Testosterone blood test — what it is and what it costs

Everything about a testosterone blood test: when to take it, what it measures, what it costs, and the two-test rule.

The two-test rule

Testosterone peaks in the morning and varies day to day. Good practice — and good clinics' protocols — requires two separate morning tests (typically 8–11am, fasted or not per lab) before any diagnosis. A single low result diagnoses nothing.

What a full panel actually includes

Beyond total testosterone: SHBG (calculates free/bioavailable T), LH/FSH (primary vs secondary cause), prolactin (pituitary check), and for treatment safety PSA, haematocrit, lipids, HbA1c. A "testosterone test" without LH/SHBG/Prolactin is a screening finger-prick, not a diagnostic workup.

Where to get tested

NHS — free via your GP if symptomatic (see NHS route).
Private lab draw — Optimale £33.95 at London sites (Woolwich SE18, East Ham E6); Leger £19 kit/£79 follow-up; independent labs (TDL, Medichecks-style) run £40–£120 for testosterone panels.
Home kits — finger-prick or venous self-draw posted to labs (£19–£75 published prices). Convenient but sample-rejection rates are non-trivial.

Reading results (do not DIY)

Below 12 nmol/L with symptoms → assessment threshold (BSSM-aligned). 8–12 = the zone where NHS labs and private clinics diverge — see how to get TRT. Above 12 with symptoms → look for other causes before chasing numbers.

Prices verified at provider pages 2026-10-08. Not medical advice.

Affiliate disclosure: Some pages contain affiliate or advertising links, marked with 'sponsored'. Listings are never sold ranking — featured status is labelled on the page. Clinic data is published free regardless of commercial relationships.

Information directory — medically reviewed sources cited per page · Source-checked 2026-10-09 · Independent information directory — not medical advice.