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Has anyone had experience ordering blood work (e.g. the vitamin d 25 hydroxy test) without visiting a doctor? I've seen very few references to the set of sites

Has anyone had experience ordering blood work (e.g. the vitamin d 25 hydroxy test) without visiting a doctor? I've seen very few references to the set of sites that pop up first online [0, 1, 2, 3] when I've gone looking for reviews in the past. Any suggestions? I'm in CA. [0]: https://www.privatemdlabs.com https://www.privatemdlabs.com [1]: http://www.directlabs.com/ http://www.directlabs.com/ [2]: https://www.walkinlab.com/ https://www.walkinlab.com/ [3]: https://www.health-tests-direct.com/ https://www.health-tests-direct.com/

zamalek 9y ago
Bloodwork is a core utility of naturopaths so one would probably know the best place to visit. You don't have to be incredibly lucky for your preventative plan to cover the visit.
darshan 9y ago
I've used Direct Labs multiple times over the years (including for 25 hydroxy) and I've always been perfectly happy with them.
dwich 9y ago
I've tried DirectLabs, WalkInLabs, and Life Extension, and have been happy with them all. All of those companies are basically just "doctor ordering resellers" for the two big test labs (LabCorp and Quest), so you generally don't have to worry about the quality of the testing. I specifically use Life Extension for vitamin D because they're the cheapest one I'm aware of.
- exhilaration 9y ago
  Can you tell me which one of those uses Quest? I used Life Extension as well for vitamin D but had to go pretty far to get to a LabCorp facility. I've got a Quest facility a few minutes away I'd rather go to.
  - dwich 9y ago
    Sure, here's the ones I know of: Quest-only: DirectLabs, Personalabs Choice of Quest or DirectLabs: Walk-in Lab (switch the radio button to Quest on the category pages, and make sure a "QD" icon shows up next to it in your cart), TrueHealthLabs (make sure the tests you look at say Quest is an option), HealthTestsDirect (make sure the test list page is toggled to Quest at the top) DirectLabs and Walk-in are generally cheaper than the others I mentioned.
    - absk82 9y ago
      You can try labespy.com. It will search for the lowest price amongst all these sites, amongst many others. You can find vitamin d for $33.
STRiDEX 9y ago
I joined one medical in sf and while I did meet with a doctor, you can also do walk-ins for blood tests. It was fast. There is a yearly fee to be a member and they have offices all over CA. https://www.onemedical.com/blog/health-guides/lab-test-guide/ https://www.onemedical.com/blog/health-guides/lab-test-guide...
hyperopt 9y ago
In CA, Quest Diagnostics requires a doctors note for the tests I've taken. Other providers or other tests may be different.
pauljurczak 9y ago
In case you have a health insurance - many plans provide a free yearly preventive care doctor visit, which include basic blood lab work. I took advantage of it many times with different insurance companies.
- exhilaration 9y ago
  When I asked my doctor (in the US) for a vitamin D test earlier this year, he told me he would be happy to write the prescription but my insurance would most likely not cover it. He said so many people are getting it that insurance companies have started denying the claim unless there was a genuine medical need. I went elsewhere for it, see my other comment: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15869485 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15869485
- batter 9y ago
  I'm not sure it applies to US where Health Insurance is rather russian roulette when you need coverage. Not sure about Aetna, but BlueCross is pretty clear: "BCBSNC will provide coverage for testing serum vitamin D levels when it is determined to be medically necessary because the medical criteria and guidelines noted below are met." https://www.bcbsnc.com/assets/services/public/pdfs/medicalpolicy/testing_serum_vitamin_d_levels.pdf https://www.bcbsnc.com/assets/services/public/pdfs/medicalpo... I just recently have been struggling with coverage of Vitamin D test for kid with Celiac.
exhilaration 9y ago
I got a Vitamin D test a few months ago via http://www.lifeextension.com/Vitamins-Supplements/itemLC081950/Vitamin-D-25-Hydroxy-Blood-Test http://www.lifeextension.com/Vitamins-Supplements/itemLC0819... The "Vitamin D 25 Hydroxy Blood Test" was $47. I got a blood draw order signed by a doctor that I had to take to a LabCorp - so make sure you've got one near you.
menacingly 9y ago
I've had great experiences with http://discountedlabs.com http://discountedlabs.com
cschneid 9y ago
I self-paid for a handful of labs a few months ago, including Vit D (and thyroid, and blood related stuff, and cholesterol, and a few other related things). I went in, the nurse drew some blood and charged me $150. A week later, they mailed me the results. None of this was done online, and insurance never was involved. I found a lab in town, asked their cash price, and they told me, and it was fine. Specifically the lab was associated with a larger medical facility, so call around to any local hospitals to see what they quote you.

