Testosterone Test in the Philippines: Which Tests and Where

If you suspect low testosterone, a blood test is the only way to know. But "a testosterone test" can mean anything from a single total testosterone at a walk-in lab to a full hormone panel ordered by an endocrinologist. Getting the right tests, at the right time of day, saves you money and saves you a second trip.

This guide explains every test in the usual panel, what each one tells a doctor, when to have your blood drawn (including what night-shift workers should do), how to read your results and where to get tested in the Philippines.

The short version

• First test: total testosterone, early morning, fasting.
• If low or borderline: repeat it on another day, and add SHBG (or free testosterone), LH, FSH and prolactin.
• Before any treatment: CBC, PSA (in older men) and usually a lipid profile.
• Timing: before 10 am after an overnight fast, or in your own "morning" if you work nights.
• Diagnosis needs symptoms plus two separate early-morning results below the lab's range.

The full panel explained

You do not need every test on day one. Here is what each test is for, so you understand what your doctor is ordering and why.

Tap, hover or use the arrow keys on each marker below to see what it means, why it is tested and what it costs at Medicard.

Test	What it measures	Why a doctor orders it
Total testosterone	All testosterone in the blood, bound and free	The main screening test for low T
Free testosterone	The small unbound fraction tissues can use	When total T is borderline or SHBG is abnormal
SHBG	The protein that binds testosterone	To interpret total T and calculate free T
LH	Pituitary signal to the testes	To find where the problem starts
FSH	Pituitary signal for sperm production	Fertility, and testicular vs pituitary cause
Estradiol	The main estrogen, made partly from testosterone	Breast changes, obesity, or men on TRT
Prolactin	A pituitary hormone	To rule out a prolactin-secreting pituitary tumour
PSA	Prostate-specific antigen	Prostate baseline before TRT, usually in men over 40
CBC	Red cells, white cells, platelets, haematocrit	Anaemia, and the baseline haematocrit before TRT
Lipid profile	Cholesterol and triglycerides	Heart risk, which affects treatment choices

Total testosterone

This is the test everything else builds on. It measures all the testosterone in your blood: the part tightly bound to SHBG, the part loosely bound to albumin and the small free fraction. It is cheap, widely available and well standardised.

Guidelines from the Endocrine Society and the American Urological Association both start here. The harmonized normal range for healthy young men is 264 to 916 ng/dL (about 9.2 to 31.8 nmol/L), but your lab's printed range is the one to compare against. See normal testosterone levels for unit conversions and a Filipino reference study.

Free testosterone

Only about 2 percent of testosterone is free. Free testosterone matters when total testosterone is misleading, which happens when SHBG is unusually high or low:

• SHBG high (older age, liver disease, an overactive thyroid, some anti-seizure medicines): total T can look normal while free T is low.
• SHBG low (obesity, type 2 diabetes): total T can look low while free T is closer to normal.

The catch is cost and accuracy. A measured free testosterone test is one of the most expensive items on the panel, and some cheaper direct methods are not reliable. Ask the lab which method it uses. The good alternative is the calculated free testosterone described below.

SHBG

Sex hormone-binding globulin is the main carrier protein for testosterone. On its own it tells a doctor whether total testosterone is likely to be over- or under-reading. Combined with total testosterone and albumin, it lets you calculate free testosterone. Not every lab lists SHBG in its standard menu, so call ahead.

LH and FSH

These two pituitary hormones tell a doctor where the problem starts:

• Low testosterone, high LH: the testes are not responding (primary hypogonadism). Causes include past mumps, injury, chemotherapy and genetic conditions such as Klinefelter syndrome.
• Low testosterone, low or normal LH: the signal from the brain is weak (secondary hypogonadism). Causes include obesity, poor sleep, opioids, high prolactin, pituitary problems and previous anabolic steroid use. Many of these are reversible.

FSH matters most if you are thinking about children, because it reflects sperm production.

Estradiol

Men make estradiol from testosterone, mainly in fat tissue. It is checked when there is breast tissue growth, in men with significant excess weight, and in men on TRT where it can rise. Estradiol is important for bone and sexual function in men too, so "lower" is not automatically better.

Prolactin

High prolactin suppresses testosterone. It can be caused by a small benign pituitary tumour (prolactinoma), some medicines and kidney or thyroid problems. Doctors usually check it when testosterone is low and LH is not high. A clearly raised result can lead to a pituitary MRI.

PSA

PSA is a prostate marker. Before starting TRT, doctors check PSA and ask about prostate symptoms in men of prostate-screening age, typically from 40 or 55 depending on risk and guideline. It is then rechecked during treatment.

CBC

Testosterone stimulates red blood cell production. A CBC before treatment gives a baseline haematocrit (the proportion of blood made up of red cells). Doctors monitor it on TRT because a haematocrit that runs too high thickens the blood. A CBC can also reveal mild anaemia, which sometimes accompanies low testosterone.

