The short answer
The primary screening test for thyroid function — detects both overactive and underactive thyroid, measured from a standard blood draw. At TestWell it costs $26.99 plus a $6 lab processing 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
$100
cash pay
Other Labs
$35
+ lab fees
TestWell
$26.99
+ $6 lab processing fee
TSH is the most sensitive and commonly used test for evaluating thyroid function. It's produced by the pituitary gland and signals the thyroid to produce hormones. High TSH suggests an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), while low TSH suggests an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). This is usually the first test ordered when thyroid problems are suspected.
First-line screen for thyroid dysfunction. Elevated TSH usually indicates an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism); suppressed TSH suggests an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism).
Anyone with fatigue, unexplained weight changes, cold intolerance, hair thinning, irregular periods, or a family history of thyroid disease.
Sample Type
Blood draw
Fasting
Not required
Results In
1–3 business days
Performed At
Quest or Labcorp
Your TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) 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. Already have results? Analyze them with your AI assistant against our physician-reviewed ranges.
No fasting required. Best drawn in the morning when TSH levels are highest.
What can throw off this result
Physician-reviewed “Before your test” pages — what each factor does, for how long, and what to do about it.
The short answer
Yes - TSH is the correct first test for a suspected thyroid problem. One inexpensive draw screens for both underactive and overactive thyroid, and it changes before T4 and T3 do, so it is the most sensitive single thyroid marker.
We would rather you order the right test than the most expensive one.
TSH is a venous draw at Quest or Labcorp, or an at-home mobile draw where available. No fasting required, though drawing at a consistent time of day improves comparability between tests because TSH has a mild daily rhythm.
The markers that matter most and what an out-of-range value can mean. Reference ranges vary by lab, age and sex.
| Marker | Typical range | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| TSH | ~0.45-4.5 mIU/L | Above the range usually means an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism); below it usually means an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). Pregnancy and age shift the optimal range. |
This section medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD — updated June 2026. General health information, not medical advice; interpret results with a qualified clinician.
A TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) test costs $26.99 at TestWell — $32.99 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 closest equivalent lists at $49.00 at Quest Health and $49.00 at Labcorp OnDemand (list prices checked Sep 12, 2026; see the notes on how the products differ). Hospital outpatient labs typically bill around $100.00 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. Full cost breakdown →
| Where you order | Price | One test, all-in | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| TestWell (drawn at Quest) | $26.99 | $32.99 | Includes the one $6 lab processing fee, charged once per order |
| TestWell (drawn at Labcorp) | $27.99 | $33.99 | Labcorp's own cost for this test is higher; same order, same portal, same physician review |
| TestWell (drawn at BioReference — New York & New Jersey) | $24.99 | $30.99 | New York and New Jersey orders route to BioReference; Quest Health and Labcorp OnDemand don't take self-ordered draws in those states |
| Quest Health (Quest Diagnostics' own site) | $49.00 | $49.00 | Quest Health's TSH reflexes to free T4 when abnormal; TestWell's is TSH alone (TSH + free T4 is a separate test) · list price checked Sep 12, 2026 |
| Labcorp OnDemand (Labcorp's own site) | $49.00 | $49.00 | list price checked Sep 12, 2026 |
| Hospital outpatient lab, self-pay (typical) | $100.00 | $100.00 | Reference figure; hospital charges vary widely by facility and are often higher |
33% less than the lower lab-direct list price, for the same draw at the same lab. Lab test codes: Quest test code 899 · Labcorp test no. 004259 · BioReference code 0153-7. 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
TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone) is made by the pituitary gland and tells your thyroid how much hormone to produce. The TSH blood level is the most sensitive single marker of thyroid function — it rises before T4/T3 fall in early hypothyroidism.
Most labs use a reference range of about 0.45-4.5 mIU/L for adults. Pregnancy, age, and some medications shift the optimal range. Levels above the range usually mean an underactive thyroid; levels below usually mean an overactive thyroid.
No — TSH does not require fasting. For best consistency, draw blood at the same time of day each test (TSH has a mild circadian rhythm).
If TSH is abnormal, Free T4 and Free T3 help confirm hypo- vs hyperthyroidism and rule out central (pituitary) causes. Our Complete Thyroid Panel includes all of them at a discount.
$26.99 — about 80% less than what other labs typically charge for cash-pay. No insurance or doctor visit required; results in 1-3 business days.
TSH alone is a good screen. If it is abnormal - or you have clear symptoms - adding Free T4 and Free T3 confirms whether the thyroid itself is the problem and rules out rarer pituitary causes. Ordering a TSH + Free T4 up front saves a second visit if you want the fuller picture now.
Yes. TestWell's physician network authorizes it, so you can order a TSH online without your own doctor and get drawn at Quest or Labcorp. Results are CLIA-certified and can be taken to any provider.
A thyroid test costs $26.99 out of pocket at TestWell ($32.99 all-in with the $6 per-order lab processing fee) — it is sold here as the TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone), with no doctor's visit or insurance required. Ordered directly from the labs' own sites, the same test lists at $49.00 at Quest Health and $49.00 at Labcorp OnDemand (checked September 2026). Results in 1–3 business days.
Ordered directly, the closest equivalent lists at $49.00 at Quest Health (Quest Diagnostics' own site) and $49.00 at Labcorp OnDemand (prices checked September 2026). TestWell orders the same test at the same Quest or Labcorp patient service centers for $26.99 — $32.99 all-in with the $6 per-order lab processing fee — paid out of pocket at checkout with no insurance, doctor's visit or draw fee; HSA and FSA cards are accepted.
TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) test results are typically ready in 1–3 business days after your draw at Quest or Labcorp. TestWell emails you the moment they post, and your results dashboard shows each marker against its reference range with a plain-English explanation.
Biotin supplements, time of day, recent illness and sleep deprivation can change a TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) test result without anything being wrong. Biotin supplements can falsely lower TSH — stop biotin ≥72 hours before the draw. Time of day can shift TSH — keep the draw time consistent between tests. Recent illness can shift TSH — wait 4–6 weeks after significant illness before judging thyroid. Sleep deprivation can raise TSH — not usually enough to change a result category, but note it if TSH is borderline. Each factor is covered on our physician-reviewed "Before your test" pages; when one applies, the fix is usually to remove it and retest.
The CPT code for a TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) test is 84443. You can order it from TestWell for $26.99 — no doctor's visit or insurance required, with results in 1–3 business days.
The TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) test is Quest Diagnostics test code 899, Labcorp test number 004259, BioReference code 0153-7 (CPT 84443). TestWell orders it under those codes for $26.99 at Quest, Labcorp or BioReference — no doctor's visit or insurance required, results in 1–3 business days. Codes verified against the labs' catalogs in 2026.
Medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD · Last reviewed September 2026
Related guide
How Much Does a Thyroid Test Cost? TSH, Free T4, Full Panel and Antibody Prices, With and Without Insurance
Related guide
TSH vs T4 vs T3: What Each Thyroid Test Measures, Which One to Start With, and How to Read Them Together
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Blood Tests for Thyroid Symptoms
TestWell Price
$26.99
+ $6 lab processing fee at checkout
No insurance needed · HIPAA compliant
Better value: the Essential Thyroid Panel
Save $31.98This test is part of the Essential Thyroid Panel — 3 tests · 3 biomarkers for $49.99, $31.98 less than à la carte.
$49.99$81.97
3 tests · 3 biomarkers
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TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone)
$26.99