It costs about $175 for a steroids test.

But imagine the costs of testing the 33,000 Hawai'i high school students who participate in sports.

The hefty price tag has been a key factor in states not adopting steroid testing for their prep athletes. This comes during a time when professional athletes are accused of, and scrutinized for, using performance-enhancing drugs.

"We're always open to exploring the possibility of steroids testing in the future, but as of now there are costs and legal considerations that need to be resolved," said Keith Amemiya, executive director of the Hawai'i High School Athletic Association. "Right now, we just don't have the funding to test our student-athletes."

Only three states — Florida, New Jersey and Texas — have state laws that mandate steroid testing. All three have the financial backing of their state legislatures, and Illinois is interested in a testing program even without the assistance of its legislature.

Florida and Texas implemented steroid testing for this school year, and New Jersey began testing its athletes last year.

All three states test to various degrees, which has drawn criticism for the small sample of students who face testing. In Texas, $3 million was allotted for testing an estimated 23,000 students at 1,400 schools. But that number represents just 3 percent of the 700,000 athletes in the state's Interscholastic League.

In Florida and New Jersey, $100,000 each was budgeted for testing. Florida will test 1 percent, or about 570 athletes in six sports. In New Jersey, 5 percent, or 500 athletes who qualify for a state championship, could be randomly selected for testing.

Last fall, New Jersey tested 150 athletes through urinalysis, and all results were negative. Results for the remainder of the school year have not been released.

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association has a list that includes four banned-drug classes and 87 examples of banned substances that is tested for. Though nutritional and dietary supplements are not on the list, the league warned students that some supplements could contain banned substances.

Penalties for a positive test range from 30 days for a first-time offense in Texas, to a one-year penalty in New Jersey. A New Jersey student-athlete who tests positive won't be eligible to participate until a negative test and counseling.

A 2006 survey conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse revealed 2.7 percent of high school seniors reported using steroids during their lifetime.

Reach Stanley Lee at sktlee@honoluluadvertiser.com.