Heart & Lipids
Lp(a) test cost: $45–$51
By Elo. Last updated July 2026.
Lp(a) is a largely genetic, lifelong cardiovascular risk factor. A single measurement tells you whether you carry elevated levels that standard cholesterol panels miss.
Below we compare what Lp(a) costs on its own against every package we track that includes it, sorted by price. Standalone prices are all-in cash prices, each lab's list price plus its one draw or physician fee, pulled from direct-to-consumer labs on the Quest or LabCorp network and verified July 2026.
How much does an Lp(a) test cost?
Lp(a) costs $45–$52 on its own, or $190–$399 in a bundle. Those are cash prices, so they're also what you pay for Lp(a) without insurance.
At Quest Diagnostics, a Lp(a) test costs $51 on its own.
Cost of Lp(a) on its own
- Marek Diagnostics charges $45 for Lp(a) ($35 + $10 venipuncture fee).(lowest price)
- Quest charges $51 for Lp(a) ($45 + $6 physician service fee).
- Ulta Lab Tests charges $52 for Lp(a) ($38.95 + $12.95 specimen draw fee).
Cost of Lp(a) in a bundle
- Goodlabs includes Lp(a) in a 14-biomarker panel free with a blood donation.
- Empirical Health includes Lp(a) in a 100-biomarker panel for $190.
- Mito Health includes Lp(a) in a 53-biomarker panel for $349.
- WHOOP Advanced Labs includes Lp(a) in a 65-biomarker panel for $349.
- Function Health includes Lp(a) in a 128-biomarker panel for $365.
- Vitals Vault includes Lp(a) in a 58-biomarker panel for $399.
- Everlywell includes Lp(a) in an 86-biomarker panel for $399.
Cheapest option: The cheapest Lp(a) test is Marek Diagnostics ($45), or Empirical Health ($190) if you want a 100-biomarker bundle that includes Lp(a).
Each standalone fee is charged once per blood draw, so ordering several markers together shares one fee. Direct-to-consumer lab prices move with promotions, so figures are point-in-time, verified July 2026.
Does insurance cover an Lp(a) test?
Lp(a) is usually not covered by insurance for screening. UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Cigna, and Anthem usually deny Lp(a) without symptoms, and Medicare doesn't cover it for screening either. A few plans now cover a one-time Lp(a) test under the 2026 cholesterol guideline. If Lp(a) is covered in-network, you pay about $15 to $30. If insurance denies coverage for Lp(a), the bill can run $75-400 (vs flat $45 cash).
Do medical guidelines recommend an Lp(a) test?
Lp(a) has moved from a niche test into mainstream, guideline-backed screening.
- Cardiology guidelines. In March 2026, the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association released a new dyslipidemia guideline recommending that every adult have their Lp(a) measured at least once in adulthood. Because Lp(a) is largely inherited and stays stable over your lifetime, a single measurement is usually enough.
- Lp(a) researchers. Leading researchers describe Lp(a) as one of the most important inherited, causal risk factors for heart disease. Dr. Sam Tsimikas of UC San Diego has told tctMD, “You can explain about one-third of coronary artery disease with elevated Lp(a) and you can explain about 37% of aortic valve disease.”
Frequently asked questions about Lp(a) testing
What is the cheapest way to get an Lp(a) test?
The cheapest Lp(a) test is Marek Diagnostics ($45), or Empirical Health ($190) if you want a 100-biomarker bundle that includes Lp(a).
Do I need a doctor's order to get an Lp(a) test?
No. The standalone Lp(a) tests listed above include the physician order in their price, so you can buy it online and have your blood drawn without your own doctor. You would only need your own doctor's order if you want to bill the test to insurance.
How much do Lp(a) and ApoB tests cost together?
Because one blood draw covers both, the cheapest way to get Lp(a) and ApoB together is Marek Diagnostics, at $65 for the pair. Empirical Health's 100-biomarker panel ($190) is the cheapest bundle that includes both.
How often do I need an Lp(a) test?
Usually just once. Lp(a) is set largely by your genes and stays stable through life, so a single measurement tells you whether you carry an elevated, inherited risk. Retesting mainly matters if you start a therapy aimed at lowering Lp(a).
What counts as a high Lp(a) level?
Risk generally rises above about 50 mg/dL (or 125 nmol/L), and roughly 1 in 5 people worldwide carry elevated levels. A standard cholesterol panel does not detect Lp(a), which is why it needs its own test.