Hi all, I’ve been reading here for over a year but this is my first post. I’ve been doing TRT via injections since June, and would like to monitor my levels more often than the every 6 months my doc does. I just split my injections (80mg test cyp total per week) from 1x to 2x per week, and I’d like to see if that has effected my T or E2 levels.
I’ve searched here but not found specific recommendations on where to get tested. Online I’ve found Labcorp has a male “follow up trt panel” for $180 that includes everything I need. I’ve also found a sight called lifeextension that has a more basic test panel for $75, but it doesn’t specify if the E2 test is the “sensitive” assay that is recommended on this board.
Can anyone recommend a lab that has a good price and good reputation? I am in Charlottesville VA.
I recommend discountedlabs.com. They have a complete hormone panel that is good pre-trt and a follow-up panel that is good for checking levels while on trt. You can add other tests that you may be interested in monitoring. Once you place your order on their site you receive a bloodwork order via email that you print out and take to the collection site. Check the site for the lab closest to you.
What is the consensus on the saliva and blood spot testing? Obviously having a proper blood draw is preferred, but how accurate are these tests? Anyone have any info?
If they are somewhat accurate, it would be nice to help dial in e2.
I’m posting on an old thread because I don’t think a new one is necessary for my comments.
I’ve used a few online labs.
personalabs.com
Very professional, has both telephone contact and chat online. Secure results password protected. MOST EXPENSIVE. I used them only when I didn’t know better.
Free Testosterone: $113.00
SHBG: $73
walkinlab.com
Very professional, has both a telephone contact and chat online. I used their chat online numerous times and they were available during normal business hours each time. Your results are stored online in a secure area accessed by your username and password. They give you a choice of Labcorp or Quest, and identify prices and tests from each company.
Free Testosterone: $48.00
SHBG: $49.00
discountedlabs.com
discountedlabs was the cheapest (in general) of all labs I reviewed. However, they are the most “hobby” based business. In other words, there are no phone numbers listed, and no online chat option available. Contact is by email only – and I had to email every day to get them to release the partial results. They also take the longest to deliver results. On the site it shows “3-5 days” for results, including results that LabCorp posts within 24 hours. They also show “7-14 days” for sensitive Estradiol results! And they really did take the longest of all three labs to return results.
Free Testosterone: $30.45
SHBG: $68.36
What sets discountedlabs apart is the “Hormone and Wellness Panel”. For $261.45, it includes:
CBC (includes immune cells, red blood cells and hematocrit)
CMP-14 (Includes kidney and liver function, glucose and electrolytes)
Lipid Panel (LDL, HDL, Triglycerides)
Testosterone free and total (LC/MS assay with no upper limit)
Estradiol, Sensitive (LC/MS assay)
DHEA-sulfate (Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate)
TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone)
Free T3 (Free Triiodothyronine )
PSA (Prostatic Specific Antigen)
LH (Luteinizing Hormone)
FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone)
The same tests at walkinlabs were over $440. I wrote to walkinlab and included my actual labcorp test result and suggested they build this panel and add shbg. They “thanked” me and apologized for not having a test panel that fit my needs. In other words, “we don’t give a shit. Take it or leave it”.
And so I did. Even though I would prefer to do business with walkinlab, I have no choice but to use the panel at discountedlabs. I tried - but I can’t beat the price.
Life extension has lab work sales in April - May.
You need a membership to take advantage of prices. Some are already members for other reasons. Without membership they may not have any price advantage. They have a huge number of labs available, well beyond TRT shops.
This thread is USA centric.
Not all USA States allow for labs not doctors ordered.
Panels with LH/FSH are not suitable while on TRT, but are needed for TRT workup.
I missed this comment so I am again responding to an old thread.
When you use an online lab service, the lab order IS being submitted by a doctor. Obviously you have not seen the doctor, but the lab order is authored and authorized by a medical doctor. You can see the doctor’s name on the order.
Saliva tests are not accurate for sex hormones. It’s OK for cortisol and DHEA. Most accurate tests for testosterone, estradiol, etc is those done by liquid chromatography/ gas spectrometry (LC/MS) which require blood samples (by the way, finger prick samples common in at-home blood test kits are not accurate either for sex hormones).
Thanks for the info on the comparison. You saved me a lot of time. By the way, Discounted Labs is now fully automated so delivery of lab form and results is as good as others.
You are welcome, but to be quite honest, I haven’t updated this …
I switched to ULTA labs (ultawellness.com) for most of my lab work. Their prices beat discountlabs, and they even have an entire group of panels for $12.95.
Ulta doesn’t have the same panels as discount, but I figured out how to make it work and save money.