Free testosterone test: measure your free testosterone
Measure your free testosterone, the bioavailable fraction your body can use directly. No referral needed.
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Included Markers
1 markersFree Testosterone
Free testosterone is the part of your testosterone that is not bound to SHBG or albumin. That free fraction is the part your body can actually use, which is why it often reflects how you feel.
This test measures your free testosterone directly in a blood sample taken at a certified sample point. You order online, need no referral and receive your results, usually within 2 working days of the blood draw, including a doctor's assessment.
Why this test?
As a busy professional, you often notice changes in your energy or focus only once they affect your work. Measuring your free testosterone can give you a concrete data point to work from.
Testosterone can play a role in your energy, libido, mood and muscle building. The free fraction can be especially informative, because it is the part your body can actually use.
The result is not a diagnosis, but a snapshot you can discuss with a doctor alongside your symptoms and other values.
Who is this test for?
This test may suit men who:
- want to know whether their energy, libido or mood is linked to their hormones
- want to record a baseline during a preventive check
- have a normal total testosterone but still experience symptoms
- want more insight into their male hormones
Women may also have their testosterone measured for medical reasons, although this test focuses on men.
What is tested?
This test measures one biomarker in your blood:
- Free testosterone: the part of your testosterone that is not bound to SHBG or albumin and that your body can use.
Your free testosterone is measured directly by the lab. You can read more about this biomarker on the page about free testosterone.
What can this test tell you?
Your free testosterone value can say something about the part of your testosterone that is available to your body. That can complement your total testosterone.
A low free testosterone can sometimes occur while your total testosterone looks normal, because your SHBG partly determines how much testosterone stays free.
Your result is a starting point, not a final verdict. Combined with your total testosterone and your symptoms, a doctor can give it more meaning.
How is the sample collected?
For this test, blood is drawn at a certified sample point. There are 650+ locations across the Netherlands, which you choose yourself after ordering.
You do not need to see your GP first; you pick a location and a time that fit your schedule. The draw is done by trained staff and usually takes only a few minutes.
When is this test useful?
Testosterone fluctuates during the day and is usually highest in the morning. A measurement early in the day can therefore often be more representative.
The test can be useful when you want to link symptoms to a concrete data point, or when you want to record a baseline during a preventive check to compare against later.
Because a single measurement is a snapshot, it can sometimes help to repeat your value under similar conditions. A doctor can advise you on this.
What do the results mean?
Your result shows your free testosterone alongside a reference range and a short explanation. What counts as a suitable value varies by lab, age and time of the draw, so a number alone says little.
A lower value can fit certain symptoms, but does not have to mean anything. A doctor therefore always reads your result in the context of your symptoms and your other values.
What happens after the results?
Your results are usually in your Vitalcheck account within 2 working days of the blood draw, often the next day. Some markers take longer. You see your free testosterone, its reference range and a clear explanation.
Every blood test result includes a professional assessment from a BIG-registered doctor. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.
Frequently Asked Questions
Total testosterone is all your testosterone combined. Free testosterone is the part that is not bound to SHBG or albumin and that your body can use.
For a free testosterone test you usually do not need to fast. Because the value is often higher in the morning, a draw early in the day is often advised.
That can happen. Your SHBG partly determines how much testosterone stays free, so the free fraction can be lower than you would expect from your total.
This test costs €140,-, with the blood draw included. No draw fee follows; you pay it yourself.
No. After you order we take care of a referral through ZorgDomein within one business day; for orders after 17:00 or at the weekend the next business day applies. The ZorgDomein email contains a barcode, which you show at the draw site. At a few draw sites you set a time on your order page, or we schedule it.
No. Testing on your own initiative falls outside the basic Dutch insurance. You pay it yourself rather than through your insurer, and it does not count towards your deductible (eigen risico).
Allow one business day: by then the referral email is in, and you cannot be drawn earlier. Some draw sites then hold a walk-in session; the others work by appointment. This is listed per location.
The barcode from the ZorgDomein email and a valid ID. Showing the barcode on your phone is enough; no need to print. Without a BSN the email carries no barcode, and you print the referral form from the link in that same email.
Yes, take it as usual, unless your own doctor indicated otherwise. Some markers require more, such as no alcohol for 24 hours or no heavy exertion for 48 hours. That is stated on the test and in the instructions with your order.
At the draw site you show the barcode and a valid ID, after which the blood is taken. The draw takes about a quarter of an hour.
Yes. A BIG-registered doctor assesses every result and explains your values in your account. For any treatment, discuss the result with your own GP.
Vitalcheck works with a network of independent, certified laboratories throughout the Netherlands. These laboratories also manage the draw sites, which do not belong to Vitalcheck. Reference values can differ somewhat between laboratories.
No. The test does not go through your GP and is not recorded in your medical file. Data goes to a healthcare provider only with your written consent and is never sold. Anonymous testing is not possible: a valid result requires your name, date of birth and a valid ID.
What We Test
| No. | Biomarker | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Free Testosterone | pmol/L |
| Your results are usually in your Vitalcheck account within 2 working days of the blood draw. The laboratory states a longer turnaround for Free Testosterone. | ||
Preparation
-
Preferably in the morning
RecommendedA morning draw makes this value easiest to compare with its reference range. Plan the draw before 10:00 if you can.
- Water is always fine. Drink as usual beforehand, it makes the draw easier.
- Take your usual medication, unless your own doctor told you otherwise.
Extend this panel
Same draw, no second appointment.
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