Also known as: HbA1c, A1C Test, Glycated Hemoglobin
On your lab requisition: Quest “Hemoglobin A1c with eAG with Reflex to 1, 5-Anhydroglucitol (1, 5-AG)” (test code 10379)BioReference “Hemoglobin A1c (Glycohgb)” (test code 0102-4)
The short answer
Your 2–3 month blood sugar average — the gold standard for diabetes screening and monitoring, measured from a standard blood draw. At TestWell it costs $21.99 plus a $6 lab processing fee, needs no fasting, and results post in 2–4 business days. Physician-authorized with no doctor's visit or insurance needed; draw at Quest or Labcorp.
Hospital Lab
$100
cash pay
Other Labs
$45
+ lab fees
TestWell
$21.99
+ $6 lab processing fee
Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) measures the percentage of hemoglobin in your red blood cells that has sugar attached to it. Because red blood cells live for about 3 months, this test reflects your average blood sugar over the past 2–3 months. It's the primary test for diagnosing and monitoring diabetes and prediabetes. An A1c below 5.7% is normal, 5.7–6.4% indicates prediabetes, and 6.5% or above indicates diabetes.
Reflects average blood-glucose levels over the past 2-3 months. The standard test for diagnosing and monitoring type 2 diabetes and prediabetes.
Anyone with frequent thirst, frequent urination, unexplained fatigue, family history of diabetes, BMI over 25, on GLP-1 medications, or screening annually after age 35.
Sample Type
Blood draw
Fasting
Not required
Results In
2–4 business days
Performed At
Quest or Labcorp
Your Hemoglobin A1c 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 2–4 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.
No fasting required. Can be drawn at any time of day.
What can throw off this result
Physician-reviewed “Before your test” pages — what each factor does, for how long, and what to do about it.
The short answer
Yes for anyone screening for or managing diabetes. A1c is the single most useful blood-sugar test because it reflects your average glucose over the past 2-3 months in one number - no fasting, no glucose drink, one draw.
We would rather you order the right test than the most expensive one.
A1c can be run from a fingerstick, but the lab-grade version we use is a venous draw at Quest or Labcorp (or an at-home mobile draw where offered), which is the standard for a diagnosis. No fasting is required, so you can be tested at any time of day.
The markers that matter most and what an out-of-range value can mean. Reference ranges vary by lab, age and sex.
| Marker | Typical range | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| HbA1c | Under 5.7% = normal | 5.7-6.4% is prediabetes; 6.5% or higher on two tests meets the threshold for diabetes. |
| Estimated average glucose (eAG) | ~117 mg/dL at 5.7% | A translation of A1c into a day-to-day glucose number; ~154 mg/dL corresponds to an A1c of 7%. |
This section medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD — updated June 2026. General health information, not medical advice; interpret results with a qualified clinician.
A Hemoglobin A1c test costs $21.99 at TestWell — $27.99 all-in when ordered alone, because the $6 lab processing fee is charged once per order, with no draw fee or physician fee added. Ordered directly from the labs' own consumer sites, the same test lists at $39.00 at Quest Health and $39.00 at Labcorp OnDemand (list prices checked Sep 12, 2026). Hospital outpatient labs typically bill around $100.00 self-pay for the same test, and often more. With insurance, what you pay depends on your deductible and your plan's negotiated rate; TestWell's price is fixed before the draw and is HSA/FSA-eligible. Full cost breakdown →
| Where you order | Price | One test, all-in | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| TestWell (drawn at Quest) | $21.99 | $27.99 | Includes the one $6 lab processing fee, charged once per order |
| TestWell (drawn at Labcorp) | $22.99 | $28.99 | Labcorp's own cost for this test is higher; same order, same portal, same physician review |
| TestWell (drawn at BioReference — New York & New Jersey) | $24.99 | $30.99 | New York and New Jersey orders route to BioReference; Quest Health and Labcorp OnDemand don't take self-ordered draws in those states |
| Quest Health (Quest Diagnostics' own site) | $39.00 | $39.00 | list price checked Sep 12, 2026 |
| Labcorp OnDemand (Labcorp's own site) | $39.00 | $39.00 | list price checked Sep 12, 2026 |
| Hospital outpatient lab, self-pay (typical) | $100.00 | $100.00 | Reference figure; hospital charges vary widely by facility and are often higher |
28% less than the lower lab-direct list price, for the same draw at the same lab. Lab test codes: Quest test code 10379 · Labcorp test no. 001453 · BioReference code 0102-4. 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
A1c (also called HbA1c or glycated hemoglobin) measures the percentage of red blood cells with sugar attached. Because red cells live ~3 months, A1c reflects your average blood sugar over that window — much more useful than a single glucose reading.
