Hey Dr. Swale, do you check Ferritin, and C-Reactive Protein too?
Or is this more of a special test for us older guys?


Damn dude, I love what you are doing.

If I am way out of state and you allow me to draw blood from Quest, can you do all this from afar?

Sorry man, my HRT Dr is far away too and I would not mind getting a second opinion.

Would my own HRT meds throw the test out, or can you see through it all?

Thanks man!!!!!

Good work you are doing here.

 

[pmgamer18]

Hey Dr. Swale, do you check Ferritin, and C-Reactive Protein too?
Or is this more of a special test for us older guys?


Damn dude, I love what you are doing.

If I am way out of state and you allow me to draw blood from Quest, can you do all this from afar?

Sorry man, my HRT Dr is far away too and I would not mind getting a second opinion.

Would my own HRT meds throw the test out, or can you see through it all?

Thanks man!!!!!

Good work you are doing here.

Try going to his site and see if your Dr. will work with Dr. John over the phone. Read about it here.
http://www.allthingsmale.com/

 

[painman]

other liver tests?

Would reduced glutathione, plasma sufate, and s.o.d. also be reasonable to check for liver issues?

What if AST/ALT/and GGT were fine but sulfate, glutathione were high? And also if total estrogen is high, fibrinogen is high and ldlis high with hdl low couldn't they also point to hepato issues?

That's my labs. I do have two liver "cysts". Could they cause such?

Much thanks

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

 

[DrG]

SWALE,
I'm an ND. I just started a thread regarding what I'm about to ask. Where do you order your prescription AAS for your patients from? Do you get them locally or online? Which brands are the best that you've found? Feel free to PM me.

 

[pcgizzmo]

Dr. G, SWALE no longer frequents this board. You can reach his web-site by going to www.allthingsmale.com He has his contact information and some good information about HRT protocols there.

Paul

 

[marianco]

Bare Bones Testing

Here is an absolute bare bones list:

Total testosterone
Estradiol ("sensitive" assay for males)
CBC
Comprehensive metabolic Panel
Lipid Profile

It is still better than what is being accepted by some docs out there.

You must understand, though, that it is not testing for the actual cause of yoour hypogonadism, nor does it attempt to screen for a more serious cause such as a pituitary tumor.

I must finish by saying the trick is in the interpreatation of the labs. That is why doctors go to medical school.

Here's one bare bones list to help make decisions regarding hormone replacement:

Blood tests:
1. Free and Total Testosterone Panel (often gives SHBG and bioavailable testosterone - all for a similar price to total testosterone alone)
2. Estradiol (ultrasensitive)
3. Free T4, TSH (Free T3 would be preferable but can be very expensive)
4. Fasting Comprehensive metabolic panel (usually very inexpensive)
5. Progesterone
6. Hemoglobin A1c

Saliva test:
7. Cortisol x 4 times a day
8. DHEA-s x 2 times a day

Note that from many labs that do Saliva tests, such as salivatest.com, it is possible to do estradiol, progesterone, testosterone also for an inexpensive price, though I haven't found them as reliable as a blood test when it comes to making decisions.

By "bare bones", as opposed to the full panel, many things are not checked as SWALE noted. It does give an idea of reproductive, adrenal, thyroid, and pancreatic hormone function.

 

[daphne]

one can also go to www.bodylogicmd.com to find a friendly physician or lab to run the tests mentioned. The Life Extension Foundation also runs these tests.