--- title: IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor) Test type: test id: igf-1 url: "https://www.test-well.com/tests/igf-1-test" price_usd: 37.99 lab_fee_usd: 6 all_in_usd: 43.99 cpt: 84305 category: Hormones sample: Blood draw fasting_required: false results_in: "3–5 business days" labs: - Quest - Labcorp - BioReference orderable: true reviewed_at: 2026-09-14 order_url: "https://www.test-well.com/cart?add=igf-1-test&utm_source=ai_agent&utm_medium=markdown" --- # IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor) Test > Measures IGF-1, a key marker of growth hormone activity linked to aging, muscle health, and metabolic function, measured from a standard blood draw. At TestWell it costs $37.99 plus a $6 lab fee, needs no fasting, and results post in 3–5 business days. Physician-authorized with no doctor's visit or insurance needed; draw at Quest or Labcorp. ## Key facts | Fact | Value | | --- | --- | | Price | $37.99 + $6 lab processing fee per order ($43.99 all-in for this test alone) | | CPT code | 84305 | | Sample | Blood draw | | Fasting | Not required | | Results | 3–5 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 IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor) test tell you? Measures IGF-1, a key marker of growth hormone activity linked to aging, muscle health, and metabolic function. Reported with an age- and sex-adjusted Z-score. IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor 1) is produced by the liver in response to growth hormone and mediates many of its effects on muscle, bone, and tissue repair. It is a key biomarker in longevity research — both deficiency and excess are associated with health risks. Low levels may indicate growth hormone deficiency, malnutrition, or liver disease. Elevated levels have been associated with certain cancer risks. Optimal levels support lean body mass, bone density, and cognitive function. Because normal IGF-1 falls steadily with age and differs by sex, the report includes a Z-score — how many standard deviations your value sits from the mean for your age and sex — alongside the ng/mL result and reference range. **Clinical use:** Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 — the stable downstream marker of growth hormone activity. Used to evaluate suspected GH deficiency or excess (acromegaly), monitor GH/peptide therapies, and assess longevity status. ## Who should order it? Anyone on or considering growth hormone or GH-secreting peptides (sermorelin, ipamorelin, CJC-1295, MK-677), patients evaluated for acromegaly or pituitary disease, longevity protocols, athletes monitoring recovery markers. ## Biomarkers measured - [IGF-1](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/igf-1) ## Price by lab | Lab | Test price | All-in (with $6 fee) | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Quest Diagnostics | $37.99 | $43.99 | Choose at checkout; walk-in patient service centers nationwide (not NY/NJ) | | Labcorp | $37.99 | $43.99 | Choose at checkout; walk-in patient service centers nationwide (not NY/NJ) | | BioReference (NY & NJ) | $37.99 | $43.99 | 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 IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor) test cost? A IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor) test costs $37.99 at TestWell — $43.99 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 $139.00 at Labcorp OnDemand (list prices checked Sep 12, 2026). Hospital outpatient labs typically bill around $200.00 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) | $37.99 | $43.99 | Includes the one $6 lab processing fee, charged once per order | | Labcorp OnDemand (Labcorp's own site) | $139.00 | $139.00 | [list price checked 2026-09-12](https://www.ondemand.labcorp.com/lab-tests/igf-test) | | Hospital outpatient lab, self-pay (typical) | $200.00 | $200.00 | Reference figure; hospital charges vary widely by facility and are often higher | Lab test codes: Quest test code 16293 · Labcorp test no. 010540 · BioReference code 1072-8. ## How do you prepare? No fasting required. ## Related conditions - Growth hormone deficiency (E23.0) - Acromegaly (E22.0) - Hypopituitarism (E23.0) - Adult-onset GH deficiency (E23.0) ## Is the IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor) worth it? > Worth it if you're monitoring growth-hormone-axis therapy (GH, secretagogues, or GH-releasing peptides) or investigating a possible GH excess or deficiency with your clinician. IGF-1 is the standard proxy for growth hormone activity because it's stable through the day - one $37.99 draw, no special timing. ### Worth it if you… - Anyone using GH secretagogue or GH-releasing peptide therapy who wants objective evidence of what it's doing - IGF-1 is THE marker that moves - Baseline-then-retest around any intervention targeting the GH axis (the baseline is what makes the retest interpretable) - Working up symptoms of adult GH deficiency or excess (acromegaly) alongside a clinician - Biohackers tracking recovery/anabolic status who want a number instead of a feeling ### You can probably wait if you… - You expect it to diagnose anything alone - IGF-1 is a screening/monitoring marker; confirmation of deficiency or excess involves stimulation/suppression testing a clinician orders - You want a general 'aging' readout - IGF-1 declines with age normally, and chasing a young