Lipid profile and blood sugar

Not hormone tests, but they shape the conversation. Many men with low testosterone also have high cholesterol, high triglycerides or undiagnosed diabetes. A fasting blood sugar or HbA1c is often added, especially given how common diabetes is in the Philippines.

The cheaper route to free testosterone: calculate it

Here is the single most useful money tip on this page. Instead of paying for a measured free testosterone test, which costs ₱12,600 for non-members at Medicard, you can ask for total testosterone plus SHBG (and albumin, which is often already part of a basic chemistry panel) and calculate free testosterone with the Vermeulen formula.

Vermeulen and colleagues showed in 1999 that this calculation agrees closely with equilibrium dialysis, the reference method. The Endocrine Society guideline accepts calculated free testosterone. Many endocrinologists prefer it to direct immunoassays.

We have not yet confirmed SHBG prices at Philippine labs, so call the lab for the SHBG price before you go. Even so, total testosterone plus SHBG is usually a fraction of the measured free testosterone price. Once you have the numbers, run them through our calculator:

Free toolFree testosterone calculatorCalculated free T from total T, SHBG and albumin using the Vermeulen equation.→

When to test: timing matters more than people think

Morning, fasting, before 10 am

Testosterone follows a daily rhythm. It peaks in the early morning and falls through the day, by 20 percent or more in younger men. Food also matters: a meal, particularly a sugary or high-calorie one, can lower testosterone for a few hours.

So guidelines recommend:

• Blood drawn early in the morning, ideally between 7 and 10 am
• After an overnight fast (water is fine, and black coffee is usually fine, but ask the lab)
• On a normal day, not after a night of very little sleep, a heavy drinking session or an intense workout
• When you are well, not during or soon after an illness such as dengue, flu or COVID-19

If your first result is low, the second test should follow the same rules on a different day. Diagnosis needs two separate early-morning results below the range plus symptoms.

Night-shift workers: test in your "morning"

This is a real problem for BPO and other night-shift workers. If you work 10 pm to 7 am and sleep from 9 am to 4 pm, a 7 am blood draw catches you at the end of a long shift, at the low point of your rhythm and after hours without sleep. The result may read low even if your usual level is fine.

What most doctors suggest instead:

• Test in your body's morning, soon after you wake from your main sleep. For many night-shift workers that is late afternoon or early evening.
• Fast for the hours before the test, the same way a day worker would fast overnight.
• Keep your sleep pattern steady for several days beforehand, rather than switching to a day schedule on your rest days just before the test.
• Tell your doctor and the lab your schedule, and write the test time on your request.

Some labs open early in the morning and close in the evening, so check branch hours before you plan a post-sleep test. Discuss timing with your doctor, because the research on testosterone timing in shift workers is limited and your doctor may prefer a particular approach. Short daytime sleep can also genuinely lower testosterone: in a JAMA study, one week of five-hour nights lowered daytime levels by 10 to 15 percent in healthy young men. If your result is low, improving sleep is part of the answer, not just part of the test.

Things that can throw off the result

• Acute illness, surgery or a recent hospital stay
• A very low-calorie diet or a period of rapid weight loss
• Opioid pain medicines, oral steroids and some psychiatric medicines
• Supplements: biotin in high doses can interfere with some lab assays, so tell the lab if you take it
• Anabolic steroids or testosterone, including in the months after stopping

How to read your results

1. Check the unit. nmol/L, ng/dL and ng/mL are all used locally. Divide ng/dL by 28.84 to get nmol/L, and multiply ng/mL by 100 to get ng/dL.
2. Compare against your lab's printed range, not a number from the internet. Ranges differ by method.
3. Check the time printed on the report. An afternoon result in a day worker is not a fair test.
4. Look at the whole picture. Total T, SHBG, LH and prolactin together tell a story that one number cannot.

Some typical patterns:

Pattern	What it often suggests
Total T normal, symptoms present	Look for other causes: sleep, mood, thyroid, blood sugar
Total T borderline, SHBG low, obese	Free T may be closer to normal; weight loss is usually the first step
Total T low, LH high	Testicular cause (primary hypogonadism)
Total T low, LH low or normal	Pituitary or reversible cause: weight, sleep, opioids, prolactin
Total T low, prolactin high	Needs pituitary assessment
Total T well above range, not on treatment	Ask about supplements or steroid use; rarely a tumour

These are patterns, not diagnoses. A doctor puts them together with your symptoms and history. Our guide to low testosterone explains the causes and treatment paths.

Where to test in the Philippines

Hi-Precision Diagnostics

One of the largest private lab networks, with branches across Metro Manila and in many provincial cities. Hi-Precision runs total testosterone and most of the hormone panel. You can walk in or book through Hati Health, which lists the total testosterone test at ₱1,600. Ask the branch about SHBG and measured free testosterone, which may be sent out.

Healthway

Healthway runs medical clinics in malls and business districts across Metro Manila, with in-house labs and doctors in the same place. That is convenient if you want a consult and blood draw on the same visit. We are still confirming Healthway's current testosterone and SHBG prices, so call your branch.

