Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) Test
A CoQ10 test measures the amount of coenzyme Q10 in your blood. CoQ10 takes part in how cells make energy and in antioxidant activity, and clinicians use the marker to help evaluate CoQ10 status.
About this test
Coenzyme Q10, often shortened to CoQ10 and also called ubiquinone, is a compound found in nearly every cell of the body. It plays a central role in the tiny power plants inside cells, the mitochondria, where it helps carry out the steps that turn nutrients into usable energy.
The test is done with a simple blood draw at a patient service center. A phlebotomist collects a sample from a vein in the arm, and it is sent to the laboratory.
Who might consider this test?
- Others look into it while exploring persistent fatigue, or in the context of certain inherited conditions that affect how cells produce energy.
Test details
| Quest code | 19826 |
|---|---|
| Methodology | Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry |
| Sample type | 1 mL serum |
| Patient preparation | Fasting is not required. Do not take Coenzyme Q10 supplements the morning of the test. They may take other nutritional supplements before testing. |
| Collection | Quest patient service center |
Reference range
>0.35 ug/mL
Reference ranges are general guidance. The range printed on your own laboratory report is the one that applies to your result.
Related tests and panels
A comprehensive test designed to assess cellular defense and recovery from…
Quest resources
Additional details
What this test looks at
A CoQ10 test reports how much coenzyme Q10 is present in a blood sample. Because CoQ10 is a key player in the machinery that produces cellular energy, it draws the most interest in tissues with high energy demands, such as muscle. Measuring the circulating amount gives a clinician a reference point for whether CoQ10 belongs in the conversation.
The amount in the blood reflects one snapshot and is shaped by diet, supplements, and the fats CoQ10 travels with, so a clinician reads a single measurement as one view rather than a fixed figure.
How clinicians use CoQ10 in context
CoQ10 is often interpreted alongside a person's blood fats, because it circulates attached to those particles and its raw amount is easier to make sense of when read together with them. A clinician also weighs the result against medications, symptoms such as muscle aches or fatigue, and overall health history.
The measurement is meant to open a conversation with a clinician rather than to answer a question by itself. From there, a clinician decides in context whether any further evaluation is worth considering.
Order online and a physician order is included — no doctor's visit and no insurance needed. Your sample is collected at a Quest Diagnostics patient service center.
Laboratory results should always be interpreted by a licensed clinician who knows your health history. This page is information about a test, not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
What does a CoQ10 test measure?
It measures the amount of coenzyme Q10, also called ubiquinone, in the blood. CoQ10 takes part in how cells produce energy and in antioxidant activity, and the measurement reflects CoQ10 status.
Who commonly orders a CoQ10 test?
People exploring energy-related questions or muscle symptoms often discuss it with a clinician, including some who take statin medications and are noticing muscle aches, or those looking into persistent fatigue.
How is the sample collected?
Through a routine blood draw at a patient service center. A phlebotomist takes a small sample from a vein in the arm and sends it to the laboratory for analysis.
Why might CoQ10 be read alongside blood fats?
CoQ10 travels through the blood attached to fats and cholesterol-carrying particles, so a clinician may interpret the reading together with a person's blood fats to make sure it is understood in the right context.
Does the body make its own CoQ10?
Yes. The body produces some CoQ10 on its own and takes in a smaller amount from food. Levels can vary from person to person, which is part of why a clinician reads the result in context.
Can I get the Coenzyme Q10 test without a doctor's visit or insurance?
Yes. The $239 cash price includes an independent physician's order, so no referral is needed, and insurance is never involved.
Do I need to prepare for this test?
Fasting is not required. Do not take Coenzyme Q10 supplements the morning of the test. They may take other nutritional supplements before testing. This is the preparation Quest publishes for this test; if your clinician gives you different instructions, follow theirs.