reference range with therapy is a clinical decision, not a lab goal - You're on high-dose biotin - pause it 48 hours before the draw (assay interference) ### At home or in the lab? At-home collection is not recommended for this test. Standard venous draw at Quest or Labcorp - IGF-1 is stable through the day (unlike growth hormone itself, which pulses), so no fasting and no timing requirements. $37.99 self-pay vs $50 at Quest's consumer store; results in 3-5 business days. ### How do you read the results? | Result | Typical adult range | What an out-of-range value can mean | | --- | --- | --- | | IGF-1 | Age-dependent - labs report an age-adjusted range | IGF-1 naturally peaks in adolescence and declines steadily with age, so results only mean something against your age bracket's range (the report shows it). Within-range and feeling fine = the GH axis is doing its job. Persistently high warrants clinical evaluation (GH excess); low with symptoms is a conversation with a clinician about whether formal GH-deficiency workup makes sense. | _This section medically reviewed; last reviewed 2026-08-04._ ## Common questions about the IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor) test ### Why test IGF-1 instead of growth hormone directly? Growth hormone is released in short pulses, mostly at night — a random GH measurement is meaningless. IGF-1 is produced by the liver in response to GH and stays stable across the day, making it the standard surrogate for GH activity. One IGF-1 draw replaces multi-hour GH stimulation testing in most cases. ### What's a normal IGF-1 level? Highly age-dependent. Adults 20-30: 200-400 ng/mL. 30-50: 130-300. 50-70: 100-225. Above 70: 80-180. Always interpret against the age-specific Z-score on your report. Above the age range can indicate acromegaly; below suggests adult GH deficiency. ### Does this IGF-1 test report a Z-score? Yes. At Quest (IGF-1 by LC/MS, test code 16293) and Labcorp (IGF-1 with Z-Score, test code 010540) the report includes a numerical age- and sex-adjusted Z-score alongside the IGF-1 concentration in ng/mL and its reference range. A Z-score of 0 is the mean for your age and sex; roughly −2 to +2 covers about 95% of healthy people. Endocrinologists ask for it because IGF-1 declines with age, so the same ng/mL value can be normal at 55 and low at 25 — it is the number used in growth hormone deficiency and acromegaly work-ups and in pre-operative evaluations. Orders drawn at BioReference (New York and New Jersey) report the concentration and reference range without a Z-score. ### Why test IGF-1 on peptide therapy? GH-releasing peptides (sermorelin, ipamorelin, CJC-1295, MK-677) work by stimulating endogenous GH release. IGF-1 is the only reliable way to confirm the peptides are actually working and to titrate dose. Baseline + 8-12 weeks on therapy is the standard protocol. ### How much does an IGF-1 test cost without insurance? On TestWell, IGF-1 is $37.99. Quest Direct lists the same test at $50, walk-in hospital labs and endocrinology clinics typically bill $150-200 without insurance. ### What is the CPT code for IGF-1? The CPT code for IGF-1 (Somatomedin-C) is 84305. ### Do I need to fast? No fasting required for IGF-1 alone. Morning draw preferred for serial monitoring consistency. ### Should I test IGF-BP3 with IGF-1? Usually not necessary. IGF-BP3 was historically used as a confirmatory marker but rarely changes management vs IGF-1 alone. Order it only if your endocrinologist specifically requests it for an acromegaly workup. ### How do I use IGF-1 to monitor peptide therapy? Draw a baseline BEFORE starting, then retest after a consistent interval on-protocol (commonly 8-12 weeks) under the same conditions. The delta is your objective answer to 'is this doing anything?'. Timing relative to your last dose matters less than for testosterone because IGF-1 integrates GH activity over days - but keep it consistent anyway. ### What does a high IGF-1 mean? On GH-axis therapy it usually means the therapy is having a strong effect - worth discussing dose with whoever supervises your protocol, since chronically supraphysiologic IGF-1 is the parameter clinicians watch. Without any therapy in the picture, a persistently elevated IGF-1 deserves clinical evaluation for GH excess. ## How to order 1. Add to cart: https://www.test-well.com/cart?add=igf-1-test&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 3–5 business days with reference ranges and flags. ## Related - [Peptide Therapy Bloodwork: What to Test for Safety and Results](https://www.test-well.com/guides/peptide-therapy-bloodwork) - [Men's Hormone Panel](https://www.test-well.com/tests/mens-hormone-panel) — 7 tests · $199.99 - [Men's Cancer Screening Panel](https://www.test-well.com/tests/mens-cancer-screening-panel) — 12 tests · $299.99 - [Women's Cancer Screening Panel](https://www.test-well.com/tests/womens-cancer-screening-panel) — 12 tests · $299.99 - [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](https://www.test-well.com/tests/cortisol-labcorp) — $32.99 - [Cortisol (AM)](https://www.test-well.com/tests/cortisol-am) — $26.99 - [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 2026-09-14. Review policy: https://www.test-well.com/reviewers/youmna-distefano-md Canonical page: https://www.test-well.com/tests/igf-1-test 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.