What is Dihydrotestosterone, Total?
Total DHT is the sum of protein-bound and free dihydrotestosterone and is quantified here by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry, which resolves DHT from testosterone and other structurally similar steroids that cross-react in older immunoassays. Because most DHT is SHBG-bound, the total value moves with binding-protein concentration and can misrepresent tissue androgen availability when SHBG is high (ageing, thyroid excess, hepatic disease) or low (obesity, insulin resistance, exogenous androgen).