Order Gastrin Blood Test from JustLabs for $22 ($40 all-in for a single-test order: $22 + one $18 lab & physician order fee per order). Price includes lab processing at Quest Diagnostics. No insurance required.
Gastrin is the hormone that tells your stomach to make acid. When the stomach can't make acid, as in autoimmune gastritis, gastrin climbs; acid-reducing medicines raise it too, so results are always read in context.
Gastrin is a hormone released by cells in the lower part of the stomach. Its job is to signal the acid-producing cells higher up to release stomach acid. Normally the two are in balance: when acid rises, gastrin falls.
That feedback is what makes gastrin useful. In autoimmune gastritis, the immune system destroys the acid-producing parietal cells. With little or no acid to switch it off, gastrin keeps rising. A high fasting gastrin together with parietal cell or intrinsic factor antibodies is the classic laboratory pattern of autoimmune gastritis, and one review recommends that a low vitamin B12 should prompt a gastrin check.
Gastrin is also used to look for rare gastrin-producing tumors (Zollinger-Ellison syndrome), and it can be raised for other reasons, including H. pylori infection, chronic kidney disease, previous stomach surgery and, very commonly, acid-reducing medicines. Proton-pump inhibitors, H2 blockers and antacids all raise gastrin because they lower acid. If you take one, ask the clinician who prescribed it whether you should pause it before testing; do not stop it on your own.
This test requires an overnight fast of preferably 12 hours or more, as Quest specifies. Biotin supplements can also interfere with the assay, so timing them matters.
Price
$22
All-in
$40
incl. $18 lab & physician fee
Results
3-6 business days
Fasting
12+ hrs
What's Measured
What This Test Measures
This test measures the concentration of gastrin in a fasting serum sample, using an immunoassay. Gastrin is produced by G cells in the stomach's antrum and stimulates parietal cells to secrete acid. Results are reported in pg/mL against a fasting reference range.
Who Should Consider This Test
People being evaluated for autoimmune gastritis or pernicious anemia, especially alongside parietal cell and intrinsic factor antibodies; people with low vitamin B12 or unexplained iron deficiency; people with Hashimoto's or another autoimmune condition whose clinician wants to check for stomach involvement; and people whose clinician is investigating severe or recurrent peptic ulcers.
Health Insights
Conditions Screened
Related Symptoms
When to Get Tested
First thing in the morning after an overnight fast of at least 12 hours. If you take acid-reducing medicine, talk to the prescribing clinician before booking about whether and how long to pause it, because it will raise your result. Schedule the draw at least 8 hours after a routine biotin supplement, or 72 hours after a high-dose one.
Fasting Required
This test requires fasting for accurate results. Please follow these instructions:
- Do not eat or drink anything except water for 12-12 hours before your blood draw.
- Water is allowed and encouraged - stay hydrated!
- Schedule your lab visit in the morning for convenience.
- Continue taking any prescribed medications unless advised otherwise by your doctor.
Understanding Your Results
Results are reported in pg/mL, and the reference range applies to fasting samples only; MedlinePlus gives a typical normal level of under 100 pg/mL, but use the range printed on your report. A normal fasting gastrin makes severe loss of stomach acid less likely. A high gastrin has several possible causes: acid-reducing medicines, autoimmune gastritis, H. pylori infection, chronic kidney disease, previous stomach surgery or, rarely, a gastrin-producing tumor. High gastrin together with positive parietal cell or intrinsic factor antibodies points toward autoimmune gastritis. Low gastrin is not usually a concern. JustLabs results are informational; review them with a clinician, who may recommend a referral to a gastroenterologist.
What to Expect
After placing your order, we send it straight to Quest Diagnostics — there is no consent form to sign and no partner email to wait for. Your requisition is usually ready to download from your dashboard within about an hour, and you can book your blood draw at any Quest Diagnostics location.
The blood draw typically takes just a few minutes. Results are usually available within 3-6 business days and will appear in your secure JustLabs dashboard.
Our results include reference ranges and easy-to-understand indicators showing whether your values are within normal limits.
How much does the Gastrin test cost?
The Gastrin test costs $22 at JustLabs — $40 all-in, since the $18 lab & physician order fee is charged once per order, however many tests you add. The price is fixed before your blood draw; no insurance or doctor visit needed.
| Option | Price | Order all-in | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gastrin at JustLabsDrawn at Quest Diagnostics | $22 | $40 | Includes the one $18 fee, charged once per order |
Paying with an HSA or FSA? See which lab tests qualify
Frequently Asked Questions
Hospital cash price: $120–$200
$22
+ $18 order fee · $40 all-inOne $18 fee per order covers your Quest blood draw and the independent physician order, however many tests you add.
- Results in 3-6 business days
- Fasting required (12 hours)
- Physician order included
No insurance needed · HSA/FSA eligible
- Physician-ordered
- CLIA-certified Quest lab
- Drawn at Quest Diagnostics
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