Complete baseline labs before starting testosterone replacement therapy
The short answer
TRT Starting Panel bundles 14 tests — Testosterone, Total, Testosterone, Free (Direct) and SHBG (Sex Hormone Binding Globulin) plus 11 more — for $229.99 plus one $6 lab processing fee (about $16.43 per test). Fast 8–12 hours before the draw; results post in 2–4 business days. Physician-authorized with no doctor's visit or insurance needed; one draw at Quest or Labcorp.
Other Labs
Starting at $450
+ lab fees
TestWell
$229.99
+ $6 lab processing fee
The TRT Starting Panel provides all the baseline labs your provider needs before initiating testosterone replacement therapy. It establishes pre-treatment levels for testosterone (total and free), SHBG, and estradiol — the key hormones that will change on therapy. LH and FSH document pituitary function before suppression. PSA provides a baseline for prostate monitoring. CBC is essential since testosterone can increase red blood cell production (polycythemia risk). CMP, lipid panel, and HbA1c establish metabolic and cardiovascular baselines. Prolactin rules out pituitary causes of low testosterone. Thyroid panel and vitamin D round out the assessment since both affect testosterone production and overall wellbeing.
Pre-TRT baseline: Total + Free Testosterone, SHBG, Estradiol, LH, FSH, Prolactin, PSA, CBC, CMP, Lipid Panel, TSH, Vitamin D. Establishes the diagnosis, identifies cause (primary vs secondary), and screens for contraindications.
Men considering testosterone replacement therapy — required by most TRT clinics and good medical practice before initiating treatment. Confirms the diagnosis, rules out pituitary tumors, and establishes baselines for safety monitoring.
Sample Type
Blood draw
Fasting
Required
Results In
2–4 business days
Biomarkers
46 across 14 tests
14 individual tests · 46 biomarkers measured — each test linked so you can learn more.
Fasting for 10–12 hours is recommended. Morning blood draw (before 10 AM) is strongly preferred for accurate testosterone levels.
What can throw off this result
Physician-reviewed “Before your test” pages — what each factor does, for how long, and what to do about it.
A TRT Starting Panel costs $229.99 at TestWell — $235.99 all-in when ordered alone, because the $6 lab processing fee is charged once per order, with no draw fee or physician fee added. With insurance, what you pay depends on your deductible and your plan's negotiated rate; TestWell's price is fixed before the draw and is HSA/FSA-eligible.
| Where you order | Price | One test, all-in | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| TestWell (drawn at Quest or Labcorp) | $229.99 | $235.99 | Includes the one $6 lab processing fee, charged once per order |
Competitor prices are read from the linked public pages and re-checked regularly; the labs' sites may add taxes or change prices without notice.
Compare more: Quest Diagnostics price list · Labcorp price list · Quest vs Labcorp · Lab test price checker
Three reasons: (1) confirm the diagnosis with multiple morning testosterone values, (2) identify cause — testicular vs pituitary failure changes treatment, (3) establish baselines for safety monitoring (PSA, CBC, lipids, liver) so changes during therapy can be detected. Reputable TRT clinics require all of these.
TestWell charges $229.99 — vs $399 at Quest Direct and $400-$1,200 at TRT clinics.
Yes — morning fasting draw between 7-10 AM. Testosterone follows a strong diurnal rhythm; afternoon draws underestimate by 20-30%.
TRT can accelerate pre-existing prostate cancer growth (PSA baseline matters) and increase red blood cell production (CBC baseline matters — elevated hematocrit on TRT can require dose reduction or phlebotomy).
Repeat with our TRT Quarterly Panel at 6-8 weeks, 3 months, then every 3 months ongoing. Monitor T levels (aim for mid-normal range), hematocrit (<54%), PSA (any rise >1.0 ng/mL warrants urology referral), and estradiol (manage if symptomatic).
TRT Starting Panel results are typically ready in 2–4 business days after your draw at Quest or Labcorp. TestWell emails you the moment they post, and your results dashboard shows each marker against its reference range with a plain-English explanation.
Keto and high-protein diets, smoking and nicotine and common medications can change a TRT Starting Panel result without anything being wrong. Keto and high-protein diets can raise LDL Cholesterol and HDL Cholesterol and 2 more markers on this test and can lower Triglycerides, Sodium and Glucose — recheck with ApoB; discuss cardiovascular risk rather than dismissing the rise as 'diet noise'. Smoking and nicotine can raise RBC and WBC and 2 more markers on this test and can lower HDL Cholesterol and 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D — tell the clinician; a high hematocrit in a smoker is usually smoking, not polycythemia. Common medications can raise ALT, SHBG and WBC and can lower Total Testosterone and PSA Total — continue; report muscle pain to the prescriber. Each factor is covered on our physician-reviewed "Before your test" pages; when one applies, the fix is usually to remove it and retest.
Order the TRT Starting Panel online from TestWell for $229.99 (plus a $6 per-order lab processing fee) — no doctor's visit, referral or insurance needed. A licensed physician authorizes the order, then you walk into any Quest or Labcorp patient service center near you for the draw (the lab locator on our site lists the closest ones by ZIP code), and results arrive in 2–4 business days.
Medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD · Last reviewed September 2026
Starting at $450 at other labs
TestWell Price
$229.99
+ $6 lab processing fee at checkout
No insurance needed · HIPAA compliant
Individual tests that complement this panel
TRT Starting Panel
$229.99