$83.00
Priced per marker, with baseline labs included. You’ll see your total before you pay.
Thyroid
Calcitonin test
Hormone from thyroid C-cells; elevated levels may suggest medullary thyroid carcinoma.
At a glance
In about 5 days
Most results are ready in about 5 days. Some specialty markers can take up to 21 days.
Check before your draw
This marker has no preparation tag, but it can still need preparation. Contact us before your draw if you’re not sure.
Walk in at Quest
Your lab order arrives by email. Most Quest locations take walk-ins, so bring it with a photo ID.
What it measures
Calcitonin is a hormone made by certain cells in your thyroid, the gland in your neck. It doesn’t show how well your thyroid works, but it can help look for a rare type of thyroid cancer.
Why it matters for women
Thyroid cancer overall is more common in women, though the type calcitonin can point to is rare and can run in families. Normal levels can be lower in women than in men, so your result is compared with ranges for women. It’s also used to follow people after treatment for this cancer.
You might check it if…
- a close relative had medullary thyroid cancer
- a doctor found a lump in your thyroid and asked for it
- you’re being followed after treatment for this type of thyroid cancer
What your result may mean
High Calcitonin: what it may mean
High calcitonin may point to medullary thyroid carcinoma, a rare thyroid cancer that can run in families, and it can be monitored after thyroidectomy for that cancer. Other things can raise it too, including kidney disease, some acid-reflux medicines and C-cell hyperplasia, an overgrowth of the cells that make calcitonin. Normal levels can be lower in women than in men, so your result can be compared with ranges for women. Some people may notice a neck lump, hoarseness or trouble swallowing, and others may have no symptoms.
Low Calcitonin: what it may mean
Low calcitonin may have no established clinical significance, and it may not be a concern on its own. Levels can run lower in women than in men, and they can be very low after your thyroid is removed (thyroidectomy). After treatment for medullary thyroid cancer, a very low level can be a reassuring finding that a clinician may keep tracking over time. A low value may not cause symptoms, and it can’t tell you how well your thyroid works.
Get started
Stop guessing. Start testing.
Answer a few questions. We’ll suggest tests linked to how you feel, with a clear price for every test.
No insurance required · HSA/FSA eligible · No subscription
These notes provide context and do not diagnose a condition. Not yet available in NY, NJ, RI, HI, ND, SD or WV.