Laboratory Testing

In our community a number of labs now offer "screening blood tests" that do not even require a physician's order. These are low-cost tests, and I routinely send my patients who do not have insurance to get their testing done at these centers. I appreciate the availability of this service, so I also try to support these centers by sending my patients with insurance to them as well. Whether or not such service is available within your community, the price list from our centers gives you an idea of the bottom line of these tests. Before you go for blood tests ordered by your physician, call around for prices. One of my new patients had blood tests for $45 for which the previous year she had paid ten times that amount! It would be worth taking a trip to a distant city for that kind of savings! Don't be afraid to negotiate, and don't be afraid of traveling a few hundred miles to get your blood work!

The basics:

Test:	Local Hospital Cost:	Screening Lab Cost:
Blood count	$100	$5 – 10
Lipid panel (cholesterol)	$95	$10
Chemistry Panel (comprehensive 18 – 22 items)	$120	$10
Thyroid screen (TSH)	$90	$10
PSA (prostate cancer screen)	$45 – 60	$10

Other tests available in our community:

Test:	Cost:
CRP (heart disease risk screening test)	$10
Testosterone	$25
Estradiol	$25
Serum Pregnancy	$20
Progesterone	$25
Urine Pregnancy*	$10
ESR (Sedimentation Rate)	$5
Vitamin B12	$21
Folate	$21
Ferritin Iron	$20
Hemoglobin A1c	$10
TSH (thyroid)	$10
Free T3 (thyroid)	$15
T4 (thyroid)	$5
PT/INR**	$10
Cortisol	$20
Strep Screen	$17
Mono Screen	$10
Liver Function Panel	$10
Vitamin D 25 OH	$30
Urine Drug Screen (7 drug)	$50
Allergy (cat/dog/dust)	$10

*urine pregnancy tests are not necessarily any better than the ones you buy over-the-counter. If it's positive, you are most likely pregnant. If it is negative, wait a week and check again if you haven't had a period.

**PT/INR is generally used to monitor warfarin medication - a blood thinner. Its' use must be carefully coordinated with your physician.