The short answer
The protein that carries iron in your blood — useful for evaluating iron transport and nutritional status, measured from a standard blood draw. At TestWell it costs $23.99 plus a $6 lab fee, requires an 8–12 hour fast, and results post in 2–4 business days. Physician-authorized with no doctor's visit or insurance needed; draw at Quest or Labcorp.
Hospital Lab
$90
cash pay
Other Labs
$30
+ lab fees
TestWell
$23.99
+ $6 lab fee
Transferrin is the primary protein responsible for transporting iron through the bloodstream. Measuring transferrin levels helps evaluate iron transport capacity and nutritional status. High transferrin with low iron saturation indicates iron deficiency, while low transferrin may suggest iron overload, liver disease, or chronic inflammation.
Iron studies and anemia evaluation identify the most common cause of fatigue and exercise intolerance, and distinguish between iron-deficiency, inflammatory, and other types of anemia.
Anyone with fatigue, low exercise tolerance, hair loss, or restless legs; menstruating individuals; vegetarians/vegans; pregnant or postpartum patients; and athletes monitoring iron status.
Sample Type
Blood draw
Fasting
Required
Results In
2–4 business days
Performed At
Quest or Labcorp
Your Transferrin 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 2–4 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.
Fasting for 8 hours recommended.
A Transferrin test costs $23.99 at TestWell — $29.99 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 $90.00 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) | $23.99 | $29.99 | Includes the one $6 lab processing fee, charged once per order |
| Hospital outpatient lab, self-pay (typical) | $90.00 | $90.00 | Reference figure; hospital charges vary widely by facility and are often higher |
Lab test codes: Quest test code 891 · Labcorp test no. 004937 · BioReference code 0192-5. 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
$23.99
+ $6 lab processing fee at checkout
No insurance needed · HIPAA compliant
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