Budget Labs

[robs2nd75]

For those on a budget, what labs are mandatory to get adequate TRT?

 

[Gene Devine]

My opinion:

CBC
Gen Blood Chem
TSH
Free Testosterone
Estrogen "sensitive"
SHBG
PSA

 

[Nelson Vergel]

Even different guidelines are not in agreement on testing:



Minimum requirement tests for those with limited budgets or no insurance:

This is only my opinion ( many people do not have high incomes, so these are basic tests. Other tests like DHEA, IGF-1, etc can be added)

Baseline :

LH
FSH
Total testosterone
Estradiol (ultrasensitive)
TSH
T3
T4
PSA + DRE
ADAM Questionnaire


CBC + lipids ( which includes):

Fasting Glucose (blood sugar)

Uric acid

BUN (blood urea nitrogen): Measures liver and kidney function

Creatinine: A test used to measure kidney function

BUN/Creatinine Ratio: For diagnosis of impaired renal function

Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)

Sodium

Potassium

Chloride

Calcium

Phosphorus

Total Protein

Albumin

Globulin

Albumin/Globulin Ratio

Bilirubin: Evaluates kidney and liver function

Alkaline Phosphatase: Evaluation of liver and bone diseases

LDH (lactate dehydrogenase)

AST (SGOT): Evaluates liver function

ALT (SGPT): Evaluates liver function

Iron (serum)

Lipid Profile: Evaluates the risk for developing atherosclerosis (arterial plaque) and coronary heart disease.
Total Cholesterol
Triglycerides**
HDL Cholesterol
LDL Cholesterol
Total Cholesterol/HDL Ratio

Complete Blood Count:

Red blood cell count
Hemoglobin*
Hematocrit*
Red blood cell indices
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration
Red blood cell distribution
White blood cell count
Differential count
Platelet count

6-8 and 24 Week Follow Up:

Repeat

Total and free testosterone*
Estradiol (ultrasensitive)*
CBC
ADAM Questionnaire**

* these tests values will likely increase with testosterone replacement

** these test will decrease with testosterone (ADAM questionnaire: Fewer issues will be selected)