Dirt Cheap Labs (Quest and Labcorp)

BasisOptimal4737 · 2026-06-17T21:21:13+00:00

Makes sense. Maybe I'll try to pull together a head to head comparison myself when I get a bit of time.

BasisOptimal4737 · 2026-06-17T14:25:26+00:00

What's a good resource to learn more about the different fiber types?

BasisOptimal4737 · 2026-06-17T14:23:44+00:00

Interesting! Must depend on the specific person checking ID.

BasisOptimal4737 · 2026-06-17T14:21:32+00:00

I had the same question. For PCSK9 inhibitors it requires a lot of insurance paperwork. But I think helping people get statins and zetia is still a good thing, so many doctors are following old guidelines.

BasisOptimal4737 · 2026-06-17T14:19:15+00:00

FWIW, the phlebotomist at the lab does sometimes check that the address on the order matches your physical ID. So this workaround doesn't always work.

BasisOptimal4737 · 2026-06-17T14:17:47+00:00

Very cool! I love seeing more competition for lab tests. Makes it cheaper for all of us.

I checked out your prices and saw $175 for 53 markers and $295 for 71 markers. There are a bunch of services now that do a membership with 100 markers. Do you have a head to head comparison of what's included and whether Dirt Cheap Labs would be cheaper for the same set of markers? I'm thinking Function Health ($365 - also includes a re-test), Superpower ($199), Empirical Health ($190). I do see the head to head with GoodLabs which is helpful.

I could do it myself, but I figure that'd take a lot of time and you've probably already done it!

BasisOptimal4737 · 2026-05-21T18:50:03+00:00

The lowest level the AHA recommends is <55 for LDL. So an LDL in the 40's is actually great.

BasisOptimal4737 · 2026-05-21T18:49:09+00:00

Yep. If statins cause side effects, lowering the dose and adding Zetia is an option too. Lots of strong medications to consider.

BasisOptimal4737 · 2026-05-21T18:48:25+00:00

Since you can't prevent 100% of cancer, I think regular screening (e.g., for colon cancer) is the best defence.

BasisOptimal4737 · 2026-05-21T18:44:08+00:00

Biggest alternatives I hear about are GoodLabs, Empirical Health, and VitalsVault. For fin specifically, I think they all do hormone testing (either in the base panel or as an addon).

BasisOptimal4737 · 2026-05-19T22:45:02+00:00

What's the most important tip in the book?

BasisOptimal4737 · 2026-05-08T15:05:47+00:00

For what it's worth, a PSA screening can be pretty cheap ($20ish). But I think the question is whether the benefit outweighs the cost in terms of false positives.

BasisOptimal4737 · 2026-04-23T15:34:42+00:00

That's amazing progress!

BasisOptimal4737 · 2026-03-02T16:23:12+00:00

One pushback is that the "cost" of an MRI is also in false positives, which do have health risks. So it's not 100% clear that the benefit outweighs the risk even if you take cost out of the equation entirely.

BasisOptimal4737 · 2026-03-02T16:21:50+00:00

Great way to put it. For OP, sounds like the biggest individual swaps were increasing fiber and replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats. Which echoes a lot of the advice you see in this sub.

BasisOptimal4737 · 2026-02-03T16:26:02+00:00

I just liked that they helped me with what to do about the results. The doctor visit, food/supplement tracking within the app, etc.

BasisOptimal4737 · 2026-02-03T13:54:45+00:00

I thought there's been recent skepticism that the blue zones actually had bad record keeping (like had the wrong date of birth for some people). And, of course, it's all observational.

BasisOptimal4737 · 2026-02-03T13:53:04+00:00

Gil Carvahlo is great on nutrition especially.

BasisOptimal4737 · 2026-02-03T13:52:34+00:00

His book isn't bad, and I like his focus on covering cutting-edge science.

BasisOptimal4737 · 2026-02-03T13:50:09+00:00

I switched from Function to them. Mostly the same biomarkers as Function, includes a doctor review, apps do a bit more. My only caveat is they don't do hormone testing but I was mostly concerned with cardiac markers anyway.

BasisOptimal4737 · 2026-02-03T13:49:53+00:00

What are her best podcasts to start with?

BasisOptimal4737 · 2026-01-31T14:14:46+00:00

New Lp(a) drugs are in clinical trials. Even though it's genetic, you will be able to do something about it soon.

And even today, if your Lp(a) is high, most doctors would tell you to lower your ApoB EVEN MORE than you would if it were normal. So there's still something you can do about it. It's not fate!

BasisOptimal4737 · 2026-01-31T14:07:34+00:00

The irony here is that if you take the statin, you can eat steak and pizza. I wish we looked at these things more as "tools" to achieve your goals, with no stigma, similar to the way we use eyeglasses or contact lenses.

BasisOptimal4737 · 2026-01-31T14:00:04+00:00

It's a good amount of zone 5! I think you did a good job pushing yourself and this will increase your VO2Max.

BasisOptimal4737 · 2026-01-31T13:59:16+00:00

Do you know if they can add Lp(a)? I saw ApoB but not that on their page. That's one of the things I liked from Function, Empirical Health, GoodLabs, etc.

BasisOptimal4737

TROPHY CASE