Fitness Lab
VO2 Max Testing in Alabaster & Homewood, AL and Johnson City, TN
The Advanced Metabolic Assessment is a gold-standard VO2 max test using portable, lab-grade metabolic analysis. In about 45 minutes you get your maximal oxygen uptake, your fat and carbohydrate oxidation rates across intensities, your ventilatory thresholds, and heart-rate training zones built from your own physiology rather than an age formula.
Medically reviewed by David Hardin, MD and Kerrily Murphy, CRNP
- Price
- $300
- Duration
- About 45 minutes
- Includes
- Resting metabolic rate ($75 value)
- Membership
- Not required
What the VO2 max test includes
- Active metabolic rate (VO2 max) measured breath by breath
- Resting metabolic rate, included at no extra charge
- Fat Max and ventilatory thresholds
- Personalized heart-rate training zones
- A detailed results report reviewed with you
Where
Fitomics HQ in Alabaster, AL; the Training Lab in Homewood, AL; and our partner lab in Johnson City, TN. Mobile testing is available for teams and approved off-site locations.
Pricing
- Advanced Metabolic Assessment (VO2 max): $300 per test
- Lactate Profiling add-on: $125 per test (fingertip blood lactate during the test for OBLA and lactate threshold; book the Metabolic + Lactate option to include it)
What is a good VO2 max for my age?
VO2 max is reported in milliliters of oxygen per kilogram of body weight per minute (mL/kg/min). It falls about 10% per decade in adults, so a number only means something next to people of your age and sex. The table shows where measured treadmill values fall in FRIEND, the largest US registry of lab-measured VO2 max tests.
Read your result against your row: at the 50th percentile you are average for your age, at the 75th you are fitter than three in four peers, and at the 90th you are in the top 10%. The goal for most people is to move up a column, and to hold that position as the decades pass.
| Age | Men 50th | Men 75th | Men 90th | Women 50th | Women 75th | Women 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20–29 | 48.0 | 55.2 | 61.8 | 37.6 | 44.7 | 51.3 |
| 30–39 | 42.4 | 49.2 | 56.5 | 30.2 | 36.1 | 41.4 |
| 40–49 | 37.8 | 45.0 | 52.1 | 26.7 | 32.4 | 38.4 |
| 50–59 | 32.6 | 39.7 | 45.6 | 23.4 | 27.6 | 32.0 |
| 60–69 | 28.2 | 34.5 | 40.3 | 20.0 | 23.8 | 27.0 |
| 70–79 | 24.4 | 30.4 | 36.6 | 18.3 | 20.8 | 23.1 |
Source: Kaminsky LA, Arena R, Myers J. Reference standards for cardiorespiratory fitness measured with cardiopulmonary exercise testing: data from the Fitness Registry and the Importance of Exercise National Database (FRIEND). Mayo Clin Proc. 2015;90(11):1515–1523. 7,783 maximal treadmill tests in adults without known cardiovascular disease. A 2022 FRIEND update reports treadmill values 1.5–4.6 mL/kg/min lower.
Why VO2 max matters for long-term health
Cardiorespiratory fitness is one of the strongest predictors of how long and how well people live. In a Cleveland Clinic study of more than 122,000 adults who took treadmill tests, those with low fitness had about five times the risk of death during follow-up as those with elite fitness, and being below average carried a risk similar to smoking or diabetes (Mandsager et al., JAMA Network Open, 2018). A meta-analysis of 33 studies found that each 1-MET increase in fitness was associated with about 13% lower all-cause mortality (Kodama et al., JAMA, 2009).
Unlike age or genetics, VO2 max responds to training. Measuring it rather than estimating it from a watch or an age formula gives you a true starting point, heart-rate zones that match your physiology, and a number you can retest to see whether your training is working.
VO2 max testing near Birmingham
Birmingham-area athletes, executives and anyone curious about their fitness can test at the Fitomics Training Lab in Homewood or at Fitomics HQ in Alabaster, south of Birmingham off I-65. Tennessee's Tri-Cities can test at our partner lab in Johnson City. No membership or referral is needed; book online and a Fitomics exercise scientist runs the test and walks you through the results.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is a VO2 max test?
A VO2 max test measures the maximum volume of oxygen your body can use per minute during exercise. It is the most direct laboratory measure of cardiorespiratory fitness and one of the strongest predictors of long-term health. At Fitomics you exercise through progressive stages while a metabolic analyzer measures every breath.
How much does a VO2 max test cost at Fitomics?
The Advanced Metabolic Assessment is $300 and includes your resting metabolic rate, a $75 value. Lactate profiling can be added for $125 by booking the Metabolic + Lactate option. No membership is required, and the test is also included in the Discovery and Comprehensive Exams.
How long does the test take, and how should I prepare?
Plan on about 45 minutes in the lab. Arrive rested, avoid a hard workout the day before, skip caffeine and food for two to three hours beforehand, and wear clothes and shoes you can run or cycle in. We will walk you through the mask, the protocol, and when to stop.
What do I get after the test?
A detailed report with your VO2 max, your fat and carbohydrate oxidation rates, your Fat Max point, your ventilatory thresholds, and heart-rate zones. A Fitomics exercise scientist reviews it with you so you know how to train from it.
Where can I get a VO2 max test near Birmingham, AL?
Fitomics tests at HQ in Alabaster, at the Training Lab in Homewood, and at our partner lab in Johnson City, Tennessee. Mobile testing for teams and groups is available at approved locations. Call (205) 984-2729 with questions.