VO2 Max Test in Singapore: Which Lab Test to Book, What Happens and What You Get

Your watch says your VO2 max went up this month. Your training partner's watch says theirs is higher than yours, even though you beat them at the last 10km. So which number do you trust, and how do you find out what yours really is?

The answer is a lab test, and in Singapore you can book one on ATHLO+. Here is your complete guide to booking a VO2 max test in Singapore: which test fits your goal, what happens on the day, what you walk away with, and how a lab number compares with the estimate on your wrist.

What a Lab VO2 Max Test Is

VO2 max is the maximum volume of oxygen your body can use during exercise. It is reported in mL/kg/min, which means millilitres of oxygen per kilogram of body weight, per minute.

In a lab, that number is measured rather than estimated. Cleveland Clinic describes the setup: you wear a mask that captures your breath while you walk, run or cycle, and the test records your oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production. Its sports medicine physician describes a graded exercise test at a lab as the reference method for determining VO2 max.

Want the science behind ventilatory thresholds and training zones? That is covered in our explainer, VO₂ Max Testing: What It Is and Why Serious Athletes Get Tested in the Lab. This guide is about the practical part: choosing a test and booking it.

Choosing Your Test: Four Options, Four Different Questions

ATHLO+ lists four lab tests from FORGED by ReFormd, a performance testing studio at CityLink Mall. Each one answers a slightly different question, so start with what you actually want to know.

• "What is my aerobic ceiling?": The VO₂max Test. You choose to run or cycle and work up to a maximal effort while your breathing is measured. You leave with your VO2 max, your key ventilatory threshold, heart rate zones to guide your training intensity, and insight into your fuel use: carbohydrate or fat.
• "How do I pace a HYROX race?": The HYROX VO₂ Assessment. It is built around the race, giving you run- and station-specific heart rate and intensity zones, your HYROX VO2 peak and aerobic thresholds, and strategies for race day.
• "Where does fatigue take over?": The Lactate Threshold Test. It profiles your lactate to identify your lactate threshold, then turns that into individualised, sport-specific heart rate zones and benchmarks you can reassess against. You can test on a run, a bike, a rower or a SkiErg; the rower and SkiErg are recommended for experienced users only.
• "I want the full metabolic picture": The FUEL Runner's Metabolic Bundle. It pairs the VO₂max Test with the Lactate Threshold Test, for runners who want the numbers to pace themselves, improve endurance and avoid overtraining.

At the time of writing, ATHLO+ lists the VO₂max Test at $228, the Lactate Threshold Test at $228, the HYROX VO₂ Assessment from $198 (the Half Sim), and the FUEL bundle at $408. Check the product page for the current price before you book.

Test Day: What Actually Happens

• The Location: FORGED by ReFormd is at 1 Raffles Link, #B1-23 CityLink Mall, Singapore 039393.
• Screening First: FORGED by ReFormd needs a short screening form completed before your first session, and the booking form asks you to confirm you are 18 years or older.
• Arrive Fresh: The VO₂max Test is a maximal effort, and FORGED by ReFormd describes it as a challenging test, so book it for a day when you are fresh.
• The Equipment: Your breathing is measured on the Cortex 21® Performance T. The HYROX VO₂ Assessment adds Concept 2 ergs and Centr Power sleds.
• How Long It Takes: The VO₂max Test session takes 60 minutes, and the Lactate Threshold Test is listed at 60 min. The HYROX VO₂ Assessment runs 1 hr 30 min for the Half Sim and 2 hr 30 min for the Full Sim.
• Your Results: FORGED by ReFormd says you receive detailed results immediately, with clear explanations of what they mean for your training.

Lab Test vs Your Watch: How Close Is the Estimate?

Cleveland Clinic says wearable numbers are not exact but are typically pretty close. Independent studies show where "close" runs out:

• Garmin Forerunner 245: In a 2026 study of 35 endurance athletes, the watch underestimated VO2 max, with mean absolute percentage errors of 7.9% and 7.2% across two runs. In the highly trained group, it underestimated by 6.3 mL/kg/min. The authors conclude that lab gas analysis remains the preferred method when precision is required.
• Apple Watch Series 7: In a 2024 study of 19 participants, the mean absolute percentage error against a lab test was 15.79%. The authors found the watch overestimates VO2 max in people with poor fitness and underestimates it in people with excellent fitness.

The same Garmin study calls smartwatches useful for general monitoring. That is the right job for your watch: tracking the trend between lab tests, not replacing them. If you train with a Garmin, read Understanding VO₂ Max on Your Garmin for what the number on your wrist means.

Reading Your Number: Context Beats a Single Score

• There Is No Single Good Number: Cleveland Clinic notes that VO2 max tends to decline after age 30, dropping about 5% to 10% per decade, and that men average higher scores than women at the same age. Compare yourself with yourself.
• Small Changes Are Noise: Changes of less than 3% to 5% might just reflect natural test variability, which is why Cleveland Clinic suggests repeating the test over time with the same protocol each time.
• Retest After a Block: If you are just getting started on a programme, Cleveland Clinic says a 10% to 15% improvement in a few months is realistic. A second test at the same lab, on the same modality, is how you see it.

Book Your VO2 Max Test with FORGED by ReFormd on ATHLO+

All four tests are booked on ATHLO+ and delivered by FORGED by ReFormd. For the VO₂max Test, the Lactate Threshold Test and the HYROX VO₂ Assessment, you pick a time on the product page, and your slot is held the moment you pay. For the FUEL bundle, you add it to your cart with your mobile number, and FORGED by ReFormd use it, with your email, to arrange the sessions with you. Whichever you book, if the partner declines or does not answer in time, you are refunded in full, automatically. Find out more about the studio on our FORGED by ReFormd partner page.

Book a VO2 Max Test with FORGED by ReFormd on ATHLO+ →

Ready to understand what your thresholds mean before you book? Read our guide to VO₂ max testing and why athletes get tested in the lab next.