zamalek 9y ago

Bloodwork is a core utility of naturopaths so one would probably know the best place to visit. You don't have to be incredibly lucky for your preventative plan to cover the visit.

darshan 9y ago

I've used Direct Labs multiple times over the years (including for 25 hydroxy) and I've always been perfectly happy with them.

dwich 9y ago

I've tried DirectLabs, WalkInLabs, and Life Extension, and have been happy with them all. All of those companies are basically just "doctor ordering resellers" for the two big test labs (LabCorp and Quest), so you generally don't have to worry about the quality of the testing. I specifically use Life Extension for vitamin D because they're the cheapest one I'm aware of.

exhilaration 9y ago
Can you tell me which one of those uses Quest? I used Life Extension as well for vitamin D but had to go pretty far to get to a LabCorp facility. I've got a Quest facility a few minutes away I'd rather go to.
- dwich 9y ago
  Sure, here's the ones I know of: Quest-only: DirectLabs, Personalabs Choice of Quest or DirectLabs: Walk-in Lab (switch the radio button to Quest on the category pages, and make sure a "QD" icon shows up next to it in your cart), TrueHealthLabs (make sure the tests you look at say Quest is an option), HealthTestsDirect (make sure the test list page is toggled to Quest at the top) DirectLabs and Walk-in are generally cheaper than the others I mentioned.
  - absk82 9y ago
    You can try labespy.com. It will search for the lowest price amongst all these sites, amongst many others. You can find vitamin d for $33.

STRiDEX 9y ago

I joined one medical in sf and while I did meet with a doctor, you can also do walk-ins for blood tests. It was fast. There is a yearly fee to be a member and they have offices all over CA. https://www.onemedical.com/blog/health-guides/lab-test-guide/ https://www.onemedical.com/blog/health-guides/lab-test-guide...

hyperopt 9y ago

In CA, Quest Diagnostics requires a doctors note for the tests I've taken. Other providers or other tests may be different.

pauljurczak 9y ago

In case you have a health insurance - many plans provide a free yearly preventive care doctor visit, which include basic blood lab work. I took advantage of it many times with different insurance companies.

exhilaration 9y ago
When I asked my doctor (in the US) for a vitamin D test earlier this year, he told me he would be happy to write the prescription but my insurance would most likely not cover it. He said so many people are getting it that insurance companies have started denying the claim unless there was a genuine medical need. I went elsewhere for it, see my other comment: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15869485 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15869485
batter 9y ago
I'm not sure it applies to US where Health Insurance is rather russian roulette when you need coverage. Not sure about Aetna, but BlueCross is pretty clear: "BCBSNC will provide coverage for testing serum vitamin D levels when it is determined to be medically necessary because the medical criteria and guidelines noted below are met." https://www.bcbsnc.com/assets/services/public/pdfs/medicalpolicy/testing_serum_vitamin_d_levels.pdf https://www.bcbsnc.com/assets/services/public/pdfs/medicalpo... I just recently have been struggling with coverage of Vitamin D test for kid with Celiac.

exhilaration 9y ago

I got a Vitamin D test a few months ago via http://www.lifeextension.com/Vitamins-Supplements/itemLC081950/Vitamin-D-25-Hydroxy-Blood-Test http://www.lifeextension.com/Vitamins-Supplements/itemLC0819... The "Vitamin D 25 Hydroxy Blood Test" was $47. I got a blood draw order signed by a doctor that I had to take to a LabCorp - so make sure you've got one near you.

menacingly 9y ago

I've had great experiences with http://discountedlabs.com http://discountedlabs.com

cschneid 9y ago

I self-paid for a handful of labs a few months ago, including Vit D (and thyroid, and blood related stuff, and cholesterol, and a few other related things). I went in, the nurse drew some blood and charged me $150. A week later, they mailed me the results. None of this was done online, and insurance never was involved. I found a lab in town, asked their cash price, and they told me, and it was fine. Specifically the lab was associated with a larger medical facility, so call around to any local hospitals to see what they quote you.