Labs: Getting T Levels Checked Without Fasting?

[babyface58]

I'm doing a "HPTA restart" so I'm not on TRT anymore, and for my latest lab work I got my blood drawn around 2pm, and I wasn't fasting.

I heard this can affect the testosterone reading?

I wonder how, and by how much it affects the number. Because my T levels came in crazy low, however this could be due to the fact that I just stopped HCG 3 days or so prior, and have been on clomid since. So the HCG may have still had me shut down.

But really, I'm just wondering what the deal is with getting blood drawn fasted, or if it's really necessary.

Total Testosterone: 87 (348 - 1197 ng/dL)
Free Testosterone: 2.0 (8.7 - 25.1 pg/mL)
Estrogen: 2.9 (8.0 - 35.0 pg/mL)
LH: 1.4 (1.7 - 8.6 mIU/mL)

 

[IMT staff]

It doesn't matter. Morning/night or fasted. The difference is not enough to make a difference.

Free T would be best in the morning but total doesn't move enough.

 

[Gainjin260]

I'm doing a "HPTA restart" so I'm not on TRT anymore, and for my latest lab work I got my blood drawn around 2pm, and I wasn't fasting.

I heard this can affect the testosterone reading?

I wonder how, and by how much it affects the number. Because my T levels came in crazy low, however this could be due to the fact that I just stopped HCG 3 days or so prior, and have been on clomid since. So the HCG may have still had me shut down.

But really, I'm just wondering what the deal is with getting blood drawn fasted, or if it's really necessary.

Total Testosterone: 87 (348 - 1197 ng/dL)
Free Testosterone: 2.0 (8.7 - 25.1 pg/mL)
Estrogen: 2.9 (8.0 - 35.0 pg/mL)
LH: 1.4 (1.7 - 8.6 mIU/mL)

How do you feel? Just looking at those numbers makes me feel weak. that may be the lowest t reading I've seen mentioned on the board.

 

[halfwit]

The fasting note on most blood panels popular around here are because they contain a glucose test for blood sugars. If you aren't curious/concerned about blood sugar values, fasting isn't necessary.

So this total testosterone value is while on clomid? For starters, your HCG was junk as your testosterone would still be elevated assuming it was monotherapy. You are partially suppressed, but I can't say if that's from AISH (permanent shutdown from AAS) or the "HCG" as clomid obviously hadn't taken hold yet.

Unless you've been on clomid for a while too, in which case you've got some crap clomid on your hands too.

 

[IMT staff]

How do you feel? Just looking at those numbers makes me feel weak. that may be the lowest t reading I've seen mentioned on the board.

Its close to the lowest I have seen. I think 59 was the low I have personally seen.

 

[Slhardee]

Taking your bloods fasted is done more for a reference point. It keeps things consistent over time. Example, eating fatty foods or sugars can throw cholesterol reading, glucose reading off etc. If you have a baseline and are always fasted for your blood work, then you have a good reference point for comparing past and present blood work.

 

[Onk]

The fasting note on most blood panels popular around here are because they contain a glucose test for blood sugars. If you aren't curious/concerned about blood sugar values, fasting isn't necessary.

So this total testosterone value is while on clomid? For starters, your HCG was junk as your testosterone would still be elevated assuming it was monotherapy. You are partially suppressed, but I can't say if that's from AISH (permanent shutdown from AAS) or the "HCG" as clomid obviously hadn't taken hold yet.

Unless you've been on clomid for a while too, in which case you've got some crap clomid on your hands too.

correct me if I'm wrong here, but because of HCG's very short half life, any elevated values would be gone 3 days after stopping use, whereas clomid has a longer half life, and given he started 3 days before the blood test, it'd have done sweet F by that time.

so really, this blood test doesn't say much until we have a comparison as follow up after about 4 weeks of clomid use?

 

[Milton]

made any progess OP?

 

[halfwit]

correct me if I'm wrong here, but because of HCG's very short half life, any elevated values would be gone 3 days after stopping use, whereas clomid has a longer half life, and given he started 3 days before the blood test, it'd have done sweet F by that time.

so really, this blood test doesn't say much until we have a comparison as follow up after about 4 weeks of clomid use?

Sorry Onk, I guess I missed this. IIRC the half life for subq HCG is around 16 hours. As it takes 4 half-lives to reach elimination, we're looking at 64 hours for the HCG to be out of the body - then another 16 to 20 hours for testosterone to reach elimination.

I still think it was just junk he was on personally.

 

[Milton]

when are you doing your HPTA restart?