Fatigue Panel Blood Test | Chronic Fatigue Test

About the Test

Many people in the United States claim how tired they feel every single day.¹ Some of these people may be suffering from chronic fatigue as a result of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) or other diagnosable conditions. Chronic fatigue may present differently from person to person but can affect the quality of one’s life and general health. There are measurable factors in the body that can contribute to extreme tiredness and present as the underlying cause for fatigue.

These measurable factors make up the Fatigue Test Panel: Complete Blood Count (CBC), Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP), Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), Ferritin, and Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) with reflex to Free T4 (FT4).

This test may be right for you if any of the following are true:

You have any signs or symptoms of chronic fatigue (listed in the Signs & Symptoms section below)
You have noticed a difference in your activity levels and abilities compared to six months ago (or longer)

These symptoms can worsen over time. By getting tested, you and your doctor may be able to better understand the cause of your extreme tiredness and identify the next steps.

The following tests are performed to rule out other possible causes for your extreme tiredness:

A CBC measures multiple components of your blood to help identify bleeding disorders or infections and to evaluate abnormal levels of specific blood components, such as low levels of red blood cells, which transport oxygen to body cells and tissues (anemia) or high levels of abnormal white blood cells that crowd out red blood cells and platelets.

A CMP (also known as a Chem 14) is a broad screening tool that assesses 14 different substances to evaluate sugar (glucose) levels, kidney function, liver function, and electrolyte imbalance. This panel of tests is often used by healthcare professionals to detect and monitor various abnormalities, including nutrient balance, diabetes, and kidney and liver disease.

The HbA1c test is used to measure your average blood sugar levels over the past 3 months. Healthcare providers use this test to determine disease states such as prediabetes or type 2 diabetes or to help you monitor your levels if you have diabetes. An elevated HbA1c level means that your blood sugar levels have been high over the past 3 months. The HbA1c test reports the percentage of hemoglobin in your blood that is coated with sugar. A higher percentage of HbA1c indicates higher blood sugar levels. Abnormal HbA1c levels can also indicate a syndrome called “Diabetes Fatigue Syndrome” (DFS) that should be considered when assessing chronic fatigue.

Ferritin is a protein in the blood that contains iron and helps you understand how much iron your body is storing. Blood levels of ferritin correlate to the body's iron status. Abnormal (too high or too low) levels of iron may lead to weakness and fatigue.

The Thyroid Function Test measures thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels in the blood to evaluate thyroid function, which is critical for regulating weight, energy, body temperature, mood, and overall health. If your TSH levels are abnormally high or low, this may indicate that your thyroid is either underactive (hypothyroidism) or overactive (hyperthyroidism). Symptoms of hypothyroidism are very similar to those experienced by people who have chronic fatigue.

If test results identify abnormal TSH levels, free thyroxine (T4) blood levels will be tested using your submitted sample at no additional cost to you to provide information needed to help diagnose hypothyroidism.

Common signs and symptoms of chronic fatigue include:

Extreme tiredness that is not a result of unusually difficult activity
Extreme tiredness that is not relieved by sleep or rest
Drop in activity level / inability to do usual activities
Sleep problems
Brain fog
Muscle or joint pain
Headaches
Worsening of symptoms while standing or sitting upright

You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase a test on questhealth.com. Purchases not permitted in: AK, AZ, HI.

Fasting (not eating or drinking anything except water) for 8-12 hours is recommended. If you are not able to fast before the test, certain levels may be elevated. If you are taking medications, check with your healthcare provider to see whether you should take them before the test.

After you provide your specimen, it generally takes few business days to process and release your test results. However, processing times may vary. Your test results will be available in a clear and easy-to-read report. If your results differ from expected ranges, you may receive an alert call from an independent healthcare coordinator. Independent physicians are available to discuss questions or concerns you may have regarding your results.

How it works

In-person
In-home sample collection

1

Buy a lab test & schedule an appointment

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2

Visit Quest for sample collection

Complete your test sample collection during your scheduled appointment.

