Diagnosis and follow-up of women with symptoms or signs of androgen excess (eg, polycystic ovarian syndrome and idiopathic hirsutism)
An adjunct in monitoring sex-steroid and anti-androgen therapy
An adjunct in the diagnosis of disorders of puberty
An adjunct in the diagnosis and follow-up of anorexia nervosa
An adjunct in the diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis (tissue marker of thyroid hormone excess)
A possible adjunct in diagnosis and follow-up of insulin resistance and cardiovascular and type 2 diabetes risk assessment, particularly in women
In laboratories without access to bioavailable testosterone or equilibrium dialysis-based "true" free testosterone assays, sex hormone-binding globulin measurement is crucial in cases when assessment of the free testosterone fraction (aka free androgen index or calculated free testosterone) is required. At Mayo Clinic Laboratories, both bioavailable testosterone (TTBS / Testosterone, Total and Bioavailable, Serum) and free testosterone (TGRP / Testosterone, Total and Free, Serum) measurements are available. Free testosterone (TGRP) is measured by equilibrium dialysis, obviating the need for sex hormone-binding globulin measurements to calculate free androgen fractions.
