--- title: Growth Hormone (GH), Serum Test type: test id: growth-hormone url: "https://www.test-well.com/tests/growth-hormone" price_usd: 49.99 lab_fee_usd: 6 all_in_usd: 55.99 category: Hormones sample: Blood draw fasting_required: true results_in: "2–4 business days" labs: - Quest - Labcorp - BioReference orderable: true reviewed_at: 2026-10-15 order_url: "https://www.test-well.com/cart?add=growth-hormone&utm_source=ai_agent&utm_medium=markdown" --- # Growth Hormone (GH), Serum Test > A single serum growth hormone (GH) level — the pituitary hormone behind growth, muscle and metabolism, measured from a standard blood draw. At TestWell it costs $49.99 plus a $6 lab processing fee, requires an 8–12 hour fast, and results post in 2–4 business days. Physician-authorized with no doctor's visit or insurance needed; draw at Quest or Labcorp. **Also known as:** HGH Test, Human Growth Hormone Test, Somatotropin Test, GH Blood Test, HGH Serum Test ## Key facts | Fact | Value | | --- | --- | | Price | $49.99 + $6 lab processing fee per order ($55.99 all-in for this test alone) | | Sample | Blood draw | | Fasting | Yes — 8–12 hours | | Results | 2–4 business days | | Labs | Quest Diagnostics, Labcorp, BioReference (NY & NJ) | | Biomarkers measured | 1 | | Physician authorization | Included — no doctor's visit, referral or insurance needed | | Payment | Card, HSA or FSA; cash-pay only (no insurance billing) | ## What does the Growth Hormone (GH), Serum test tell you? A single serum growth hormone (GH) level — the pituitary hormone behind growth, muscle and metabolism. Because GH is released in pulses, most people pair it with IGF-1; this is the test for monitoring on a GH-related protocol or completing a pituitary work-up. Growth hormone (somatotropin) is made by the pituitary gland and released in short pulses, mostly during deep sleep and after exercise, with very low levels in between. That pulsatile pattern is the most important thing to know about this test: a single random GH level is a snapshot that can read near zero in a perfectly healthy adult and briefly high in another, which is why a one-off GH value is not used on its own to diagnose growth hormone deficiency or excess — clinicians rely on stimulation or suppression tests for that, and on IGF-1 as the steadier day-to-day marker of GH activity. Where a serum GH level earns its place is monitoring: people on a growth-hormone or secretagogue protocol tracking a trend alongside IGF-1, and pituitary evaluations where a provider has asked for a baseline GH. Draw it fasting, in the morning, after 30 minutes of rest — food, exercise and stress all push GH up — and read it next to IGF-1 rather than alone. Measured by immunoassay at Quest or Labcorp (BioReference in New York and New Jersey); the same Quest 521 / Labcorp 004275 tests other direct-access services charge $47–99 for. ## Biomarkers measured - Growth Hormone (GH) ## Price by lab | Lab | Test price | All-in (with $6 fee) | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Quest Diagnostics | $49.99 | $55.99 | Choose at checkout; walk-in patient service centers nationwide (not NY/NJ) | | Labcorp | $49.99 | $55.99 | Choose at checkout; walk-in patient service centers nationwide (not NY/NJ) | | BioReference (NY & NJ) | $49.99 | $55.99 | New York and New Jersey orders route here automatically | Rhode Island is not served. Prices are identical online and in the lab; no draw fee or physician fee is added. ## How much does a Growth Hormone (GH), Serum test cost? A Growth Hormone (GH), Serum test costs $49.99 at TestWell — $55.99 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 $200.00 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 or Labcorp) | $49.99 | $55.99 | Includes the one $6 lab processing fee, charged once per order | | Hospital outpatient lab, self-pay (typical) | $200.00 | $200.00 | Reference figure; hospital charges vary widely by facility and are often higher | ## How do you prepare? Fast 8–12 hours (water is fine) and sit quietly for 30 minutes before the draw — food, exercise and stress all raise GH. A morning draw is preferred. Stop high-dose biotin 72 hours before (immunoassay). Keep taking prescribed medications unless your prescriber says otherwise. ## Common questions about the Growth Hormone (GH), Serum test ### How long does it take to get Growth Hormone (GH), Serum test results? Growth Hormone (GH), Serum test results are typically ready in 2–4 business days after your draw at Quest or Labcorp. TestWell emails you the moment they post, and your results dashboard shows each marker against its reference range with a plain-English explanation. ### Do I need to fast, or can I eat before a Growth Hormone (GH), Serum test? Yes. Fast 8–12 hours (water is fine) and sit quietly for 30 minutes before the draw — food, exercise and stress all raise GH. A morning draw is preferred. Stop high-dose biotin 72 hours before (immunoassay). Keep taking prescribed medications unless your prescriber says otherwise. The [fasting before blood work guide](https://www.test-well.com/prep/fasting) covers how long to fast, what you can drink, and which results eating changes. ### Where can I get a Growth Hormone (GH), Serum test near me without a doctor? Order the Growth Hormone (GH), Serum test online from TestWell for $49.99 (plus a $6 per-order lab processing fee) — no doctor's visit, referral or insurance needed. A licensed physician authorizes the order, then you walk into any Quest or Labcorp patient service center near you for the draw (the lab locator on our site lists the closest ones by ZIP code), and results arrive in 2–4 business days. ## How to order 1. Add to cart: https://www.test-well.com/cart?add=growth-hormone&utm_source=ai_agent&utm_medium=markdown 2. Create an account or sign in, confirm your state and preferred lab, pay by card, HSA or FSA. 3. A licensed physician authorizes the order (usually within minutes); the requisition arrives by email. 4. Walk into any Quest Diagnostics, Labcorp, BioReference (NY & NJ) patient service center — no appointment needed at most sites. 5. Results post to your TestWell portal in 2–4 business days with reference ranges and flags. ## Related - [Adiponectin](https://www.test-well.com/tests/adiponectin) — $36.99 - [Aldosterone](https://www.test-well.com/tests/aldosterone-test) — $61.99 - [Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH) Profile](https://www.test-well.com/tests/antidiuretic-hormone-profile) — $109.99 - [Cortisol (AM)](https://www.test-well.com/tests/cortisol-am) — $26.99 - [Cortisol, PM](https://www.test-well.com/tests/cortisol-pm) — $34.99 - [All Hormones tests](https://www.test-well.com/tests/category/hormones) - [Full test directory](https://www.test-well.com/tests/directory) --- Medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD (Medical Reviewer, TestWell); last reviewed 2026-10-15. Review policy: https://www.test-well.com/reviewers/youmna-distefano-md Canonical page: https://www.test-well.com/tests/growth-hormone Machine-readable catalog: https://www.test-well.com/api/catalog.json · MCP server: https://www.test-well.com/mcp · Overview for agents: https://www.test-well.com/llms.txt Prices are cash-pay, in USD, and include physician authorization; every order adds one flat $6 lab processing fee. Educational content is not a diagnosis — discuss results with a clinician.