How much does the QuantiFERON-TB Gold blood test cost?

Walk-In Lab offers the QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus at $139. LabReqs lists it at $149. Only two providers in our comparison data have this test priced for online ordering. The TB skin test (PPD) is typically available for less at local health departments, urgent care clinics, and pharmacies.

Do nursing schools accept the QuantiFERON blood test instead of a TB skin test?

Most nursing and healthcare programs accept either the TB blood test (IGRA/QuantiFERON) or the TB skin test (TST/PPD/Mantoux). The CDC and most professional societies prefer the IGRA for BCG-vaccinated individuals to avoid false positives from BCG cross-reactivity. Always confirm your specific program's accepted forms before ordering.

What is the difference between QuantiFERON and a TB skin test?

The QuantiFERON-TB Gold is an interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) blood test — one visit, no return required. The TB skin test (TST/Mantoux/PPD) requires an injection of purified TB protein under the skin, then a return visit 48–72 hours later to have the injection site measured. The blood test is not affected by BCG vaccination; the skin test can produce false positives in BCG-vaccinated individuals.

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QuantiFERON-TB Gold Blood Test Cost Comparison (2026)

Price comparison · Updated June 2026 · By the Laboratories.org editorial team

The QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT) is an interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) blood test that screens for tuberculosis infection. It is required or accepted alongside titer tests by most nursing and healthcare programs. Unlike the TB skin test, it requires only one visit, is not affected by BCG vaccination, and can be ordered online. Only two providers in our comparison data have this test available for direct-to-consumer ordering.

Key takeaways

Only two online portals in our data offer the QuantiFERON-TB Gold: Walk-In Lab ($139) and LabReqs ($149).
Walk-In Lab is cheaper by $10 for this specific test.
Most schools accept either the blood test (IGRA) or the skin test (PPD) — confirm your program's preference.
The TB skin test is often available more cheaply at local health departments or pharmacies if cost is a priority.

Our recommendation

At standard listed prices, Walk-In Lab ($139) is the lower-priced option for the QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus blood test.
LabReqs ($149) is $10 more, but offers the ability to bundle the TB test with titer panels in a single order (Immunity Panel + TB QuantiFERON Gold, $279) — a practical advantage for nursing students ordering multiple tests at once. The student discount (code SCHOOL2026) also applies to LabReqs' TB test price.
If budget is the primary concern and you only need the TB blood test (no titer bundle), Walk-In Lab's $139 is the most straightforward lower-cost option among the two available portals.

Why: Walk-In Lab $139 vs. LabReqs $149 standard (student discount code SCHOOL2026 reduces LabReqs further). LabReqs adds bundling convenience; Walk-In Lab leads on standalone price.

What the QuantiFERON-TB test measures

The QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus is an interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA). It detects whether your immune system's T-cells respond to TB-specific antigens — indicating past infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (latent TB infection, LTBI). A negative result means no TB infection detected. A positive result triggers follow-up (chest X-ray, clinical assessment). Most people with LTBI are not contagious and never develop active TB. See the Titer Testing Guide for a full blood-vs-skin-test comparison.

Price comparison table

Only two of the eight providers in our comparison data offered a standalone QuantiFERON-TB Gold test for online ordering as of May 2026.

Provider	Listed price	Fees note	Est. total	Lab network	What's included
Walk-In Lab	$139.00	None stated	~$139	LabCorp and Quest	Screens for TB infection using a blood sample (QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus)
LabReqs	$149.00	None stated	~$149	LabCorp and other national networks	TB blood test (IGRA) — QuantiFERON Gold. Modern alternative to the TB skin test.

Prices gathered from each provider's public website, May 2026; confirm current totals before ordering.

Data gap note: Other providers (DirectLabs, Jason Health, Accesa Labs, HealthLabs, RequestATest) did not have a standalone QuantiFERON-TB Gold test listed in their public catalog at the time this data was collected. Some may offer it — check their websites directly for current availability.

Blood test vs. TB skin test

Most nursing and healthcare programs accept either the IGRA blood test or the TST (skin test). The CDC and most professional societies now prefer the IGRA for BCG-vaccinated individuals because BCG vaccination cross-reacts with the skin test's purified protein derivative (PPD), producing false positives.

Feature	QuantiFERON-TB Gold (blood test)	TB Skin Test (TST/Mantoux/PPD)
Visits required	1 visit (blood draw only)	2–4 visits (injection + return 48–72 hrs later for reading)
BCG vaccination effect	Not affected	Can cause false positives in BCG-vaccinated individuals
Specificity	>99% in low-risk individuals	Lower; false-positive rate higher in BCG-vaccinated populations
Online ordering	Available through select portals	Typically done at a clinic, health department, or pharmacy
Cost comparison	$139–$149 online	Often $15–$40 at local health departments or pharmacies

The TB skin test is substantially cheaper if cost is a priority and you are not BCG-vaccinated. The blood test offers convenience (one visit) and accuracy advantages for BCG-vaccinated individuals.

School and program acceptance

Most nursing programs and clinical sites accept either the QuantiFERON blood test or a documented negative TB skin test. Some programs prefer the blood test for BCG-vaccinated international students. Per CDC guidance, annual TB testing is no longer recommended for healthcare workers; baseline (new hire or enrollment) testing is the standard. Confirm your program's accepted format before ordering.

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper: QuantiFERON online or TB skin test at a clinic?

The TB skin test at a local health department or pharmacy is typically $15–$40, significantly cheaper than the $139–$149 online blood test. If cost is the primary concern and you are not BCG-vaccinated, the skin test may be the practical choice — provided your program accepts it.

Can I order the QuantiFERON test without a doctor?

Yes — both Walk-In Lab and LabReqs allow direct-to-consumer ordering. An independent physician reviews the order behind the scenes as required by state law; this is included in the purchase price. See Do you need a doctor to order a titer test? for more detail.

What does a positive QuantiFERON result mean?

A positive result indicates the immune system has previously been exposed to TB bacteria — not necessarily active disease. It triggers follow-up evaluation: a chest X-ray and clinical assessment to rule out active TB. Most people with a positive IGRA have latent TB infection (LTBI) and are not contagious. Treatment for LTBI may be recommended to prevent future development of active TB.

Is the QuantiFERON test the same as a TB titer?

Not exactly. A "titer" typically refers to a test measuring antibody levels (IgG) for immunity verification. The QuantiFERON test measures T-cell immune response (interferon-gamma release) to detect TB exposure — it does not measure immunity from vaccination. TB is not a vaccine-preventable disease in the U.S. context of school requirements; the test screens for infection, not protection.

Sources

CDC — TB Clinical Testing Guidance for Health Care Personnel — https://www.cdc.gov/tb-healthcare-settings/hcp/screening-testing/index.html
Qiagen — QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus: TB Blood Test vs. Skin Test — https://www.qiagen.com/us/tb-testing/tb-blood-test-vs-skin-test
CDC — Vaccination Technical Instructions for Civil Surgeons (Form I-693) — https://www.cdc.gov/immigrant-refugee-health/hcp/civil-surgeons/vaccination.html
Provider pricing sourced from each provider's public website, May 2026.