Heartworm Test Cost: Average Vet Prices & Ways to Save

A heartworm test is a small blood test, and most of the price variation comes from what surrounds it: the clinic, the exam, and whether the test is part of a larger annual visit. The test itself is among the cheaper routine screenings at a vet.

The figures below come from cost guides and clinic price lists, last checked Oct 11, 2026. How often your dog should be tested, and what to do with a result, are decisions for your veterinarian.

At a regular clinic, the antigen test runs about the same in two independent sources:

Webvet lists an annual heartworm test at $35 – $60, and Spot Pet Insurance lists the antigen test at $35 – $75. The slightly higher top end from Spot may reflect clinics that include a handling or lab fee.

Ask whether the quoted number is the test alone or the visit. Some practices require an exam before running any test, and the exam fee is added on top. Others will run the test during a visit your dog already needs, such as an annual checkup.

A first test is sometimes followed by more testing. Prices for these steps are listed separately:

Confirmatory and microfilariae testing costs $20 – $75 according to Webvet, while Spot lists a confirmatory test at $20 – $40. A recheck antigen test after treatment costs $35 – $75.

These extra tests apply only when a result calls for them. If your dog tests negative, you will usually pay for the screening only. Your veterinarian will tell you whether any follow-up applies.

Humane societies and county clinics sometimes offer heartworm tests at a lower price than a private practice:

The Humane Society of Sonoma County in California lists its heartworm test at $10, and the Humane Society of Huron Valley in Michigan lists it at $20. Both are one-clinic prices, and not every shelter offers testing.

A low-cost clinic works best for a healthy dog that already has a veterinarian. These clinics tend to run on set days and may require an appointment or have eligibility rules. Call ahead to confirm that testing is available on the day you plan to go.

• Clinic type. Private practices, humane societies, and county clinics charge differently.
• Exam fee. A required exam can add to the bill.
• Bundled visits. A test done during an annual checkup may be priced alongside other routine services.
• Follow-up tests. A positive result leads to extra tests, each priced on its own.
• Region. Local cost levels shift the price.
• Lab fees. Some clinics send blood to an outside lab and pass on the charge.

The two main estimates agree closely:

Webvet and Spot Pet Insurance both give $35 – $75. That agreement points to a stable typical range, even though individual clinics will sit above or below it. A clinic outside this range is not necessarily overcharging, since a bundled exam or lab fee may explain the difference.

The test is only one heartworm-related expense. Prevention medication is a recurring cost that is separate from testing, and treatment, if a dog tests positive, is a much larger expense than screening. This page covers testing only. For the schedule and products that suit your dog, talk to your veterinarian.

• Is the quote for the test only, or the whole visit?
• Is an exam required first?
• Is there a lab fee?
• If the result is positive, what is the price of the next test?
• Can the test be done at the same visit as other routine care?

• Combine the test with your dog's annual exam so you pay for one visit.
• Call a nearby humane society to ask whether it runs a clinic that includes heartworm testing.
• Compare two or three clinics, since the same antigen test is priced differently across providers.
• Ask for the price in writing before the appointment.