---
title: Hemoglobin A1c Test
type: test
id: hemoglobin-a1c
url: "https://www.test-well.com/tests/hemoglobin-a1c"
price_usd: 21.99
lab_fee_usd: 6
all_in_usd: 27.99
cpt: 83036
category: Diabetes & Blood Sugar
sample: Blood draw
fasting_required: false
results_in: "2–4 business days"
labs:
  - Quest
  - Labcorp
  - BioReference
orderable: true
reviewed_at: 2026-09-14
order_url: "https://www.test-well.com/cart?add=hemoglobin-a1c&utm_source=ai_agent&utm_medium=markdown"
---

# Hemoglobin A1c Test

> 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 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.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Price | $21.99 + $6 lab processing fee per order ($27.99 all-in for this test alone) |
| CPT code | 83036 |
| Sample | Blood draw |
| Fasting | Not required |
| 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 Hemoglobin A1c test tell you?

Your 2–3 month blood sugar average — the gold standard for diabetes screening and monitoring.

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.

**Clinical use:** Reflects average blood-glucose levels over the past 2-3 months. The standard test for diagnosing and monitoring type 2 diabetes and prediabetes.

## Who should order it?

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.

## Biomarkers measured

- [Hemoglobin A1c](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/hemoglobin-a1c)

## Price by lab

| Lab | Test price | All-in (with $6 fee) | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Quest Diagnostics | $21.99 | $27.99 | Choose at checkout; walk-in patient service centers nationwide (not NY/NJ) |
| Labcorp | $22.99 | $28.99 | Choose at checkout; walk-in patient service centers nationwide (not NY/NJ) |
| BioReference (NY & NJ) | $24.99 | $30.99 | 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 Hemoglobin A1c test cost?

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.

| Where you order | Price | One test, all-in | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| TestWell (drawn at Quest or Labcorp) | $21.99 | $27.99 | Includes the one $6 lab processing fee, charged once per order |
| Quest Health (Quest Diagnostics' own site) | $39.00 | $39.00 | [list price checked 2026-09-12](https://www.questhealth.com/product/hemoglobin-a1c-test/496M.html) |
| Labcorp OnDemand (Labcorp's own site) | $39.00 | $39.00 | [list price checked 2026-09-12](https://www.ondemand.labcorp.com/lab-tests/diabetes-risk-hbA1c-test) |
| Hospital outpatient lab, self-pay (typical) | $100.00 | $100.00 | Reference figure; hospital charges vary widely by facility and are often higher |

Lab test codes: Quest test code 10379 · Labcorp test no. 001453 · BioReference code 0102-4.

## How do you prepare?

No fasting required. Can be drawn at any time of day.

## Related conditions

- [Type 2 diabetes](https://www.test-well.com/conditions/diabetes-screening) (E11.9)
- [Prediabetes](https://www.test-well.com/conditions/diabetes-screening) (R73.03)
- Type 1 diabetes (E10.9)
- Gestational diabetes (O24.4)

## Is the Hemoglobin A1c worth it?

> 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.

### Worth it if you…

- Adults 35+ or anyone overweight with a family history of diabetes (routine screening)
- People with prediabetes tracking whether diet and exercise are working
- Anyone with diabetes checking control between doctor visits (target is usually under 7%)
- People on a GLP-1 (semaglutide/tirzepatide) who want to document metabolic progress

### You can probably wait if you…

- You checked a normal A1c in the last 3 months - it barely moves faster than that
- You have a condition that skews A1c (recent transfusion, some anemias) - a fasting glucose or fructosamine may be better

### At home or in the lab?

At-home collection is available. 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.

### How do you read the results?

| Result | Typical adult range | What an out-of-range value can mean |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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; last reviewed 2026-06-20._

## Common questions about the Hemoglobin A1c test

### What is Hemoglobin A1c?

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.

### What A1c level is considered diabetic?

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.

### Do I need to fast for an A1c test?

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](https://www.test-well.com/tests/glucose-fasting) if you want both snapshots in one draw.)

### How much does a Hemoglobin A1c test cost without insurance?

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.

### What is the CPT code for Hemoglobin A1c?

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.

### What's the difference between A1c and fasting glucose?

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](https://www.test-well.com/tests/diabetes-screening-panel) bundles both plus insulin.

### Can I get an A1c at LabCorp or Quest near me?

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.

### How often should I test A1c?

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 vs fasting glucose - which should I order?

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](https://www.test-well.com/tests/glucose) or [fasting insulin](https://www.test-well.com/tests/insulin-fasting) helps clarify insulin resistance.

### How much does an A1c cost without insurance?

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.

## How to order

1. Add to cart: https://www.test-well.com/cart?add=hemoglobin-a1c&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

- [Blood Tests to Get at 40](https://www.test-well.com/guides/blood-tests-at-40)
- [A1c Levels Explained: Normal Ranges, Prediabetes Cutoffs, and What Can Skew Your Number](https://www.test-well.com/guides/a1c-levels-explained)
- [GLP-1 Lab Monitoring: Bloodwork for Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro & Zepbound](https://www.test-well.com/guides/glp1-lab-monitoring)
- [Fatty Liver Panel](https://www.test-well.com/tests/fatty-liver-panel) — 6 tests · $92.99
- [PCOS Panel](https://www.test-well.com/tests/pcos-panel) — 9 tests · $240.99
- [Diabetes Screening Panel](https://www.test-well.com/tests/diabetes-screening-panel) — 3 tests · $59.99
- [Glucose](https://www.test-well.com/tests/glucose-basic) — $14.99
- [All Diabetes & Blood Sugar tests](https://www.test-well.com/tests/category/diabetes-blood-sugar)
- [Full test directory](https://www.test-well.com/tests/directory)

---

Medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD (Medical Reviewer, TestWell); last reviewed 2026-09-14. Review policy: https://www.test-well.com/reviewers/youmna-distefano-md

Canonical page: https://www.test-well.com/tests/hemoglobin-a1c
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.