Arizonans can order any of their own lab tests without a doctor’s permission thanks to a law that went into effect a decade ago.
More and more Arizonans are ordering their own lab tests without a doctor asking for them first.
Known as direct-access testing, labs offer a laundry list of blood tests for all sorts of things — from hormones to heart health to allergies. Pye Hirsche is with Sonora Quest Laboratories.
"Over the years, we've seen significant growth year over year, more and more people getting more dialed into, and aware of, their health and involved," Hirsche said.
He says most patients walk in knowing what kind of blood work they want done.
"For example, you might have a woman in her late 40s who's having premenopausal symptoms, and she could get her hormone levels tested. You might have a man who is struggling with weight loss and not sleeping well and the option there would be to get your testosterone levels tested," he said.
He says some of the more popular blood tests are for heart disease, thyroid and allergies.
"And it is affordable. Certainly for people who have high deductibles or people who don't have insurance, you know, this is an option to just pay yourself. And some of our tests are as low as $45," Hirsche said.
Hirsche says it is important that patients take their lab results to their primary care provider.