Also known as: CTx Blood Test, C-Telopeptide Test, Beta-CrossLaps Test, Bone Resorption Marker Test
CPT code: 82523the billing code Quest, Labcorp and hospital labs all use for this test
The short answer
CTx Bone Turnover Test (C-Telopeptide) measures C-Telopeptide (CTx), Serum from a standard blood draw. At TestWell it costs $39.99 plus a $6 lab processing fee, requires an 8–12 hour fast, and results post in 3–5 business days. Physician-authorized with no doctor's visit or insurance needed; draw at Quest or Labcorp.
TestWell Price
$39.99
+ $6 lab processing fee
Bone is constantly remodelled: old bone is resorbed and new bone laid down. When bone is resorbed, fragments of type I collagen called C-terminal telopeptides (CTx, also reported as β-CrossLaps) are released into the blood. A high CTx means resorption is running fast — as it does after menopause, with hyperparathyroidism, hyperthyroidism, long-term steroid use, or vitamin D deficiency — and a falling CTx is the earliest sign that an anti-resorptive treatment such as a bisphosphonate or denosumab is working, months before a DEXA scan can show a change. Dentists also use it before oral surgery in people on long-term bisphosphonates. Because CTx has a strong daily rhythm (highest in the early morning) and drops after eating, it should be drawn fasting and early, and always at the same time of day for comparisons. Reference ranges differ by sex and, in women, by menopausal status; the laboratory prints the one that applies to you. CTx does not measure bone density — it measures the rate of change — so it complements rather than replaces a DEXA scan.
General health testing provides a baseline snapshot of organ function, metabolism, and key biomarkers — useful for annual checkups, preventive care, and tracking changes over time.
Adults wanting a routine wellness baseline, anyone re-engaging with healthcare after a gap, and people tracking the impact of lifestyle or medication changes.
Sample Type
Blood draw
Fasting
Required
Results In
3–5 business days · typical; varies by lab and draw day
Performed At
Quest or Labcorp
1 biomarker tested
Your CTx Bone Turnover Test (C-Telopeptide) results will include values for each of the 1 biomarker tested, along with reference ranges. Results are reviewed by a licensed physician before being released to your secure portal.
If any values fall outside the normal range, your report will include guidance on what that may mean and recommended next steps. You'll receive an email notification when your results are ready, typically within 3–5 business days.
Typical reference range layout
Lab reports show where your value sits relative to established reference intervals—your physician interprets this in context for you. Already have results? Analyze them with your AI assistant against our physician-reviewed ranges.
Fast overnight (water is fine) and have your blood drawn in the morning, ideally before 10 a.m. — CTx falls after food and across the day. For follow-up tests, repeat at the same time of day at the same lab.
TestWell orders the same CTx Bone Turnover Test (C-Telopeptide) the labs run for doctors' offices, so you can walk into any of these labs with our requisition — no doctor's visit, a licensed physician authorizes the order, and most patient service centers take walk-ins. The table shows each lab's own test code, the name printed on the requisition, what the lab charges on its own consumer site, and the price through TestWell at that lab (plus one $6 fee per order).
| Lab | Test code | On the requisition | Lab's own site | Through TestWell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quest Diagnostics | — | “CTx Bone Turnover Test (C-Telopeptide)” | not sold direct | $39.99 + $6 |
| Labcorp | — | “CTx Bone Turnover Test (C-Telopeptide)” | not sold direct | $59.99 + $6 |
You choose the lab at checkout; the requisition is written for that lab and arrives by email within minutes. New York and New Jersey orders draw at BioReference. Lab-direct prices are read from the labs' public pages and re-checked regularly.
Where to get it near you: patient service centers by state and city · search by ZIP code
A CTx Bone Turnover Test (C-Telopeptide) costs $39.99 at TestWell — $45.99 all-in, since the $6 lab processing fee is charged once per order and there is no draw or physician fee. Hospital outpatient labs typically bill around $220.00 self-pay. With insurance you pay your plan's negotiated rate against your deductible; TestWell's price is fixed before the draw and HSA/FSA-eligible.
| Where you order | Price | One test, all-in | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| TestWell (drawn at Quest) | $39.99 | $45.99 | Includes the one $6 lab processing fee, charged once per order |
| TestWell (drawn at Labcorp) | $59.99 | $65.99 | Labcorp's own cost for this test is higher; same order, same portal, same physician review |
| TestWell (drawn at BioReference — New York & New Jersey) | $79.99 | $85.99 | New York and New Jersey orders route to BioReference; Quest Health and Labcorp OnDemand don't take self-ordered draws in those states |
| Hospital outpatient lab, self-pay (typical) | $220.00 | $220.00 | Reference figure; hospital charges vary widely by facility and are often higher |
Competitor prices are read from the linked public pages and re-checked regularly; the labs' sites may add taxes or change prices without notice.
Compare more: Quest Diagnostics price list · Labcorp price list · Quest vs Labcorp · Lab test price checker
Most CTx Bone Turnover Test (C-Telopeptide) results are available in 3–5 business days after your specimen arrives at the lab. You'll get an email the moment results are ready, with everything viewable in your TestWell portal.
Blood draw. A standard venous blood draw, collected at any Quest, Labcorp or BioReference patient service center — walk in with the requisition we email you, no appointment needed at most locations; fast 8–12 hours beforehand (water is fine).
On TestWell, the CTx Bone Turnover Test (C-Telopeptide) is $39.99. Walk-in hospital labs typically bill $220 or more without insurance. Insurance is not required — pay one all-in price.
Yes — fast overnight (water is fine) and have your blood drawn in the morning, ideally before 10 a.m. — CTx falls after food and across the day. For follow-up tests, repeat at the same time of day at the same lab. Following the prep instructions gives you the most accurate result.
The CTx Bone Turnover Test (C-Telopeptide) is available at Quest and Labcorp patient service centers nationwide. Order online at TestWell, pick your preferred lab, and we'll generate a digital requisition for the location closest to you.
CPT 82523. That is the billing code Quest, Labcorp and hospital laboratories all use for a CTx Bone Turnover Test (C-Telopeptide), so it is the number to match on an explanation of benefits, a doctor's order or a price list — the same code, the same test, whichever lab draws it. You do not need the code to order: TestWell sells the CTx Bone Turnover Test (C-Telopeptide) for $39.99 with the physician order included, no insurance required, and results in 3–5 business days.
Medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD · Last reviewed October 2026
TestWell Price
$39.99
+ $6 lab processing fee at checkout
No insurance needed · HIPAA compliant
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