Affordable Labwork - Titers and fun stuff

[Adenium]

I'm not holding my breath as this forum is relatively inactive, but I was wondering if anyone knew where I could get my titers/hematocrit drawn for nursing school without draining my poor savings account. The hospital-affiliated lab my doctor uses is about $80 for each, and even Quest diagnostics where they recommended I go to find cheaper charges $132 just for Rubeola!

I need to get Varicella, Rubella, and Rubeola before school starts in January, but I feel like there must be a cheaper way. Parting with my carefully saved dollars in such large chunks really burns after being out of work for a year to take pre-reqs. I thought there might be some benevolent public health center or something, but I know not where. Gee, it would be really nice as an aid for new nurses-to-be :)

[newonboard]

Have you tried any of the community health centers?

[Adenium]

Yes, I thought community health would be much better - makes sense, right? But they unfortunately use Quest diagnostics which had the highest price quote of all. You're at UConn too, right? I remember you posting a few months ago. I'm still on waitlist holding out for Waterbury, but want to have my ducks in order to be ready if any miracles happen.

I talked to the coordinator and she said there's nothing cheaper that she knows of, most people still have insurance so it's more reasonable for them. Sigh. I guess I'll bite the bullet, and when I'm an RN one day it won't seem so bad. Thanks though!

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

Are you married, or if your female, have you been pregnant?

I know my titers were drawn for certain childhood immunizations when I had to get my marriage license and when I was pregnant and got my prenatal lab work done. Maybe you can get a copy of those labs from the docs that ordered them. They would have your lab values for at least one or two of the DPT, MMR. As for the varicella, I had the chickenpox as a kid and it was documented in my medical history so I didn't have to have the titer drawn. I also didn't have to have it drawn because I was born before the date they state you had to have a titer drawn..way way before..heehee.

Other than that, I don't know of anywhere that will draw the blood for the labs at a decent price but the Local Department of Health offices give the immunizations for a relatively decent price.

[Adenium]

Ha ha. Unfortunately, I am creeping towards 30 and am neither married nor a mom. I ended up just forking over my $300 and getting the stuff done thru my doctor's hospital lab branch - there really is no cheap way if you're uninsured or poorly insured. I don't seem to need any more immunizations, so I will be grateful for small mercies.

Thanks for your help, though!

[vashtee, RN]

I had mine done at the local community college's health office. It was cheap, but you had to be an enrolled student.

[kukukajoo, LPN]

Here in NH you can have the state labs run them as well go to a STD clinic or a Visiting Nurse Association. I wish I had seen this before you shelled out all the money.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

Here in NH you can have the state labs run them as well go to a STD clinic or a Visiting Nurse Association. I wish I had seen this before you shelled out all the money.

me, too....when i went to the ol' family doc for mine (1980) he looked at me, and said "the vacination is cheaper" at which time i held my arm out and said "go for it"....

[kukukajoo, LPN]

After getting all my titers done I still had to have MMR and then have another titer done, then another one after I got the hep B to prove immunity. It was a huge pain but worked out. I was interning at a company that gave me insurance from day one so that helped soooooo much!!