In the U.S., QuantiFERON-TB Gold testing runs $60–$150 cash; Medicare allows about $62, with small draw or visit fees at some sites.
Price varies by where you book, who bills the lab, and whether you use insurance. Below you’ll find a clear range for self-pay shoppers, what Medicare allows for the lab work, and the small add-ons that clinics sometimes charge. You’ll also see how to choose a site that keeps the bill straightforward and how to avoid repeat visits.
Typical Self-Pay Price Range At A Glance
Most people see two common pathways: a direct-to-consumer order with a national lab collection site, or a campus/clinic visit that sends blood to a reference lab. Here’s a quick view of what those options usually cost without insurance.
| Setting | What’s Included | Typical Self-Pay Price |
|---|---|---|
| National Lab “On-Demand” | Online order + in-person draw at a lab site; one visit | $149 at a major lab’s consumer portal |
| Discount Broker + Lab Site | Voucher up front; draw at a partner lab | $90–$120 (common promo pricing) |
| Public Health / University Clinic | Clinic visit; sample sent to reference lab | $40–$100 for students or local residents |
| County TB Program | Clearance visit; blood test when indicated | $65–$95 for visit; lab fee may be separate |
Those figures track with posted prices from well-known providers. A national lab’s consumer site lists a $149 TB blood screen for online purchase and collection at one of its locations. Several clinics and campus health services publish far lower figures for enrolled students or local patients. Many brokers post a sub-$120 voucher that routes you to a big lab draw station.
How Lab Allowables Work (And Why You Should Care)
The main lab code for this blood screen is CPT 86480. On Medicare’s clinical laboratory fee schedule, state carriers list this code near the low-$60s; one current schedule shows $61.98. That number doesn’t lock what a clinic charges self-pay, but it’s a useful anchor when you’re price-shopping.
If a clinic adds a specimen collection fee or a nurse visit, that’s a separate line. Routine venipuncture uses CPT 36415, which many fee schedules place in a small single-digit range. You may also see a modest “clinic visit” line in student or county settings.
Want the official context? See the CDC blood test page for TB (IGRAs) and Medicare’s Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule overview.
Price Examples From Real Sites
National And Direct-To-Consumer Paths
A major lab’s consumer storefront lists a $149 TB blood screen with purchase and draw at one of its centers. Turnaround is usually 2–5 days after the sample arrives at the testing lab. Brokers often sell a voucher that routes you to the same lab network at a lower sticker, commonly under $120, which can help if you’re paying cash and don’t need a clinic visit.
Campus And County Clinics
University health services often post student rates that sit well below retail. Current pages show figures like $53, $39, or $21 for students, with the specimen sent to a reference lab. County programs sometimes advertise a flat TB clearance visit (around $65) and will order a blood screen when needed; the clinic may collect an extra draw fee or send you to a partner site for phlebotomy.
IGRA TB Blood Test Cost Drivers
Several small levers change what you pay:
- Collection site: A lab draw station keeps fees simple. A clinic may add a nurse visit.
- Incubation setup: Some sites incubate tubes on site; others ship at room temperature. The handling step doesn’t change your bill directly, but it can shape where the sample goes.
- Repeated visits: This blood screen needs one visit. A traditional skin test needs placement and a return read, which adds time costs.
- Institutional discounts: Students and employees often get a campus rate.
- Geography: Local contracts nudge self-pay figures up or down.
Taking A TB Blood Test In Your Checked Luggage Of Costs: What To Expect
This section expands the nuts and bolts so your bill matches what you expect.
What The Lab Actually Runs
The assay measures interferon-gamma from T-cells after exposure to TB-specific antigens. It’s a single draw with four tubes in the common setup. The lab reports negative, positive, or indeterminate. This is a screening step; a positive screen needs clinical follow-up.
Turnaround And Paperwork
Results often post within two business days after the lab receives the tubes. Employer and school forms can be attached or uploaded through the lab portal or clinic record. If a county program issues a clearance letter, ask whether that’s included in the visit fee.
Insurance Basics
If you’re using Medicare, the lab allowable tied to CPT 86480 sits near the low-$60s in published schedules. Private plans set their own contracted amount. Some plans bundle the venipuncture line into the lab service when the same provider performs both on the same date. If you’re paying cash, the consumer storefront price or clinic list price applies.
