How much does an allergy test cost without insurance?

What an allergy test is

An allergy test checks whether your body reacts to something like pollen, a food, pet dander or an insect sting. An allergen is the thing that sets off the reaction. A test can help a doctor understand your symptoms, but a test alone does not give you a diagnosis. The AAAAI is a national group of allergy doctors. It says testing should be directed by a health professional with allergy training, and that your medical history should be the reason for the test.

Nothing on this page replaces a visit with a doctor, who is the one to tell you which test, if any, fits your symptoms.

The main types of allergy tests

The AAAAI describes the main kinds of tests, and each one comes with a different set of costs.

• A skin prick test places a small amount of an allergen on your skin. The AAAAI calls it the most common type and says it is relatively painless. A reaction shows up within about 20 minutes as a small swelling that looks like a mosquito bite.
• An intradermal test injects a tiny amount of allergen into the skin. The AAAAI says it is more sensitive, and a doctor can use it after a negative prick test.
• A blood test, called an IgE test, needs a blood draw and takes longer to give results. The AAAAI says doctors use it when skin tests might be unsafe or will not work, for example when you take certain medicines.
• A challenge test has you breathe in or swallow a tiny amount of an allergen, mostly to check for a food or medicine allergy. The AAAAI says a physician with special training must supervise it.

The AAAAI says skin tests are best done in an allergist's office. That way the results are read correctly and rare side effects stay low. An allergist is a doctor with extra years of training in allergies and asthma.

What an allergy test costs without insurance

We do not list a dollar range for this test. We looked for a current national price from a government agency, a research group or a health system. We did not find one we could trust. Websites that show one exact price rarely say where the number came from.

Several pieces move the bill up or down, and knowing them helps you ask for a clear quote.

• The number of allergens tested changes the price, since each one may be billed separately.
• A skin test and a blood test use different supplies and lab work, so the two are priced differently.
• The visit with the doctor or allergist may be billed apart from the test.
• A lab that reads a blood test may send its own bill. Our guide on lab tests without insurance explains how that works.
• A challenge test takes hours of staff time, so it is likely to be priced higher than a skin prick test.
• A follow-up visit to go over the results may be a separate charge.

Tests that cost little but may not help

Some places sell low-cost allergy tests in a store or as a mail-in kit. The AAAAI says that screening tests sold in supermarkets or drug stores, and home testing, are not useful or effective. It lists other methods too, such as testing muscle strength and IgG blood tests for food allergy. It says these may lead to a wrong diagnosis and treatment.

A low price does not help you if the test cannot answer your question. Before you pay for any test, ask the doctor which one is right for you and why. The doctor can also tell you whether the result will change what you do.

How to ask for a price

Start by calling the office that will do the test. Our guide on asking for the cash price has a phone script, and the questions below fit right into it.

1. Say, "I do not have insurance, so what is your self-pay price for the visit and for the test?"
2. Ask what kind of test it is and how many allergens the price covers.
3. Ask whether the doctor's visit, the lab fee and the follow-up visit are all in the same price.
4. Ask whether the office gives a discount when you pay on the day.
5. Ask for the price in writing, or write down the date and the name of the person you spoke with.

If you book the test ahead of time, you may also ask for a written good faith estimate. That is a price estimate that offices give to people who pay on their own.

Places that may lower the cost

A direct primary care doctor charges a flat membership fee, usually $50 to $200 a month. This doctor can look at your symptoms and tell you whether a test fits. A membership is not insurance, so a test or a visit with an allergist is a separate cost. To find one, search for a cash-pay doctor near you.

A community health center is another good place to ask. These clinics adjust their fees by income and family size, and they serve everyone even if they cannot pay. We could not confirm that every center does allergy testing, so ask what they offer and where they send patients. You can read more in our guide on community health centers.

If you carry an emergency allergy medicine, our guide on the cost of an epinephrine auto-injector explains your price choices. Your doctor makes the decision about which medicine you use, and this page cannot make it for you.

When an allergic reaction is an emergency

A severe allergic reaction has a medical name, which is anaphylaxis. MedlinePlus says the signs can start within seconds or minutes. They include trouble breathing, wheezing and trouble swallowing. Other signs are swelling of the face, eyes or tongue, hives, dizziness and a racing heartbeat. MedlinePlus says to call 911 or the local emergency number immediately.

Please do not stop to look up prices if this happens. Federal law requires an emergency room to examine you, with or without insurance.