Medical & affiliate disclosure: CTX Stat provides educational laboratory information and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. CTX Stat may receive compensation from some outbound provider links when an affiliate program is active; provider comparisons and rankings are based on consumer fit, effective cost, access, policies, and reputation—not commission.
Quick take: is Request A Test worth considering?
Request A Test is worth considering if you want one online ordering site that lets you choose between Quest Diagnostics and Labcorp collection for many common tests. based on current provider information, Request A Test is an add-now provider with active-partial comparison status, high reputation, and high confidence. In plain English: it is eligible for consumer-facing comparisons, but we still compare it against direct Quest Health and Labcorp OnDemand pricing before recommending it for a specific test.
The main advantage is flexibility. Request A Test says its orders include the doctor’s order needed for testing and that Lab 1 represents Labcorp while Lab 2 represents Quest Diagnostics. It also says medical orders are processed during business hours, results are available online, and its testing is performed through Labcorp and Quest Diagnostics, both described by the provider as CLIA-certified lab companies. (requestatest.com)The main caution is that the lowest advertised test price is not always the lowest effective checkout cost. Several Request A Test pages show a $4 per-order service fee in addition to the posted lab price, while Quest Health lists an additional healthcare-provider service fee starting at $6 for Quest lab tests. Labcorp OnDemand generally posts up-front consumer prices and says Labcorp OnDemand includes a physician order and does not bill insurance. (requestatest.com)
What is Request A Test?
Request A Test is a direct-to-consumer lab ordering service. You buy a lab test online or by phone, receive an order/requisition, go to a participating collection site, and receive results through your account. It is not the same as walking into Quest or Labcorp with an order from your personal physician, and it generally does not replace a clinician visit when you have symptoms, abnormal results, medication-monitoring needs, or a condition that requires diagnosis.
Request A Test’s FAQ says orders placed through the service include the doctor’s order needed for testing, medical orders may take up to three hours to process during business hours, and the person can go to the selected lab location after receiving the order confirmation email. The same FAQ says Request A Test does not accept insurance or file insurance claims. (requestatest.com)For consumers comparing lab ordering options, that means Request A Test is best viewed as a cash-pay convenience layer over major laboratory networks. Your sample is typically collected at a lab location, but Request A Test is the ordering and customer-service platform you pay.
How CTX Stat compared Request A Test, Quest, and Labcorp
We compared providers using the provider information reviewed for this comparison plus public provider documentation. The factors were: test-menu fit, use of recognized lab networks, ordering workflow, whether a clinician order or oversight is included, consumer price transparency, mandatory fees, refund/insurance rules, age or state restrictions disclosed by the provider, and reputation evidence. We did not rank providers by affiliate relationship.
For price comparisons, we use effective cost to the patient: posted test price plus mandatory provider, physician, processing, or service fees that a typical consumer must pay for a single-test order. Promotions may lower checkout cost temporarily, and multi-test carts may change the per-test impact of a per-order fee.
Request A Test pricing: Quest vs Labcorp options
Request A Test commonly shows separate prices for Quest and Labcorp options. This is useful because the cheaper lab can vary by test. For example, its CMP page lists a Comprehensive Metabolic Panel at $39 for Labcorp and $34 for Quest, with a $4 per-order service fee shown on the page. (requestatest.com)The table below uses representative routine tests because they are common comparison points for consumers. Prices can change at checkout, and eligibility may vary by state, age, and selected location.
