Lab · CPT 83036

What is CPT code 83036?

Hemoglobin A1c (long-term blood sugar).

By Justin Feldstein · Reviewed 2026-06-15

What it covers

A blood test that shows your average blood sugar over roughly the past two to three months, rather than a single moment. It's the main number used to diagnose and track diabetes. One blood draw covers it, and it's reported as a single percentage.

When you'd see it

Common if you have diabetes or prediabetes, are being screened for it, or are adjusting a diabetes medication. Insurers often expect a gap of about three months between routine A1c tests.

Roughly what it costs

$9–$70 commonly billed

A ballpark on the billed amount. After insurance or a negotiated rate, what you owe is often far lower. Always compare against your Explanation of Benefits (EOB).

What's usually billed with it

The blood draw (36415) accompanies it, and it's often ordered with a metabolic panel (80053) or lipid panel (80061) at the same visit.

83036 vs 83037

The 83037 version is the finger-stick A1c run on a small in-office or home device, so if your result came from the main lab the 83036 code is the expected one. See 83037 (A1c by home/point-of-care device).

What to watch for

If this shows up more than about once a quarter without your condition changing, ask why — many plans only cover routine A1c testing roughly every three months.

Specific things to question

• Billed more often than the roughly-every-three-months your plan allows for routine monitoring.
• Charged at a level that looks high for a single, very common test.
• Both the lab version (83036) and a point-of-care version (83037) billed for the same check.

How to check this charge on your own bill

Find 83036 on your itemized bill and match it against your EOB. Confirm it appears only once, that any bundled services aren't also billed separately, and that the amount matches what your insurer says it allowed. If something doesn't line up, that's a fair question for the billing office.