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HelpTest Code LAB124 Testosterone, Total, Mass Spectrometry, Serum
Performing Laboratory
Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester
Reporting Name
Testosterone, Total, SSpecimen Type
Serum RedNecessary Information
Patient's age and sex are required.
Specimen Required
Supplies: Sarstedt Aliquot Tube, 5 mL (T914)
Collection Container/Tube: Red top (serum gel/SST are not acceptable)
Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial
Specimen Volume: 1 mL
Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial.
Reject Due To
| Gross hemolysis | OK |
| Gross lipemia | OK |
| Gross icterus | OK |
Specimen Stability Information
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serum Red | Refrigerated (preferred) | 14 days | |
| Frozen | 60 days |
Specimen Minimum Volume
0.215 mL
Special Instructions
Day(s) Performed
Monday through Saturday
Specimen Retention Time
2 weeksReport Available
2 to 4 daysReference Values
Males
0-5 months: 75-400 ng/dL
6 months-9 years: <7-20 ng/dL
10-11 years: <7-130 ng/dL
12-13 years: <7-800 ng/dL
14 years: <7-1,200 ng/dL
15-16 years: 100-1,200 ng/dL
17-18 years: 300-1,200 ng/dL
≥19 years: 240-950 ng/dL
Tanner Stages*
I (prepubertal): <7-20
II: 8-66
III: 26-800
IV: 85-1,200
V (young adult): 300-950
Females
0-5 months: 20-80 ng/dL
6 months-9 years: <7-20 ng/dL
10-11 years: <7-44 ng/dL
12-16 years: <7-75 ng/dL
17-18 years: 20-75 ng/dL
≥19 years: 8-60 ng/dL
Tanner Stages*
I (prepubertal): <7-20
II: <7-47
III: 17-75
IV: 20-75
V (young adult): 12-60
*Puberty onset (transition from Tanner stage I to Tanner stage II) occurs for boys at a median age of 11.5 (±2) years and for girls at a median age of 10.5 (±2) years. There is evidence that it may occur up to 1 year earlier in obese girls and in African American girls. For boys, there is no definite proven relationship between puberty onset and body weight or ethnic origin. Progression through Tanner stages is variable. Tanner stage V (young adult) should be reached by age 18.
Useful For
Evaluating men with symptoms or signs of possible hypogonadism, such as loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, gynecomastia, osteoporosis, or infertility
Evaluating boys with delayed or precocious puberty
Monitoring testosterone replacement therapy
Monitoring antiandrogen therapy (eg, used in prostate cancer, precocious puberty, treatment of idiopathic hirsutism, male-to-female transgender disorders, etc.)
Evaluating women with hirsutism, virilization, and oligoamenorrhea
Evaluating women with symptoms or signs of possible testosterone deficiency
Evaluating infants with ambiguous genitalia or virilization
Diagnosing androgen-secreting tumors
Testing Algorithm
For more information see Steroid Pathways
CPT Code Information
84403
LOINC Code Information
| Test ID | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| TTST | Testosterone, Total, S | 2986-8 |
| Result ID | Test Result Name | Result LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| 8533 | Testosterone, Total, S | 2986-8 |
Supportive Data
While, particularly at low testosterone concentrations, interferences, cross-reactivity, and lack of result comparability between different assays have bedeviled testosterone immunoassays, this current method is based on liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and provides reproducible and highly accurate testosterone measurements throughout the analytical range. Therefore, results will be lower than, and not directly comparable with, results obtained by immunoassays. Most immunoassays overestimate the true testosterone concentration by 10% to 300%, depending on the assay used and whether the measured concentration falls into the low, medium, or high range.
Forms
If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a General Request (T239) with the specimen.