Paying for Bloodwork directly, any advice?

#21

You’re not going to find “NMR Lipo Profile” at Quest because that’s Labcorp’s brand name for a fractionated lipid test. Quest’s is called Cardio-IQ.

https://www.questdiagnostics.com/healthcare-professionals/about-our-tests/cardiovascular/cardio-iq-report

(Joey) #22

Great info - many thanks. Since NMR simply stands for nuclear magnetic resonance I didn’t realize it was proprietary.

I just did a quick side-by-side of the two report formats and they are certainly quite similar. However, there are enough differences with specific metrics that can make it difficult to draw comparisons when tracking changes over time.

Not surprisingly, their respective reference ranges are also all over the map between the two… perhaps simply a reflection of differences in their subject population results.

Personally, as I have several years of history with the NMR test my interest has grown in certain metrics not seen on the Quest sample report (e.g., Pattern A<->B spectrum, inferred insulin resistance/sensitivity of each component measure and overall in aggregate, VLDL/remnants info), I’ll likely stick with the NMR for future comparability and the additional info.

But again, it’s great to know there is an alternative source to get particle counts across broad size categories. Thanks for your followup! :+1:

#23

Ya, you lose LP-IR, but you gain hsCRP, LP(a) and ApoB. So hard call. Depending on deals/discounts that PrivateMDLabs is doing, that pretty much makes my call when/if I get them. Plus I get an NMR with my yearly checkup from my Doc anyways, so it’s usually only when I 'm screwing with stuff I’ll check it other than that.

(Bob M) #24

That is a hard call. HS-CRP is the only thing I think is useful (LP(a) is mainly genetic, mine is astronomical; ApoB is another LDL-like substance: a lot more “it’s dangerous” than what pans out; someone on Twitter had a huge set of studies where ApoB was a terrible indicator of risk).

I personally don’t understand LP-IR. They tested a small number of people and extrapolated from there to get a measure of “insulin resistance”. They did some studies that supposedly verified it, but if I take a HOMA-IR test, which is what I think they used as a measure of “insulin resistance”, mine is higher. Why? Because I have a higher morning blood sugar, and my insulin runs around 10.

(Bob M) #25

Ah, Paul, I’m hesitant to even look at the price of those. :wink:

They (Dave’s place) have a set of inflammation markers, and it’s expensive. I might get leptin and glucagon tested though. The problem is that this would be only one test. I’ve done this before with other markers, and I don’t know how to interpret a single result, particularly for something that’s highly variable. Got a cortisol test that was high; what does that mean? Not sure.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #26

A lot of those, I’d never even heard of. I suspect they’d be hard to find on the consumer market, and definitely expensive. But WBC and (HS)CRP are routine, and so, I believe is ferritin. Those, in combination with trigs/HDL and HbA1C, should be enough to be going on with.

(david a varga) #27

Thank you all for your input. I will very shortly be getting either a NMR Lipo profile or Cardi-IQ. So I am educated as to what my Lipo measurements really are and I can bring to my PCP when he starts talking about my LDL.

#28

Whatever you do, don’t buy either from the lab directly. Go here. https://www.privatemdlabs.com/ you’ll see prices for both Quest and Labcorp, and they constantly have deals and discounts every month so assuming 5-10% the listed price either way. If you’re going to grab one lemme know and I can give you my referral code with (I think) will get you $30 off your first order.

(david a varga) #29

Hi Ifod14, Tried exploring both the NMR Lipo and Cardi-IQ through that link, these tests both are not allowed to be taken in NJ and NY states, and a few other states. The closest lab possibility is Stamford CT which is 57 miles away. I might do that one. Such a shame such tests would be prohibited in certain states. Thank you for your first time offer, I will be in contact…

(Joey) #30

@davevarga See if the NMR is available in your area from here…

It happens to be $119 where I live (with an additional 10% off promo at the moment = $107).

[EDIT: Just looked more carefully and I see that apparently they can’t offer any non-drug-testing bloodwork in NY, NJ, RI, MA or MD. Seems that blue states have a problem with red blood? Sorry!]

#31

It may be worth the drive only being 57mi away, didn’t realize you were in the nanny corridor, the other states that used to pull that crap got sued so many times for it they backed off. NY and NJ are still fighting people. One POSSIBLE loophole is LifeExtension. They have them for $99, and a number to call in your situation. Some of my fam in MA used to use them before the state stopped regulating self lab orders.

https://www.lifeextension.com/search#q=nmr%20lipoprofile&t=coveo4A2453FD

(david a varga) #32

Thanks Joey, Yeah I was just about to relay the same info to you after checking. I’ll just have to suck it up and do the driving to Stamford. This is really important for me to do.

(Joey) #33

Stamford is beautiful this time of year. Safe travels!

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #34

Stamford is not what I would call beautiful. Now Greenwich, Weston, Easton, Norwalk, Woodbury, you might have a point.

(Bob M) #35

Maybe there are parts of Stamford that we haven’t seen? Like you, Stamford to me always seemed somewhat industrial, but I don’t get too far off of 95.

(Joey) #36

I meant “beautiful” in the sardonically ironic sense. It’s a good place to go and lose blood.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #37

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

Ah, usually my sarcasm meter works better than that. Sorry!

(Kevin Ruther) #38

Heads up @ctviggen , I think @davevarga is in NJ. From OYL’s “How it works” page.

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.

However, just looked at their site and am VERY impressed with the prices they are able to offer. I’ve been looking to move away from Requestatest because I just can’t get around a weird feeling I have that the website doesn’t have good cybersecurity (could be in just in my head).

(david a varga) #39

OK, Life Extension… $99 at a Labcorp location in Greenwich CT. Paid for it and will set up an appt in the near future. Thanks lfod14!

Dave

(Joey) #40

OYL’s pricing is extremely attractive, isn’t it? … and it supports a good cause to boot.

I’ve been using request-a-test for years and found them to be highly professional, responsive and patient-oriented when I’ve had questions/concerns about logistics, timing of results, etc. I see nothing about their website that gives me privacy security concerns (any more than Apple, Google, Microsoft, …)

But having said that, for such a massive price differential I intend to look to OYL next time we’re due for our tests. Same Labcorp locations, just lower price while supporting Feldman’s research.

But as for privacy, please be aware that by using OYL you agree to the following:

“By using the discount at checkout, you are agreeing to submit the demographic information collected at checkout (this does not include your name, birth date, and location), which includes information about your lifestyle and diet, as well as your lab results when they’re processed. This information will be added to the public data pool so it can benefit professional and citizen researchers alike.”

I don’t have a problem with it, but thought you’d want to know if you hadn’t noticed the “fine print” yet.