Close Variation: Quantiferon TB Gold Price Guide With Smart Saving Tips
Here’s how to pay less without sacrificing convenience or result quality.
Pick A Draw-First Workflow
Ordering through a lab’s consumer portal or a reputable voucher site keeps it to one appointment. You buy the order online, then walk into a local draw station. That cuts out a separate clinic visit fee.
Check For Student, Employee, Or County Rates
Enrolled students often get double-digit pricing for the lab line because the university routes high volume to a reference partner. County TB programs sometimes charge a flat clearance fee that covers the visit; the lab line may be billed separately at a discounted rate.
Ask About Add-On Lines
Two small add-ons pop up: a specimen collection code and a clinic visit code. If you stick with a lab draw site, the specimen collection line is either included in the posted price or billed at a small amount. A clinic may add its visit fee, which explains wide swings in self-pay totals.
Plan Timing
Many employers and schools accept a blood screen because it avoids a return visit for a TST reading. If you’re trying to meet a deadline, the one-and-done draw is the safer path.
What A Fair Line-Item Bill Looks Like
Here’s a sample layout you might see when billed as separate lines. Figures are typical, not a quote.
| Item | Code / Notes | Typical Amount |
|---|---|---|
| TB Blood Screen (IGRA) | CPT 86480 (lab test) | ~$62 Medicare allowable; $60–$150 cash |
| Venous Blood Draw | CPT 36415 (one per encounter) | $3–$9 on common fee schedules |
| Clinic Visit (if any) | Local student or county schedule | $10–$65 when charged |
When A TB Blood Screen Makes Sense
Most workplaces, schools, and volunteer sites accept a lab-based screen for clearance. It suits people who can’t return for a reading, those with prior BCG vaccination, and anyone who prefers one visit. If your organization insists on a TST placement, confirm whether they’ll accept a blood screen as an alternative.
What You’ll Need On Test Day
- Photo ID: Labs require it at check-in.
- Order paperwork or voucher: Printed or digital is fine.
- Payment method: Card or HSA/FSA at most sites.
- Form for your employer or school: Bring it so staff can finish it when results post.
Turnaround, Repeats, And Indeterminate Results
Most results post within two to five days after the lab receives your tubes. An indeterminate result is uncommon but can happen if cells don’t react as expected. In that case, the ordering provider may repeat the blood screen or switch to a TST based on risk and timelines.
How To Read Quotes And Avoid Surprise Fees
Ask These Three Questions Up Front
- What’s the price for the lab line? Ask for the cash figure tied to CPT 86480.
- Is there a separate draw fee? If yes, it’s usually a small flat amount linked to CPT 36415.
- Will you charge a clinic visit? Lab draw sites usually don’t; clinics sometimes do.
Scan The Fine Print
Some sites require the test to be taken by the purchaser. Others post student-only rates. A few county programs restrict services to residents. The simplest path for most shoppers is an online order with collection at a national lab location.
Common Scenarios (With Cost Notes)
Employer Clearance
You need a result and a completed form. A lab consumer order keeps it to one trip. If HR needs a letter, confirm whether the lab portal output is enough or if you need a clinic sign-off.
School Enrollment
Campus health usually knows the form. If you have access to student pricing, that’s often the lowest cash route. If not, use a lab draw station for speed.
Exposure Check
Talk with a clinician about timing from the exposure event; they may set a window for testing or repeat the screen later. If you’re paying cash, the lab price remains the same; only the timing shifts.
Quick Buying Checklist
- Pick a lab draw site if you want one visit.
- Confirm whether any clinic visit fee applies.
- Bring forms so staff can finalize paperwork when results post.
- If you’re price-sensitive, compare the lab’s consumer page with a reputable voucher.
Sources Behind The Numbers
Public schedules show the lab line around the low-$60s for CPT 86480 and a small add-on for the draw line. A national consumer storefront lists a $149 self-pay option with draw at its sites. Several university and county pages show student or local rates between the low-$20s and the mid-$90s. Those data points explain the $60–$150 cash range and the modest add-on lines.
Bottom Line Price Guide
For a clean one-visit path, the lab consumer order is the simplest, with a sticker near $149. If you have student access, campus health often lands well below that. Medicare’s lab allowable for 86480 sits near $62, so insured patients will see plan-specific contracted amounts instead of the cash sticker. Ask about a small draw fee and whether any clinic visit line applies. With those two questions answered, your bill should match your quote.