How Much Does a Urinalysis Cost?
A urinalysis, a test of your urine, is commonly ordered to help physicians diagnose disorders related to the kidneys, detect other underlying problems in the blood, test for traces of illicit drugs in the urine or even to detect a possible pregnancy.
This test, in general, will be ordered if the physician feels you have a urinary tract infection (UTI), kidney disease, there’s blood in the urine, for a metabolic condition or if you’re frequently urinating.
How much does a urinalysis test cost?
The cost of a urinalysis will depend on where you’re taking the test, if you have insurance, the type of test and geographical location. Without any doctor office fees, the cost of the test can be anywhere from $5 to $30. However, if the depth of the panel were to include advanced tests, such as a blood panel, then the costs could be as high as $50 to $250+ without insurance.
The Blue Cross Blue Shield stated the most commonly used diagnostic test, such as a urinalysis, should cost $5 to $15.
If you were to take the test via an online lab, the costs could range from as little as $20 for a routine urinalysis with a microscopic examination to as much as $100 when the urinalysis is combined with a blood panel. If you were to take the test online, you would have to visit an authorized third party lab the website works with to submit your sample. From there, that lab would ship off your sample to the online lab you used. Once the results complete, you would receive the results either via email and/or mail, depending on the lab’s policy.
Urinalysis test overview
A urinalysis is an effective screening tool designed to uncover many ailments. A basic urinalysis, as estimated above, will determine if the kidneys are functioning the way they should be. The test can also expose a range of health concern indicators such as diagnosing diabetes, liver issues and other metabolic conditions.
The test is fairly straightforward, and you can either take the test at home or at a doctor’s office. On average, you will need one to two ounces to provide an adequate sample. Your doctor’s office will provide a small container, and depending on the circumstances, you may be asked to urinate the first thing in the morning since this is when it’s the most concentrated. If unable to deliver within 60 minutes, you will be asked to refrigerate the sample.
As for the results, it can be done in three ways: either via a visual exam, a dipstick test or microscopic exam. When done visually, a technician will simply glance at your urine. If it’s cloudy or has an unusual order, then it may indicate a problem. A dipstick test uses a plastic stick with chemicals on it, which is then placed inside the urine to detect any abnormalities. If the chemicals on the stick change colors, then it means certain levels are above normal. Lastly, a microscopic exam will view the urine under a microscope to examine the white blood cells, red blood cells, bacteria, casts and crystals.
What are the extra costs?
In some cases, some physicians may need advanced urine tests aside from a routine test. For example, a magnesium urine test, which is designed to measure the amount of magnesium in your urine, could cost three times more.
As mentioned, the costs above will be for the test only and won’t include the doctor’s office visit fee if you were to have the test done at a local doctor’s office. Without insurance, the average doctor’s visit can cost $50 to $125+
Additional tests may be required outside of the urinalysis if the results came back normal. For example, if your urine protein levels were at an unhealthy level, then your doctor would want to run more tests, such as a creatinine test, to closely examine your kidneys.
Tips to know:
According to JustDoc.com, a test showing positive proteins is abnormal and significant, which means the doctor will want to closely examine the kidneys further. Also, a test showing positive sugar or ketones is also considered to be abnormal and significant, often a parameter increasing the chances of diabetes.
Many prescription drugs can affect the results of the test, so be sure to talk to your doctor ahead of time to let him or her know which medications and/or supplements you’re taking.
How can I save money?
Take advantage of your insurance policy. This procedure, if ordered by a doctor, should be covered as long as medically necessary. If you’re looking for a new policy, consider browsing through hundreds of policies on eHealthInsurance.com.
While it shouldn’t be used as a medical alternative, there are urinary tract infection test strips on Amazon for less than $15 for 120 strips. If you tend to get UTI symptoms quite often, then it may be ideal to stock up on these strips to help you determine if you have one.
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