Hemoglobin A1c testing
Hemoglobin A1c Test — $21.99
The 90-day average blood sugar marker — the standard test for diabetes screening and ongoing monitoring. Same lab your doctor uses, results in 1-3 days, no insurance or referral needed.
$100 at Quest Direct · Save $40
TestWell lets you order any blood test at Quest Diagnostics or Labcorp without insurance, a doctor visit, or a referral — physician-reviewed and back in 1-3 days.
Your Results
All values in normal range
Physician Reviewed
Dr. Sarah Chen · Board Certified
Why test A1c
Why one number tells you what your blood sugar's been doing for 90 days.
Hemoglobin A1c measures the percentage of your red blood cells that have glucose attached to them. Because red blood cells live about 90 days, A1c gives you a 90-day average of blood sugar in a single draw — no fasting, no diary, no daily fingersticks. It's the standard diabetes screen for a reason.
Why A1c beats fasting glucose alone
Fasting glucose tells you what your blood sugar was at one moment — the morning of your draw. A1c tells you what it's averaged across the past three months. Two people with the same fasting glucose can have very different A1c levels depending on their post-meal spikes throughout the day. For diabetes screening or monitoring, A1c is the standard because it's the harder number to game.
What the numbers actually mean
A1c below 5.7% is considered normal. 5.7-6.4% is pre-diabetes (a meaningful zone — most cases of pre-diabetes progress to type 2 diabetes within 5-10 years if not addressed). 6.5% or above on two separate tests is the diagnostic threshold for diabetes. Functional medicine practitioners often target an A1c below 5.4% as the optimal range for metabolic health and longevity.
Why fasting insulin catches what A1c misses
Insulin resistance — your cells becoming less responsive to insulin — typically develops years before fasting glucose or A1c start to drift abnormal. By the time A1c climbs into the pre-diabetes range, the underlying insulin dysregulation has often been progressing for a decade. Adding Fasting Insulin to your screening lets you catch the issue at the earliest reversible stage. The Diabetes Screening Panel ($59.99) bundles all three.
Bundle and save with the Diabetes Screening Panel
Running A1c, Fasting Glucose, and Fasting Insulin separately would cost about $65 individually. The Diabetes Screening Panel bundles all three for $59.99 — the most useful combination for anyone with a family history of diabetes, mild fatigue, weight that's been creeping up, or any prior pre-diabetic A1c reading. Quest Direct charges $100 for the equivalent.
What's in the panel
Diabetes Screening Panel
Catch insulin resistance years before symptoms appear
$100 at Quest Direct
3 tests · 1-3 day results · doctor-reviewed
Markers included (3)
+ $6 lab fee · HSA / FSA accepted
Or pick a different panel
Other panels for your goal.
Each one bundles markers your provider would order together — same lab visit, lower per-marker price than ordering them separately.
Pre-Diabetes Panel
Pre-diabetes-focused screen
Early detection is the best prevention
5 tests · 1-3 days
Insulin Resistance Panel
Deeper metabolic workup
Catch insulin resistance years before diabetes develops
3 tests · 1-3 days
Essential Health Panel
Annual checkup that includes A1c
The annual checkup your doctor wishes they could order
10 tests · 1-3 days
Popular individual tests
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Real prices.
Order one, or build your own combination. Same labs as your doctor, no insurance needed.
† “Elsewhere” reflects Quest Direct retail pricing as of April 2026, the closest direct-to-consumer equivalent. Hospital + insurance pricing is typically higher.
How it works
Three steps.
That's it.
Pick your panel
Choose a panel above. Order online — under 2 minutes, no insurance needed.
Visit a lab
Walk into any Quest, Labcorp, or BioReference. Most visits under 15 minutes.
Get results in 1-3 days
Doctor-reviewed results in your secure account. Share with your doctor anytime.
Quick answers
The four things everyone asks first.
Need a doctor first?
No. A licensed physician on the TestWell network reviews and signs every order — usually within minutes of checkout.
Will my insurance cover it?
TestWell is self-pay (that's how we keep prices low). HSA/FSA cards work, and we provide an itemized receipt for any reimbursement claim.
Where do I get my blood drawn?
Walk into any of 4,000+ Quest Diagnostics or Labcorp locations. Most don't require an appointment — just bring your phone with the requisition.
How fast are the results?
Most results land in your TestWell portal within 1-3 business days. You'll get an email and a portal notification the moment they're ready.
Common questions
Before you order.
The questions every paid visitor asks before they add to cart, answered plainly.
No. A1c measures the average glucose attached to your red blood cells over the past 90 days, so a recent meal doesn't affect the result — fasting isn't required. If you're ordering A1c alongside Fasting Glucose or Fasting Insulin (e.g., the Diabetes Screening Panel), fasting 10-12 hours is required for those tests. Water is okay either way.
One step away
Ready to know
what's actually going on?
No insurance. No referral. No waiting room. Doctor-reviewed lab results in 1-3 days.
200+ tests available. No subscription. HSA / FSA accepted.