Medicard

Medicard clinics publish a laboratory rate card with separate member and non-member prices. A total testosterone test there costs ₱1,800 for card members and ₱2,340 for non-members. The full Medicard panel is in the table below.

Smaller labs and clinics

Independent labs often quote lower prices. Ashrey in Makati, for example, lists total testosterone from ₱1,200. Smaller labs are fine for total testosterone, but check that the report prints a clear reference range and unit, and use the same lab for your repeat test.

Home service

If traffic makes a 7 am lab visit unrealistic, home service is worth considering. Hati Health books Hi-Precision tests with a phlebotomist who comes to your home or office. That also makes it easier for night-shift workers to have blood drawn right after waking. Home service usually adds a fee on top of the test price, so check when booking.

Hospital labs

Major hospitals in Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao run full hormone panels, usually at higher prices than standalone labs. They are a good option if your doctor is based at the hospital and wants results in the hospital system.

Questions to ask the lab before you go

A two-minute phone call or Viber message to the branch can save you a wasted morning. Ask:

• Do you run total testosterone in-house, and when are results released? Same-day results are common for total testosterone at the bigger labs.
• Do you offer SHBG, and what is the price? Not every lab lists it, and some send it out.
• How do you measure free testosterone? If the answer is a direct immunoassay, calculated free testosterone may be the better choice.
• Which unit and reference range do you report? Useful if you are comparing with an earlier result from another lab.
• What time does the branch open, and do I need an appointment? Important if you plan to arrive fasting before 10 am, or in the late afternoon after a night shift.
• Do you accept my HMO, and do I need an LOA first?
• Is home service available in my area, and what is the fee?

Bring a valid ID, your doctor's request if you have one and your HMO card. Wear a short-sleeved shirt and drink water: being well hydrated makes the blood draw easier.

What the panel costs

These are Medicard's published rates for each test on the usual panel, member and non-member:

Hormone panel prices, Medicard member and non-member rates

Item	Member	Non-member
Total testosterone	₱1,800	₱2,340
Free testosterone	₱9,700	₱12,600
Estradiol	₱2,070	₱2,700
PSA	₱1,570	₱1,990
LH	₱1,350	₱1,760
FSH	₱1,380	₱1,800
Prolactin	₱1,350	₱1,760
Lipid profile	₱1,260	₱1,575
CBC (complete blood count)	₱399	₱495

For a side-by-side of total testosterone prices at Hi-Precision, Ashrey and Medicard, plus tips on saving money, see our full testosterone test price comparison.

Using your HMO

Many HMO cards (Maxicare, Intellicare, Medicard, PhilCare and others) cover hormone tests when a doctor requests them to investigate symptoms. The usual route:

1. See an accredited doctor (internist, endocrinologist or urologist) through your HMO.
2. Describe your symptoms. The doctor writes a lab request.
3. Get a letter of authorisation (LOA) from your HMO if your plan requires one.
4. Have the tests done at an accredited lab.

Coverage for "check-up only" requests is less likely, and some plans limit specialised tests such as free testosterone. Ask before you pay.

What happens after the test

If your results are normal, the next step is usually to look at other causes of your symptoms. If they are low twice, your doctor will look for a cause and talk through options, starting with weight, sleep and treating underlying conditions, and including testosterone replacement therapy when it is indicated. TRT is a prescription medicine in the Philippines and needs a doctor to start and monitor it. Our TRT guide explains what that involves.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

Which testosterone test should I ask for?+

Start with total testosterone, taken early in the morning while fasting. If it is low or borderline, the usual next tests are a repeat total testosterone, SHBG or free testosterone, LH, FSH and prolactin. Before any treatment, doctors also check a CBC and, in older men, PSA.

Do I need to fast for a testosterone test?+

Fasting is recommended. Eating, especially a sugary or high-calorie meal, can temporarily lower testosterone. Most guidelines ask for a sample before about 10 am after an overnight fast, and water is fine.

Can I get a testosterone test without a doctor's request in the Philippines?+

Many private labs will run a total testosterone test for walk-in patients who pay out of pocket, though policies vary by lab and branch, so ask first. HMO coverage usually needs a doctor's request, and a doctor is needed to interpret the result and order follow-up tests.

How long do testosterone test results take?+

Total testosterone results from major Philippine labs usually come back the same day or within one to two working days. Specialised tests such as measured free testosterone can take longer, sometimes a week, because some are sent out.

I work night shift. When should I take the test?+

Test in your body's morning, which is soon after you wake from your main sleep, while fasting. For many BPO workers that means late afternoon or early evening. Tell your doctor and the lab about your schedule so the result is read correctly.

Is calculated free testosterone as good as the measured test?+

For most men, yes. The Vermeulen calculation uses total testosterone, SHBG and albumin and tracks the reference method closely. The Endocrine Society accepts it, and it usually costs far less than a measured free testosterone test.

Will my HMO cover a testosterone test?+

Often, when a doctor requests it to investigate symptoms. Coverage depends on your plan, so call your HMO with the doctor's request in hand before going to the lab. Pure check-up requests are less likely to be covered.