--- title: TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) Test type: test id: tsh url: "https://www.test-well.com/tests/tsh" price_usd: 26.99 lab_fee_usd: 6 all_in_usd: 32.99 cpt: 84443 category: Thyroid sample: Blood draw fasting_required: false results_in: "1–3 business days" labs: - Quest - Labcorp - BioReference orderable: true reviewed_at: 2026-09-14 order_url: "https://www.test-well.com/cart?add=tsh&utm_source=ai_agent&utm_medium=markdown" --- # TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) Test > 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 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. ## Key facts | Fact | Value | | --- | --- | | Price | $26.99 + $6 lab processing fee per order ($32.99 all-in for this test alone) | | CPT code | 84443 | | Sample | Blood draw | | Fasting | Not required | | Results | 1–3 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 TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) test tell you? The primary screening test for thyroid function — detects both overactive and underactive thyroid. 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. **Clinical use:** First-line screen for thyroid dysfunction. Elevated TSH usually indicates an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism); suppressed TSH suggests an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). ## Who should order it? Anyone with fatigue, unexplained weight changes, cold intolerance, hair thinning, irregular periods, or a family history of thyroid disease. ## Biomarkers measured - [TSH](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/tsh) ## Price by lab | Lab | Test price | All-in (with $6 fee) | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Quest Diagnostics | $26.99 | $32.99 | Choose at checkout; walk-in patient service centers nationwide (not NY/NJ) | | Labcorp | $27.99 | $33.99 | Choose at checkout; walk-in patient service centers nationwide (not NY/NJ) | | BioReference (NY & NJ) | $24.99 | $30.99 | 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 TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) test cost? 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. | Where you order | Price | One test, all-in | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | TestWell (drawn at Quest or Labcorp) | $26.99 | $32.99 | Includes the one $6 lab processing fee, charged once per order | | 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 2026-09-12](https://www.questhealth.com/product/thyroid-tsh-function-test/36127M.html) | | Labcorp OnDemand (Labcorp's own site) | $49.00 | $49.00 | [list price checked 2026-09-12](https://www.ondemand.labcorp.com/lab-tests/thyroid-stimulating-hormone-tsh-test) | | Hospital outpatient lab, self-pay (typical) | $100.00 | $100.00 | Reference figure; hospital charges vary widely by facility and are often higher | Lab test codes: Quest test code 899 · Labcorp test no. 004259 · BioReference code 0153-7. ## How do you prepare? No fasting required. Best drawn in the morning when TSH levels are highest. ## Related conditions - [Hypothyroidism](https://www.test-well.com/conditions/thyroid-problems) (E03.9) - [Hyperthyroidism](https://www.test-well.com/conditions/thyroid-problems) (E05.90) - Hashimoto thyroiditis (E06.3) - Graves disease (E05.00) ## Is the TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) worth it? > 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. ### Worth it if you… - Fatigue, unexplained weight change, cold intolerance, or hair thinning - Irregular periods, fertility work-up, or a family history of thyroid disease - Anyone on thyroid medication checking their dose - A general wellness baseline, especially for women over 35 ### You can probably wait if you… - You want a full thyroid picture up front - a [TSH + Free T4](https://www.test-well.com/tests/tsh-with-free-t4) or complete thyroid panel is a better single order - You checked a normal TSH recently with no new symptoms ### At home or in the lab? At-home collection is available. 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. ### How do you read the results? | Result | Typical adult range | What an out-of-range value can mean | | --- | --- | --- | | 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; last reviewed 2026-06-20._ ## Common questions about the TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) test ### What does TSH measure? 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. ### What is a normal TSH level? 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. ### Do I need to fast for a TSH test? 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). ### When should I add Free T4 and Free T3? If TSH is abnormal, Free T4 and Free T3 help confirm hypo- vs hyperthyroidism and rule out central (pituitary) causes. Our [Complete Thyroid Panel](https://www.test-well.com/tests/thyroid-complete-panel) includes all of them at a discount. ### How much does a TSH test cost at TestWell? $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. ### Is TSH alone enough, or do I need Free T4 and Free T3? 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](https://www.test-well.com/tests/tsh-with-free-t4) up front saves a second visit if you want the fuller picture now. ### Can I order a thyroid test without a doctor? 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. ## How to order 1. Add to cart: https://www.test-well.com/cart?add=tsh&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 1–3 business days with reference ranges and flags. ## Related - [Blood Tests for Thyroid Symptoms](https://www.test-well.com/guides/blood-tests-for-thyroid-symptoms) - [PCOS Panel](https://www.test-well.com/tests/pcos-panel) — 9 tests · $240.99 - [Essential Thyroid Panel](https://www.test-well.com/tests/essential-thyroid-panel) — 3 tests · $49.99 - [General Wellness Panel](https://www.test-well.com/tests/general-wellness-panel) — 4 tests · $49.99 - [Free T3 (Triiodothyronine)](https://www.test-well.com/tests/free-t3) — $30.99 - [Free T4 (Thyroxine)](https://www.test-well.com/tests/free-t4-test) — $23.99 - [Reverse T3](https://www.test-well.com/tests/reverse-t3) — $35.99 - [T3 Uptake](https://www.test-well.com/tests/t3-uptake-test) — $22.99 - [T3, Total (Triiodothyronine)](https://www.test-well.com/tests/total-t3-test) — $24.99 - [All Thyroid tests](https://www.test-well.com/tests/category/thyroid) - [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/tsh 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.