Why Buy Your Own Lab Tests?

I’ve been seeing this discussion make the rounds on social media, and I am happy to see more people learn about the variety of options available for self-testing. (This is written based on what is available in the US. There are several states, including NJ, NY, and MD that make it more difficult.)

I’ve been buying lab tests online for over seven years now, and I have had zero issues with the process. I joined a health-sharing group when I aged off my parents’ insurance at 26 instead of choosing conventional health insurance due to the prices, challenges with insurance coverage, and the fact that I had no chronic health conditions. (Or so I thought!)

I ended up being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s later that year and began running routine lab testing for my thyroid and other health and wellness markers, like the complete blood count, metabolic panels, and inflammatory markers like A1c (related to blood sugar regulation). I priced out what the doctor ordered and was shocked to see the numbers climbing into the $400+ range “before insurance.” A quick search online brought up a variety of websites where one could purchase any labs they wanted. Prices were clearly marked, they had sales periodically, and I’d be able to go to a Labcorp or Quest to get the draw done like usual. I think I managed to “save” over $250 on my first order of full thyroid labs… what to order is a conversation for another time and easy to find on other practitioner’s sites, but I monitor the basics (TSH, Free T4, Free T3, TPO and TGB antibodies, and Reverse T3).

I did occasionally run into confusion at the testing center when I would show up with my request print out, but now most sites will send the information electronically. Orders are usually valid for 6 months, so what I do now is time my larger routine purchases with sale events, like Prime Day or Black Friday. Is it strange to be shopping healthcare in this manner? Yes. But it’s also strange to me to have the market in a chokehold thanks to insurance companies.

I have personally used Walk-In Lab and Ulta Lab Tests the most, with Ulta being my preferred source currently because I can purchase the particular tests I run for a cheaper price than on Walk-In Lab. They don’t have a contract with Labcorp though, so I may switch again in the future. While the testing giants themselves now offer self-purchasing of tests, their options are limited and more expensive from what I have seen.

What insurance would be billed $500+ for in 2024, I paid $180 for out-of-pocket. (I don’t carry traditional health insurance myself and do not have access through my husband’s work, so I budget for a lot of self-pay healthcare throughout the year.)

If you’re feeling stuck with not having access to labs you want or need, there are alternatives. These are just two of several sites available with a quick Google search. There’s now even the ability to self-order other kinds of tests beyond bloodwork, which I’m excited to see. I began my journey working closely with a doctor who helped me interpret what I was seeing reported. Now I know most of what I’m looking for in my specific results, but I do send them to my medical provider for their records. You can also try searching online for functional results vs reference results to see the variety of opinions that exist about lab markers.

You have options to expand your understanding of your body, your health, and your well-being. This is just one little bit of data-gathering available to you.