Normal: under 5.7%. Prediabetes: 5.7-6.4%. Diabetes: 6.5% or higher (confirmed with a second test). Treatment goals are usually under 7% for most adults with diabetes, or under 6.5% if achievable without hypoglycemia.
No — A1c reflects 2-3 months of glucose data, so a single meal can't move it. You can eat and drink normally before the test. (Pair with a fasting glucose if you want both snapshots in one draw.)
On TestWell the A1c is $21.99. Quest Direct lists the same test at $45, walk-in hospital labs typically bill $80-100 without insurance. Same CLIA-certified labs, same biomarker — TestWell just removes the hospital markup.
The CPT code for Hemoglobin A1c is 83036. Some lab reports also bill 83037 (point-of-care variant). Cash-pay patients don't need a CPT code to order through TestWell.
Fasting glucose is a snapshot of this morning's blood sugar; A1c is your 3-month average. Both have value: glucose catches acute spikes, A1c catches chronic elevation. The Diabetes Panel bundles both plus insulin.
Yes — A1c is available at both Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp patient service centers nationwide. After you order on TestWell, pick whichever lab you prefer and we'll generate a digital requisition for any of their walk-in locations.
Every 6-12 months if you're prediabetic, every 3-6 months if you're managing diabetes, and yearly screening after age 35 if you have risk factors. People on GLP-1 medications (Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy) typically retest every 3 months.
A1c shows your average over 2-3 months and needs no fasting; fasting glucose is a single snapshot that morning. A1c is the better screening and monitoring test for most people. If your A1c is borderline, adding a fasting glucose or fasting insulin helps clarify insulin resistance.
On TestWell it is a low cash-pay price with no doctor visit or insurance required - typically a fraction of the $50-100 hospital labs bill uninsured patients. Same Quest or Labcorp analysis, results in 1-3 business days.
Ordered directly, a Hemoglobin A1c test lists at $39.00 at Quest Health (Quest Diagnostics' own site) and $39.00 at Labcorp OnDemand (prices checked September 2026). TestWell orders the same test at the same Quest or Labcorp patient service centers for $21.99 — $27.99 all-in with the $6 per-order lab processing fee — paid out of pocket at checkout with no insurance, doctor's visit or draw fee; HSA and FSA cards are accepted.
Hemoglobin A1c 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.
Peptides and GLP-1s and keto and high-protein diets can change a Hemoglobin A1c test result without anything being wrong. Peptides and GLP-1s can lower Hemoglobin A1c — expected treatment effect — A1c is the monitoring marker, not a reason to stop. Keto and high-protein diets can lower Hemoglobin A1c — none needed — expected improvement. Each factor is covered on our physician-reviewed "Before your test" pages; when one applies, the fix is usually to remove it and retest.
The Hemoglobin A1c test is Quest Diagnostics test code 10379 ("Hemoglobin A1c with eAG with Reflex to 1, 5-Anhydroglucitol (1, 5-AG)"), Labcorp test number 001453, BioReference code 0102-4 ("Hemoglobin A1c (Glycohgb)") (CPT 83036). TestWell orders it under those codes for $21.99 at Quest, Labcorp or BioReference — no doctor's visit or insurance required, results in 2–4 business days. Codes verified against the labs' catalogs in 2026.
Medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD · Last reviewed September 2026
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A1c Levels Explained: Normal Ranges, Prediabetes Cutoffs, and What Can Skew Your Number
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GLP-1 Lab Monitoring: Bloodwork for Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro & Zepbound
TestWell Price
$21.99
+ $6 lab processing fee at checkout
No insurance needed · HIPAA compliant
Better value: the Diabetes Screening Panel
Save $9.98This test is part of the Diabetes Screening Panel — 3 tests · 3 biomarkers for $59.99, $9.98 less than à la carte.
$59.99$69.97
3 tests · 3 biomarkers
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