DEXA and VO2 max tests
DEXA scans and VO2 max tests are two of the most common measurements sold by longevity clinics, testing centers and training studios. Both measure something real. What matters is how the test is done and who explains the result.
DEXA
DEXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) uses a low dose of X-rays. In medicine it is the standard test for bone density (MedlinePlus: bone density scan ↗). The USPSTF recommends osteoporosis screening ↗ for certain groups, such as women 65 and older; that screening is usually ordered by a doctor and often covered by insurance.
Many self-pay DEXA services focus on body composition — fat, lean mass and where it sits — rather than a diagnostic bone-density reading. Ask which you are getting. A body-composition scan is not a substitute for a bone-density test your doctor orders.
Across 25 businesses in our directory that publish a price for a DEXA scan, the lowest listed price per business runs from $39 to $250, with a median of $59.95 (as published, checked up to October 29, 2026). Prices are quoted differently from place to place, so compare what each one includes. See the price index for detail.
VO2 max
A VO2 max test measures how much oxygen your body uses at peak effort, usually on a treadmill or bike while you breathe through a mask. It is related to, but not the same as, a medical exercise stress test, which watches your heart under effort (MedlinePlus: exercise stress test ↗). A VO2 max test is a fitness measurement; it is not a heart check unless a clinician says it is.
Across 9 businesses in our directory that publish a price for VO2 max testing, the lowest listed price per business runs from $105 to $500, with a median of $199 (as published, checked up to October 29, 2026). Prices are quoted differently from place to place, so compare what each one includes. See the price index for detail.
Questions to ask
- Who runs the test, and who reads the result? A technician, a coach, a clinician?
- Do you screen me before a maximal-effort test? If you have heart symptoms or a heart condition, talk to your doctor first.
- What do I get? A raw report, a consult, a training plan, a repeat test?
- Is it repeatable? If you plan to re-test, use the same machine and protocol.
Related
Read what to ask before a full-body MRI, or browse places offering DEXA scans.
This is general information, not medical advice, and it doesn’t tell you whether a test or therapy is right for you. Talk to your own doctor about your health, medications and history before you book. In an emergency, call 911.