| Test or panel | Request A Test: Quest option | Request A Test: Labcorp option | Effective single-order cost note | What to check before buying |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) | $34 | $39 | About $38 Quest or $43 Labcorp after the listed $4 per-order service fee | Fasting instructions, kidney/liver-related follow-up needs, and whether your clinician prefers a specific lab |
| CBC with differential | $35 | $29 | About $39 Quest or $33 Labcorp after the $4 per-order service fee | Whether you need CBC with differential, CBC without differential, or platelets-only components |
| Hemoglobin A1c | $39 | $39 | About $43 for either lab after the $4 per-order service fee | Whether this is screening, monitoring, or follow-up for symptoms; discuss abnormal values with a clinician |
| Basic Wellness Panel #3: CBC, CMP, lipid, HbA1c | $129 | $129 | About $133 after the $4 per-order service fee | Whether a bundled panel is cheaper than ordering components separately |
| Comprehensive Wellness Panel | $195 | $199 | About $199 Quest or $203 Labcorp after the $4 per-order service fee | Whether all included markers are appropriate; avoid testing panels you do not know how to act on |
Several of these examples come from Request A Test category and test pages that show different Quest/Labcorp prices for CBC, CMP, A1c, wellness panels, and other tests. (requestatest.com)
Request A Test vs buying directly from Quest Health or Labcorp OnDemand
For common wellness tests, Request A Test is not the only route. Quest Health lets consumers purchase select tests directly and says no doctor visit is needed; physician oversight is included with orders through Quest Health. Quest’s heart-health category page also displays a healthcare-provider fee for Quest lab tests starting at $6. (questhealth.com)Labcorp OnDemand says consumers can buy tests without a doctor visit, that the service includes a physician order, that it does not bill insurance, and that Labcorp OnDemand is available to consumers age 18 or older. (labcorp.com)
| Provider route | Best fit | Potential cost advantage | Potential drawback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Request A Test | Consumers who want to compare Quest vs Labcorp options in one place | Can be lower for certain Quest or Labcorp configurations, especially bundled panels | $4 per-order service fee can erase a small price advantage on single tests |
| Quest Health | Consumers who want a direct Quest-branded experience and Quest patient-service centers | Some tests are competitively priced; CBC is shown at $29 before the provider fee | Provider fee starting at $6; some products may have state restrictions |
| Labcorp OnDemand | Consumers who prefer Labcorp collection and a curated direct-to-consumer menu | Routine tests such as CBC, A1c, lipid panel, and CMP are posted at simple cash prices in public pages/search snippets | Curated menu may be narrower than third-party lab-ordering services |
Example: routine single-test prices
| Test | Request A Test effective single-test cost | Quest Health effective single-test cost | Labcorp OnDemand posted price |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBC | About $33 via Labcorp option or $39 via Quest option | About $35 if $29 test + $6 provider fee | $29 |
| Hemoglobin A1c | About $43 | About $45 using regular $39 price + $6 provider fee; promotions may reduce test price | $39 |
| Cholesterol/lipid panel | About $43 when Request A Test lists lipid panel “as low as $39” plus $4 service fee | About $65 if $59 test + $6 provider fee | $59 |
| CMP | About $38 via Quest option or $43 via Labcorp option | Not always shown as a simple standalone product in the same way; compare available Quest panels | $49 |
Labcorp OnDemand pages list CBC at $29, HbA1c at $39, lipid panel at $59, and CMP at $49 on public pages or search-result text. Quest Health’s public category page lists lipid panel at $59, CBC at $29, A1c at $39 before a displayed promotion, and a provider fee starting at $6. (ondemand.labcorp.com)
Ordering workflow, availability, and restrictions
- Choose the test. Confirm the exact test name, specimen type, fasting instructions, and whether the result will answer your question.
- Select Quest or Labcorp when offered. Use the option with the better combination of local availability, price, and clinician preference.
- Pay online. Request A Test says it accepts debit/credit cards and HSA cards in many cases, but does not accept insurance or file claims. (requestatest.com)
- Wait for the requisition/order confirmation. Request A Test says medical orders can take up to three hours to process during business hours. (requestatest.com)
- Visit the selected collection site. Bring photo ID and follow timing/fasting instructions. Some tests require morning collection or fasting.
- Review results and follow up. Abnormal or confusing results should be discussed with a clinician, especially if you have symptoms or take medications.
