The short answer
Assesses short-term nutritional status and protein levels — more sensitive than albumin for detecting malnutrition, measured from a standard blood draw. At TestWell it costs $29.99 plus a $6 lab fee, needs no fasting, and results post in 1–3 business days. Physician-authorized with no doctor's visit or insurance needed; draw at Quest or Labcorp.
Hospital Lab
$150
cash pay
Other Labs
$49
+ lab fees
TestWell
$29.99
+ $6 lab fee
Prealbumin (transthyretin) is a protein produced by the liver that transports thyroid hormones and vitamin A. Because it has a much shorter half-life (2–3 days) than albumin (20 days), prealbumin responds more quickly to changes in nutritional status, making it a more sensitive marker for early malnutrition or recovery from nutritional intervention. Low prealbumin can indicate protein-calorie malnutrition, liver disease, inflammation, or hyperthyroidism. It is widely used in hospital settings but is also valuable for outpatients monitoring nutritional status during weight loss programs, eating disorder recovery, chronic illness, or post-surgical healing.
General health testing provides a baseline snapshot of organ function, metabolism, and key biomarkers — useful for annual checkups, preventive care, and tracking changes over time.
Adults wanting a routine wellness baseline, anyone re-engaging with healthcare after a gap, and people tracking the impact of lifestyle or medication changes.
Sample Type
Blood draw
Fasting
Not required
Results In
1–3 business days
Performed At
Quest or Labcorp
Your Prealbumin 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 1–3 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.
No fasting or special preparation required.
A Prealbumin test costs $29.99 at TestWell — $35.99 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 $150.00 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) | $29.99 | $35.99 | Includes the one $6 lab processing fee, charged once per order |
| Hospital outpatient lab, self-pay (typical) | $150.00 | $150.00 | Reference figure; hospital charges vary widely by facility and are often higher |
Lab test codes: Quest test code 4847 · Labcorp test no. 016931 · BioReference code 1006-6. 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
Medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD · Last reviewed September 2026
TestWell Price
$29.99
+ $6 lab processing fee at checkout
No insurance needed · HIPAA compliant
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Prealbumin
$29.99