--- title: Omega-3 Index Test type: test id: omega-3-index url: "https://www.test-well.com/tests/omega-3-index" price_usd: 69.99 lab_fee_usd: 6 all_in_usd: 75.99 category: Heart Health sample: Blood draw fasting_required: false results_in: "7–10 business days" labs: - Quest orderable: true reviewed_at: 2026-09-14 order_url: "https://www.test-well.com/cart?add=omega-3-index&utm_source=ai_agent&utm_medium=markdown" --- # Omega-3 Index Test > Omega-3 Index measures Omega-3 Index (%), EPA and DHA plus 2 more from a standard blood draw. At TestWell it costs $69.99 plus a $6 lab fee, needs no fasting, and results post in 7–10 business days. Physician-authorized with no doctor's visit or insurance needed; draw at Quest. ## Key facts | Fact | Value | | --- | --- | | Price | $69.99 + $6 lab processing fee per order ($75.99 all-in for this test alone) | | Sample | Blood draw | | Fasting | Not required | | Results | 7–10 business days | | Labs | Quest Diagnostics | | Biomarkers measured | 5 | | 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 Omega-3 Index test tell you? Measures omega-3 fatty acid levels (EPA + DHA) in red blood cells — a key marker of heart and brain health. The Omega-3 Index measures the percentage of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids in your red blood cell membranes. Unlike a simple blood level, the index reflects your average omega-3 intake over the past 2–3 months. An index of 8% or higher is associated with the lowest cardiovascular risk, while below 4% is considered high-risk. Low omega-3 levels are linked to inflammation, depression, cognitive decline, and increased risk of sudden cardiac death. **Clinical use:** RBC membrane EPA + DHA expressed as % of total fatty acids. Sustained omega-3 index ≥8% is associated with the lowest cardiovascular and all-cause mortality risk in long-term studies. ## Who should order it? Anyone optimizing cardiovascular risk beyond standard lipid management, fish-oil supplement users wanting to verify absorption/dose, athletes monitoring recovery markers, or pregnant women optimizing DHA for fetal brain development. ## Biomarkers measured - [Omega-3 Index (%)](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/omega-3-index) - [EPA](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/epa) - [DHA](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/dha) - Omega-6/Omega-3 Ratio - AA/EPA Ratio ## Price by lab | Lab | Test price | All-in (with $6 fee) | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Quest Diagnostics | $69.99 | $75.99 | Choose at checkout; walk-in patient service centers nationwide (not NY/NJ) | 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 Omega-3 Index test cost? A Omega-3 Index test costs $69.99 at TestWell — $75.99 all-in when ordered alone, because the $6 lab processing fee is charged once per order, with no draw fee or physician fee added. Hospital outpatient labs typically bill around $250.00 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) | $69.99 | $75.99 | Includes the one $6 lab processing fee, charged once per order | | Hospital outpatient lab, self-pay (typical) | $250.00 | $250.00 | Reference figure; hospital charges vary widely by facility and are often higher | Lab test codes: Quest test code 92701. ## How do you prepare? No fasting required. Do not take fish oil supplements for 48 hours before testing for a baseline reading. ## Related conditions - [Cardiovascular disease risk](https://www.test-well.com/conditions/heart-disease-risk) - Sudden cardiac death risk (I46.9) - Cognitive decline risk (G31.84) ## Common questions about the Omega-3 Index test ### What's a healthy Omega-3 Index? ≥8% is the target (associated with lowest cardiovascular mortality). 4-8% is intermediate; <4% is high risk. Average American: 4-5%. Japanese population (where the original studies were done): 7-9%. ### How much does the Omega-3 Index cost without insurance? TestWell charges $69.99 — vs $99 retail from OmegaQuant (the original lab). Quest and Labcorp don't run this test in-house. ### Do I need to fast? No fasting required. Take supplements as usual — the test measures long-term incorporation into RBC membranes, not recent intake. ### How often should I retest? Every 3-4 months when changing supplement dose or starting/stopping fish oil — RBC turnover is ~120 days, so it takes that long to see a stable new baseline. Annually for maintenance once optimized. ### How much fish oil do I need to reach 8%? Highly variable — depends on baseline, body weight, EPA/DHA ratio in the supplement, and genetics. Most people need 1500-3000 mg combined EPA+DHA daily to move from 4% baseline to 8% over 3-4 months. Retest to verify. ## How to order 1. Add to cart: https://www.test-well.com/cart?add=omega-3-index&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 patient service center — no appointment needed at most sites. 5. Results post to your TestWell portal in 7–10 business days with reference ranges and flags. ## Related - [Longevity & Anti-Aging Panel](https://www.test-well.com/tests/longevity-panel) — 13 tests · $239.99 - [Healthy Aging Panel](https://www.test-well.com/tests/healthy-aging-panel) — 15 tests · $299.99 - [Total Body Panel](https://www.test-well.com/tests/total-body-panel) — 49 tests · $499.99 - [Advanced Cholesterol Particle Test (NMR)](https://www.test-well.com/tests/nmr-lipoprofile) — $70.99 - [ApoB — Heart Attack Risk Predictor](https://www.test-well.com/tests/apolipoprotein-b) — $30.99 - [ApoE Genotype (Cardiovascular Risk)](https://www.test-well.com/tests/apoe-genotype-cardio) — $133.99 - [Fibrinogen Activity](https://www.test-well.com/tests/fibrinogen-test) — $22.99 - [Homocysteine](https://www.test-well.com/tests/homocysteine) — $27.99 - [All Heart Health tests](https://www.test-well.com/tests/category/heart-health) - [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/omega-3-index 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.