What does the Total Testosterone by Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry test measure?

Why is Total Testosterone by Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry measured?

Total testosterone is the initial test for suspected androgen deficiency or excess. In adult men it is central to the diagnosis of hypogonadism, interpreted alongside clinical features and a confirmatory early-morning repeat if low. In women it helps evaluate hirsutism, virilisation, and polycystic ovary syndrome, though free or bioavailable testosterone and other androgens may add precision. In children testosterone measurement guides investigation of delayed or precocious puberty and differences of sex development. The LC-MS/MS method is essential when concentrations are expected to be low, because immunoassays lack the sensitivity and specificity required in those ranges.

Reference ranges

Standard reference

Adult male approximately 250–1100 ng/dL; adult female approximately 8–60 ng/dL; paediatric ranges age- and Tanner-stage dependent.

Functional medicine optimal

Optimal ranges are context-dependent. In men, values below 300 ng/dL often prompt consideration of hypogonadism if symptomatic, while in women 'optimal' depends on clinical presentation rather than a target number; the goal is to confirm or exclude pathological androgen excess or deficiency relative to sex- and age-appropriate norms.

Units

ng/dL, nmol/L

Reference ranges vary by laboratory and assay platform. Interpret in context of the issuing laboratory's stated range.