--- title: Prolactin Test type: test id: prolactin url: "https://www.test-well.com/tests/prolactin" price_usd: 39.99 lab_fee_usd: 6 all_in_usd: 45.99 cpt: 84146 category: Fertility 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=prolactin&utm_source=ai_agent&utm_medium=markdown" --- # Prolactin Test > Measures the hormone responsible for milk production — elevated levels can affect fertility and menstrual function, measured from a standard blood draw. At TestWell it costs $39.99 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 | $39.99 + $6 lab processing fee per order ($45.99 all-in for this test alone) | | CPT code | 84146 | | 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 Prolactin test tell you? Measures the hormone responsible for milk production — elevated levels can affect fertility and menstrual function. Prolactin is a hormone primarily associated with breast milk production, but it also plays roles in reproductive health, immune regulation, and metabolism. Elevated prolactin (hyperprolactinemia) can cause irregular periods, infertility, low libido, and galactorrhea in both men and women. Common causes include pituitary adenomas, medications, and hypothyroidism. **Clinical use:** Pituitary hormone primarily responsible for milk production. Elevated prolactin (outside pregnancy/breastfeeding) can cause infertility, irregular periods, low libido, and erectile dysfunction. ## Who should order it? Women with infertility, irregular periods, unexplained breast milk discharge (galactorrhea); men with low libido or erectile dysfunction; anyone evaluating pituitary tumor (prolactinoma). ## Biomarkers measured - [Prolactin](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/prolactin) ## Price by lab | Lab | Test price | All-in (with $6 fee) | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Quest Diagnostics | $39.99 | $45.99 | Choose at checkout; walk-in patient service centers nationwide (not NY/NJ) | | Labcorp | $43.99 | $49.99 | Choose at checkout; walk-in patient service centers nationwide (not NY/NJ) | | BioReference (NY & NJ) | $45.99 | $51.99 | 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 Prolactin test cost? A Prolactin test costs $39.99 at TestWell — $45.99 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 $79.00 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) | $39.99 | $45.99 | Includes the one $6 lab processing fee, charged once per order | | Labcorp OnDemand (Labcorp's own site) | $79.00 | $79.00 | [list price checked 2026-09-12](https://www.ondemand.labcorp.com/lab-tests/prolactin-blood-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 746 · Labcorp test no. 004465 · BioReference code 0134-7. ## How do you prepare? No fasting required. Best drawn in the morning. Avoid breast stimulation before the test. ## Related conditions - Hyperprolactinemia (E22.1) - Prolactinoma (D35.2) - Female infertility (N97.9) - [Hypogonadism (low testosterone)](https://www.test-well.com/conditions/low-testosterone) (E29.1) ## Common questions about the Prolactin test ### What's a normal prolactin level? Non-pregnant women: 4-23 ng/mL. Men: 4-15 ng/mL. Pregnancy and breastfeeding can elevate it 10x. Mild elevations (20-50 ng/mL) are usually from stress, medications, or recent breast stimulation. Levels >100 ng/mL warrant MRI to evaluate for prolactinoma. ### What causes elevated prolactin? Most common: medications (antipsychotics, SSRIs, metoclopramide, opioids, verapamil), stress, pregnancy/breastfeeding, hypothyroidism. Less common but important: prolactinoma (pituitary tumor), other pituitary lesions, chronic kidney disease, chest wall stimulation (recent surgery, shingles). ### Why does high prolactin cause infertility? Elevated prolactin suppresses GnRH from the hypothalamus, which in turn suppresses [LH](https://www.test-well.com/tests/luteinizing-hormone) and [FSH](https://www.test-well.com/tests/fsh), causing anovulation in women and low testosterone in men. Correcting hyperprolactinemia (with cabergoline or treating the underlying cause) usually restores fertility within 1-3 months. ### How much does a prolactin test cost without insurance? On TestWell, Prolactin is $39.99. Quest Direct lists the same test at $79, walk-in hospital labs typically bill $150-200 without insurance. ### What is the CPT code for prolactin? The CPT code for serum prolactin is 84146. ### When should I draw blood for a prolactin test? Morning (8-10 AM) for the most accurate baseline — prolactin peaks during sleep and drops throughout the day. Avoid breast stimulation, intense exercise, and stressful events for 24 hours before. Repeat any elevated result before pursuing imaging. ### Should I order prolactin with other fertility hormones? Yes — prolactin is a standard part of any fertility workup. Bundle with [LH](https://www.test-well.com/tests/luteinizing-hormone), [FSH](https://www.test-well.com/tests/fsh), [Estradiol](https://www.test-well.com/tests/estradiol), and [TSH](https://www.test-well.com/tests/tsh). The [Fertility Women Panel](https://www.test-well.com/tests/womens-fertility-panel) includes prolactin at a discount. ## How to order 1. Add to cart: https://www.test-well.com/cart?add=prolactin&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 After Pregnancy](https://www.test-well.com/guides/blood-tests-after-pregnancy) - [PCOS Panel](https://www.test-well.com/tests/pcos-panel) — 9 tests · $240.99 - [Erectile Dysfunction Panel](https://www.test-well.com/tests/erectile-dysfunction-panel) — 7 tests · $114.99 - [Men's Hormone Panel](https://www.test-well.com/tests/mens-hormone-panel) — 7 tests · $199.99 - [Estradiol (E2)](https://www.test-well.com/tests/estradiol) — $35.99 - [All Fertility tests](https://www.test-well.com/tests/category/fertility) - [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/prolactin 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.