Request A Test says medical lab testing is for people age 18 or older, while drug-testing rules differ. It also notes that rapid urine drug testing cannot be ordered in New York due to state law, although other drug-testing types may be available there. (requestatest.com)
Reputation and customer-satisfaction evidence
Request A Test has positive provider status in CTX Stat’s provider framework and publicly emphasizes its long operating history. Its FAQ says it has provided direct-access testing since 2002 and has an A+ Better Business Bureau rating; its own blog also states a 4.9 out of 5 Google rating based on more than 350 reviews. Because these claims are provider-published, CTX Stat treats them as supportive but not the same as independent clinical validation. (requestatest.com)Quest and Labcorp are high-brand-recognition lab companies, but consumer-review sentiment for the large lab brands is often mixed, especially around billing, customer service, wait times, and local front-desk experiences. This is one reason cash-pay DTC routes can be attractive: the test price is usually visible before purchase, but local collection experience can still vary by location. Healthline’s Quest Health review describes mixed customer-review themes for major lab brands and notes that direct prepay may avoid some billing-surprise issues. (healthline.com)
Who should use Request A Test?
Request A Test may be a good fit if:
- You are paying cash and want to know the price before testing.
- You want to choose between Quest and Labcorp collection for the same test.
- You need a common wellness, hormone, STI, immunity, or occupational-type test that is available on the menu.
- You already plan to share results with your clinician through your patient portal or visit.
- A bundled panel is cheaper than ordering individual tests through a direct lab site.
Use more caution or choose clinician-guided testing if:
- You have new, severe, or worsening symptoms.
- You are monitoring a medication with narrow safety ranges.
- You need insurance coverage, prior authorization, or results integrated directly into your medical record.
- You are pregnant, immunocompromised, under 18, or testing for a condition that needs immediate follow-up.
- You are unsure which test answers your clinical question.
For test education before ordering, CTX Stat readers may also want our related guides to lab tests, understanding results, condition-based testing, and provider reviews.
Compare lab test prices before you choose
For common tests, the best provider can change by test, lab network, local availability, and fees. Before buying, compare the exact same test name and specimen type across Request A Test, Quest Health, Labcorp OnDemand, and other CTX Stat-reviewed providers.
FAQs
Is Request A Test legit?
Request A Test appears to be a legitimate direct-access lab ordering service. Its FAQ states that orders include the doctor’s order needed for testing and that it contracts with Labcorp and Quest Diagnostics for lab testing. Legitimacy does not mean every test is appropriate for every person, so use clinician guidance when results may affect diagnosis or treatment. (requestatest.com)
Does Request A Test use Quest or Labcorp?
Yes. Request A Test says Lab 1 represents Labcorp and Lab 2 represents Quest Diagnostics. Many test pages show separate Quest and Labcorp purchase buttons, and prices can differ by lab.
Is Request A Test cheaper than Quest Health or Labcorp OnDemand?
Sometimes, but not always. Request A Test can be cheaper for certain panels or when one lab option is discounted, but its $4 per-order service fee matters for single tests. Quest Health may add a provider fee starting at $6, while Labcorp OnDemand often posts simple direct prices for routine tests.
Does Request A Test accept insurance?
No. Request A Test says it does not accept insurance or file insurance claims. If you need insurance coverage, ask your clinician or insurer which lab and order process your plan requires. (requestatest.com)
Can I order testing for a minor?
For medical lab testing, Request A Test says the person tested must be 18 or older. Drug-testing rules differ and may allow parent or guardian involvement depending on the circumstance. (requestatest.com)
How fast are results?
Turnaround depends on the test. Request A Test says some results are available as early as one business day, but the estimate is not guaranteed and complex tests can take longer. Always check the individual test page.
Should I choose Quest or Labcorp?
Choose based on the exact test price after fees, nearby appointment availability, your clinician’s preference, and whether you have prior results from one lab that you want to compare over time. For ongoing monitoring, staying with the same lab can make trend review easier because reference ranges and methods may differ.
Sources
- Request A Test FAQ and test pages for ordering workflow, included doctor order, insurance policy, lab options, and representative prices. (requestatest.com)
- Quest Health help center and category pages for direct purchase workflow, pricing examples, and provider-fee language. (questhealth.com)
- Labcorp OnDemand and Labcorp pages for direct purchase workflow, included physician order, insurance language, age availability, and posted routine-test prices. (labcorp.com)
- CDC CLIA and MedlinePlus resources for laboratory oversight and lab-result interpretation context. (cdc.gov)
- Healthline Quest Health review for independent consumer-experience context around major lab brands. (healthline.com)
