$19.00
Priced per marker, with baseline labs included. You’ll see your total before you pay.
Hormones & reproductive
Testosterone, free test
Biologically active testosterone — what's actually working at tissues.
At a glance
In about 5 days
Most results are ready in about 5 days. Some specialty markers can take up to 21 days.
Best at a set time of day or cycle day
Contact us before your draw if you’re not sure.
Walk in at Quest
Your lab order arrives by email. Most Quest locations take walk-ins, so bring it with a photo ID.
What it measures
Women make testosterone too, in smaller amounts, in the ovaries and the adrenal glands on top of the kidneys. Free testosterone is the part not attached to proteins in your blood, so it’s free to act on your body.
Why it matters for women
Free testosterone can be high even when total testosterone looks normal, especially in PCOS, a common hormone condition. Higher levels can help explain acne, extra facial or body hair, thinning scalp hair or irregular periods. It’s usually read together with total testosterone and SHBG, the protein that carries it.
You might check it if…
- you notice extra hair on your face, chest or belly
- acne has lasted past your teen years
- your periods are irregular or a doctor mentioned PCOS
- your total testosterone was normal but symptoms continue
What your result may mean
High Testosterone, free: what it may mean
High free testosterone in women may suggest PCOS, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) or an androgen-secreting tumor. It can be high even when total testosterone looks normal, especially when SHBG, the protein that carries it, runs low. Acne, extra facial or body hair, thinning scalp hair or irregular periods can appear, and fast-growing symptoms or a deeper voice can call for a prompt look. In men, a high level may point to supplementation or other outside androgen use. Testosterone or DHEA products can lift it in women as well.
Low Testosterone, free: what it may mean
Low free testosterone in women can contribute to low sex drive (libido), fatigue and reduced muscle or bone strength, though these symptoms can have many other reasons. It can happen after menopause, after removal of the ovaries, with adrenal insufficiency or with estrogen birth control pills, which can raise SHBG. In men, low free testosterone may suggest hypogonadism. Women’s levels can be naturally low, so a small number may be hard to interpret. A clinician may read it with total testosterone, SHBG and how you feel.
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These notes provide context and do not diagnose a condition. Not yet available in NY, NJ, RI, HI, ND, SD or WV.