Perhaps getting your own labs done has been around for awhile, but I just discovered this option and I love it. Ever since I got on a high deductible health insurance plan with an HSA, I’ve been questioning the value of every medical move, including whether a visit to the doctor is really necessary or just a waste of time and money. On Reddit, I read about a service called “Own Your Own Lab” (OYOL) that allows you to pick and order your own blood tests for a reasonable cost. (Note: places like Labcorp allow you to order your own labs too, but the costs are much higher.) Own Your Own Lab allows you to order lab tests without a doctor and take the order to a Labcorp location at your convenience to get it done. Lab results are then available on the Labcorp portal.
Why Get Lab Tests Without a Doctor?
Hmm, maybe you’re wondering why you would ever get labs without a doctor. For me, I wanted to check my cholesterol levels (could I really eat as many eggs as I was eating?), but visiting a nearby doctor as a new patient turned out to be a two-month wait and probably a battery of tests and questions about things I wasn’t terribly concerned about.
In addition, I would probably have to pay out of pocket – $50? $100? $200? No one will tell you until you’ve actually gotten the service. More on that ridiculousness another day. In the meantime, say no thanks to the hurried doctor with the condescending bedside manner. Direct lab tests have many benefits:
- Convenience: No need to wait for a doctor’s appointment just to request a test. Online lab services allow you to order tests quickly and easily from home.
- Cost savings: Bypassing the doctor’s visit eliminates extra consultation fees. You can also find affordable lab tests online, often at a lower cost than what you’d pay through traditional healthcare channels.
- Privacy: If you’re uncomfortable discussing certain health concerns in person, direct-to-consumer lab tests allow you to check for conditions like STDs or hormone imbalances discreetly.
- Proactive health monitoring: Monitoring key health markers like cholesterol, blood sugar, and thyroid function between doctor visits empowers you to stay ahead of potential issues.
- Knowledge and control: Having the power to choose your labs and get direct access to your results allows you to research and understand your health on your own, enabling more informed decisions when consulting healthcare professionals.
Types of Lab Tests You Can Get Without a Doctor
Some of the most common tests (as well as the ones I found on OYOL) include:
- Blood sugar and A1C tests: Track your blood glucose levels and assess your risk for or management of diabetes.
- Cholesterol tests: Check your lipid profile, including total cholesterol, HDL (good cholesterol), LDL (bad cholesterol), and triglycerides to assess heart health.
- Thyroid function tests: These tests measure TSH and other thyroid hormones, which are critical for diagnosing conditions like hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.
- Vitamin and mineral levels: Tests for Vitamin D, B12, iron, magnesium, and other nutrients can help you identify deficiencies and optimize your nutrition.
- Hormone panels: Men and women can test their reproductive hormones, including testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone, as well as adrenal and cortisol levels.
On Quest and LabCorp, there’s a wider range of testing options in areas such as allergy, fertility, and sexual health.
List of Direct-to-Consumer Lab Testing Services
Presently, I’m only aware of the providers listed below. Please send me any that you have used and would recommend!
- Own Your Own Lab In a quick review across the providers I found, OYOL was definitely the most affordable of the three listed here. For example, when I was checking, a lipid (cholesterol) test was $59 on Quest and Labcorp and $10 on OYOL. Purchase your lab orders on their website, and take them to any Labcorp location to get them done.
- Labcorp tests
- Qwest Diagnostics tests
- Jason Health (added 11/12/24): Thanks to a reader, I’m adding this lab testing service which seems to have prices comparable to OYOL. The key difference seems to be that the lab orders can be done at any Quest location, so between OYOL and Jason Health, you’ve got many lab locations covered.
Good luck and may we all stop letting the healthcare industry take advantage of us!
Things I wish I knew before. . . 