Electrolytes & Minerals
CO2 / Bicarbonate test cost — $4–$21.95
CO2 / Bicarbonate · measured in mEq/L
Acid-base buffer — avoid the low-normal acidotic zone.
Optimal windowReference range
23–29 mmol/L
Published blood chemistry examples, not age- or assay-specific order ranges. Compare with the interval and units on your own report.
Optimal range / clinical target
A separate universal ‘optimal’ interval is not established in the cited guidance. The goal depends on why you were tested; aiming for the middle or an extreme of the reference interval is not a treatment plan.
Examples are educational, not your reporting lab’s interval.
NIH MedlinePlus: metabolic panel rangesTests that include CO2 / Bicarbonate
CO2 / Bicarbonate is included in Comprehensive Metabolic Panel. GoodLabs and Ulta prices below cover that panel, not an individual biomarker. Test prices are shown before separate collection fees.
Tracking more than one biomarker?
Build a list to compare test and panel combinations, with one blood-draw fee in your GoodLabs estimate.
$12 blood draw per visit, added once to your order.
Collection fee is additional; not included in this test price.
Does insurance cover CO2 / Bicarbonate testing?
When a clinician orders CO2 / Bicarbonate for a diagnosis or to follow a known condition, most plans cover it — and many cover routine screening as $0 preventive care for eligible adults. The catch is you need a qualifying reason and an in-network order; a “I just want to see my number” request often isn’t covered, and if you haven’t met your deductible you can end up paying the lab’s full list price anyway.
The direct-pay prices above skip insurance entirely: you pay the cash price, test on your own schedule with no doctor visit, and it’s HSA/FSA-eligible. For a single marker that’s often cheaper — and faster — than a copay plus deductible exposure.
CO2 / Bicarbonate inside a bundle
Every compared membership/panel that includes CO2 / Bicarbonate, cheapest first. Worth it when you want several markers at once rather than a single test.
| Provider | Model | Advertised panel | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labcorp OnDemand | One-time à-la-carte | 47+ 36 biomarkers mapped | $169 comp. |
| Empirical Health | One-time panel | 100+ 46 biomarkers mapped | $190 one-time |
| Mito Health | At-cost marketplace + optional membership | 100+ 63 biomarkers mapped | Core Panel ~$198 |
| Superpower | Annual membership | 103+ 73 biomarkers mapped | $199/yr |
| Hundred | Annual membership | 160+ 74 biomarkers mapped | $199/yr |
| Function Health | Annual membership | 160+ 88 biomarkers mapped | $365/yr |
| Blueprint (Bryan Johnson) | Annual membership | 160+ 88 biomarkers mapped | $365/yr |
| Quest Health (Elite) | One-time direct-pay | 85+ 49 biomarkers mapped | $399 one-time |
| Life Extension (Elite) | One-time à-la-carte | 45+ 49 biomarkers mapped | ~$449 one-time |
| Marek Health | Annual membership | 80+ 55 biomarkers mapped | ~$495/yr |
| OneTwenty | Annual membership | 85+ 51 biomarkers mapped | $499/yr |
| Thorne Advanced | One-time panel | 60+ 51 biomarkers mapped | ~$830 one-time |
| Lifeforce | Subscription + diagnostic | 51+ 49 biomarkers mapped | ~$2,137/yr |
What CO2 / Bicarbonate is
Measures serum bicarbonate, the main buffer of metabolic acid-base status. Low values suggest metabolic acidosis; high values suggest alkalosis or volume contraction.
Why it matters for longevity & performance
Chronic low-grade metabolic acidosis (low-normal bicarbonate) links to insulin resistance, bone and muscle loss, and CKD progression — a modest 'higher-within-range' lean.
CO2 / Bicarbonate testing — frequently asked
Do I need to fast for a CO2 / Bicarbonate test?
No. CO2 / Bicarbonate does not require fasting — you can test any time of day.
Do I need a doctor's order to get a CO2 / Bicarbonate test?
No. Direct-to-consumer labs (GoodLabs, Ulta, Quest and Labcorp OnDemand) include the physician order in the price — you order online and visit a draw site, no appointment with your own doctor needed.
How fast are CO2 / Bicarbonate results?
Usually 1–3 business days after your blood draw; most results post to the lab's online portal.
What's the difference between the standard and optimal CO2 / Bicarbonate range?
Reference intervals describe results in a reference population; they do not by themselves diagnose or exclude disease. A treatment target depends on the condition and the person. A separate universal ‘optimal’ interval is not established in the cited guidance. The goal depends on why you were tested; aiming for the middle or an extreme of the reference interval is not a treatment plan.
Does insurance cover CO2 / Bicarbonate testing?
Often, when ordered for a diagnosis; many plans cover it as preventive care at no cost for eligible adults. The direct-pay prices above let you skip insurance and test on your own schedule.
Educational guidance. Use your reporting lab’s reference interval and discuss personal targets and results with your clinician.