The Short Answer
Function Health is a membership-based lab service that tests over 100 biomarkers for $365 a year. This includes advanced metrics for heart health, hormones, thyroid function, and heavy metals that most doctors won't order.
The service uses Quest Diagnostics for the actual blood draw. Crucially, the price includes a 60-biomarker follow-up test six months later. This makes it an incredibly cost-effective tool for tracking whether your lifestyle changes are actually working.
Why This Matters
The modern healthcare system is reactive, not proactive. Most standard physicals only look at basic panels like a What Is A Comprehensive Metabolic Panel or a What Is A Cbc Blood Test. They wait until you are already sick to start investigating.
Function Health bypasses the insurance gatekeepers. It allows you to order advanced labs directly, without begging your doctor for a requisition. If you've ever been told your symptoms are "normal" despite feeling terrible, this level of testing gives you the objective data to prove otherwise. What Blood Tests Should You Get Every Year
However, raw data is useless without context. Function Health gives you a detailed dashboard and clinician summary, but it does not include a doctor consultation. You are ultimately responsible for interpreting the findings and figuring out how to fix them. What Are The Best Direct To Consumer Lab Testing Services
What's Actually In Function Health's Panel
- Advanced Lipids — Function tests ApoB, Lp(a), and lipid particle sizes, which are far better predictors of cardiovascular risk than standard LDL cholesterol. What Labs Should You Watch Closely
- Full Thyroid Panel — Standard physicals only check TSH, but Function includes TSH, Free T3, Free T4, and thyroid antibodies. What Thyroid Tests Should You Ask For
- Metabolic Markers — They test Fasting Insulin, Leptin, and HbA1c to catch insulin resistance years before it develops into type 2 diabetes. What Is Fasting Insulin And Why Does It Matter
- Inflammation & Nutrients — You get a clear look at hs-CRP, Homocysteine, Vitamin D, Magnesium, and Ferritin. What Is Crp And What Does It Tell You
- Heavy Metals — The panel includes screens for environmental toxins like lead and mercury, which are notoriously difficult to get covered by traditional insurance.
What to Look For
Green Flags:
- Built-in Retesting — The baseline test gives you a starting point, but the included 6-month follow-up proves if your interventions actually worked.
- HSA/FSA Eligible — You can use pre-tax dollars from your health savings account to cover the $365 annual membership fee.
- Nationwide Access — Because they partner with Quest Diagnostics, scheduling and getting your blood drawn is convenient in most states.
Red Flags:
- Vampire-Level Blood Draws — The baseline panel requires roughly 10 vials of blood, which usually takes two separate lab visits to complete safely.
- No Treatment Plan — You get a massive data dump and clinician notes, but no direct medical care, prescriptions, or personalized health coaching.
- Expensive Add-Ons — The core panel is $365, but adding on specialty tests for Lyme disease, allergies, or the Galleri cancer screen will quickly push your bill over $1,000.
The Best Options
If you want to skip the doctor's office, here is how Function Health stacks up against the top competition. Read our full guide on What Are The Best Direct To Consumer Lab Testing Services for more details.
| Brand | Product | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Function | Annual Membership | ✅ | Unbeatable value for testing 100+ markers twice a year. |
| Superpower | Baseline Test | ⚠️ | Great app and AI insights, but costs $199 with no re-test included. |
| InsideTracker | Ultimate Plan | 🚫 | Charges over $700 for fewer biomarkers and pushes expensive supplements. |
The Bottom Line
1. Pay the $365 if you want comprehensive data. It is currently the most cost-effective way to get a massive panel of advanced preventative labs.
2. Prepare for two lab visits. Getting 100+ biomarkers requires a lot of blood, so you will likely need to go to Quest Diagnostics twice in one week.
3. Have a plan for your results. Bring your data to a functional medicine doctor or use it to directly inform your diet and fitness goals.
FAQ
Does Function Health take insurance?
No, Function Health does not accept health insurance. However, the membership is fully HSA/FSA eligible, allowing you to use pre-tax health savings to cover the cost.
Can you test hormones if you are on birth control?
Function will still test your thyroid and metabolic markers, but skips sex hormones. They won't run FSH, LH, or Estradiol because hormonal birth control artificially suppresses these numbers. Should Women Test Their Hormones
Do I have to fast for the blood draw?
Yes, you must fast for 12 hours before your blood draw. Markers like Fasting Insulin, triglycerides, and glucose will be wildly inaccurate if you eat beforehand. What Is Hba1c And What Is A Good Level