‘Standardise Testosterone testing in India’

Several doctors in the city said that tests undertaken by patients for testosterone levels in the blood could be inaccurate as there is no standard testing in India for the hormone.

Several doctors in the city said that tests undertaken by patients for testosterone levels in the blood could be inaccurate as there is no standard testing in India for the hormone.

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In a bid to increase the accuracy levels of testosterone testing in the country, a member from the American Board of Internal Medicine and other experts are in talks with a chain of laboratories to standardise testing in the country. Currently, results vary from lab to lab, making it difficult for clinicians to diagnose hypogonadism, where the sex glands produce little or no hormones.

“There is a huge variation in the results of testosterone levels from various laboratories, which is because of different techniques and mixtures used for testing. A lot of patients are treated on the basis of just one report. We need to standardise testosterone testing,” said Dr Rupin Shah, consultant andrologist from Lilavati Hospital, Bandra.

Hypogonadism, should be treated immediately, said experts, as it is associated with low sex drive, low energy, impaired cognition and osteoporosis among others.

“Accuracy is important to measure whether testosterone levels are low or not. We also need to know what levels are considered normal in Indian men. India needs to figure out a reference range for testosterone,” said Dr Shalender Bhasin, professor of medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, US.