3

Get fast results online

Access results online as soon as they’re available.

View results

4

Get physician support

Discuss your results with an independent physician at no extra cost.

1

Buy a lab test
+ in-home sample collection

If in-home service is available in your area, purchase for an additional $55 fee.

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2

Schedule an appointment

After you make a purchase, Quest Mobile will contact you to schedule an in-home sample collection appointment.

3

In-home sample collection

A Quest Mobile phlebotomist will collect your sample and deliver it to Quest Diagnostics.

4

Get fast results online

Access results online as soon as they’re available. Discuss your results with an independent physician at no extra cost.

View results

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FAQs

What is the difference between chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome?

Chronic fatigue, or extreme tiredness, is a symptom that can be caused by various conditions. Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease of the brain and central nervous system and is difficult to diagnose. It may present differently from person to person and can affect the quality of one’s life and general health.

Are there other conditions that have similar symptoms as chronic fatigue syndrome, like extreme tiredness?

Yes, fatigue is also a common symptom of infectious mononucleosis (also called “mono” or “the kissing disease”). A Complete Blood Count (CBC) test is often used by healthcare providers when assessing for mono and is included in this test panel.

Other conditions, including fibromyalgia and many autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and Sjögren’s syndrome) may also present with similar symptoms. If you are interested in having these other conditions tested, the Rheumatoid Arthritis Test and Autoimmune Screening Test (ANA with Reflex) are available for purchase.

Can I use my FSA or HSA funds to purchase tests at questhealth.com?

You may be able to use your FSA or HSA funds to purchase lab tests at questhealth.com. Please review your FSA/HSA plan or check with a tax professional to confirm specific requirements for individual eligibility.

Our references

References:

Family Safety & Health. Exhausted nation: Americans more tired than ever, survey finds. Accessed August 24, 2023. https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/22112-exhausted-nation-americans-more-tired-than-ever-survey-finds

Sources:

Quest Diagnostics. CBC (includes Differential and Platelets). Accessed August 10, 2023. https://testdirectory.questdiagnostics.com/test/test-detail/6399/cbc-includes-differential-and-platelets?q=6399&cc=PHP
Quest Diagnostics. Comprehensive Metabolic Panel. Accessed August 10, 2023. https://testdirectory.questdiagnostics.com/test/test-detail/10231/comprehensive-metabolic-panel?q=cmp&cc=PHP
Quest Diagnostics. Hemoglobin A1c. Accessed August 10, 2023. https://testdirectory.questdiagnostics.com/test/test-detail/496/hemoglobin-a1c?q=hba1c&cc=PHP
Quest Diagnostics. Ferritin. Accessed August 10, 2023. https://testdirectory.questdiagnostics.com/test/test-detail/457/ferritin?q=ferritin&cc=PHP
Quest Diagnostics. TSH with Reflex to Free T4. Accessed August 10, 2023. https://testdirectory.questdiagnostics.com/test/test-detail/36127/tsh-with-reflex-to-free-t4?q=36127&cc=PHP
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Accessed August 10, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/me-cfs/index.html
Kalra S, Sahay R. Diabetes Fatigue Syndrome. Diabetes Ther. 2018 Aug;9(4):1421-1429. doi: 10.1007/s13300-018-0453-x. Epub 2018 Jun 4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6064586/
Ruscitti P, Ursini F, Shoenfeld Y. Ferritin and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome in post COVID-19, an unexpected facet of the hyperferritinemic syndrome? J Psychosom Res. 2023 Jun;169:111231. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2023.111231. Epub 2023 Mar 15. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10028614/
Frontiers. "Chronic fatigue syndrome possibly explained by lower levels of key thyroid hormones: Discovery of a crucial link between chronic fatigue syndrome and lower levels of key thyroid hormones raises hopes for treating this common yet debilitating disease." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 20 March 2018. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180320084337.htm

Tests purchased on questhealth.com are only for individuals who intend to pay directly for testing and do not want to submit a claim for reimbursement under their health insurance.

Fatigue Test Panel