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Whether you’re dealing with chronic allergies or just curious about your body’s inner workings, it’s common to want to know everything you can about your health. And at-home tests offer a convenient option for easy access to detailed health information. But how accurate are these tests, and are the results useful?
In this review, we look at Everlywell at-home test kits, explaining how they work, what they screen for, and whether they can take the place of regular visits to your doctor’s office.
Convenient: There’s no need to leave your home, except to mail your test samples back for analysis.
Information at your fingertips: Everlywell offers a wide range of tests to check for different health issues, including allergies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Empowering: For some people, regular monitoring of things like blood sugar or cholesterol levels can be useful for health management.
Cons
Can be expensive: A test from Everlywell can range in price from less than $50 to almost $250.
Not for the faint of heart: Everlywell tests require you to take your own samples, so you must be able to collect and handle your own blood, other bodily fluids, or more.
Limited evidence for certain tests: For example, there’s a lack of evidence to support the method used for testing food sensitivities.
Everlywell is a health-testing company based in Austin, Texas, that was started in 2015. The company ships in-home testing kits directly to customers.
Customers take samples themselves using the provided materials and drop them in the mail using included prepaid expedited packaging. The company delivers results quickly using a secure online platform.
You can also purchase some Everlywell testing kits on Amazon, and at select retailers, including CVS, Walmart, Target, Kroger, or Walgreens.
Everlywell currently offers 29 tests, including those for:
general wellness
men’s health
women’s health
nutritional health
sexual health
The company receives positive reviews from customers who report that the at-home testing experience is easy and that their results were returned quickly and efficiently.
However, other reviewers complain about being able to collect enough blood for some tests, or report delays in processing, lost packages, problems reaching customer support, sample size issues, and concerns about test accuracy.
Pricing guide
Everlywell at-home health tests can range in price from under $50 up to a few hundred dollars. In this article, the price range is indicated by:
First, you’ll choose a test, create an online account, and pay. Your order will then be reviewed and approved by a board certified doctor in your state. You should receive the test kit in the mail within 5–10 business days.
You’ll have 5 months to use the kit before the doctor approval expires.
2. Take your samples
The kit will come with detailed directions and all the equipment you need to take samples at home. Depending on the test, you may need to take a blood, stool, saliva, or urine sample.
Everlywell has several online videos to show you how to take samples correctly at home. It also provides support if you have any questions or concerns after you receive your kit.
3. Send your samples to the lab
Each testing kit comes with a plastic biohazard bag and a prepaid shipping label to send your samples to a lab for analysis. You’ll write your name, collection time, and collection date on the bag.
If you’re taking samples for several tests, you may need to use separate bags. Check that the correct shipping labels are on each package, as not all samples go to the same lab for testing.
Put the package(s) in a USPS drop box. Everlywell says the samples usually take about 2–3 days to arrive at labs.
4. Get your results online
It takes about 5 business days to receive your results, but processing times may vary, and some tests may take longer. You’ll get an email when the results are ready, and you can access the information online via your Everlywell account.
Some tests come with telehealth consultations with a doctor. You can also share results with your personal healthcare provider.
Everlywell is Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) compliant and takes privacy very seriously. It doesn’t share your results with anyone unless you provide authorization.
Everlywell is a good option for people who want personal health information at their fingertips. It’s also convenient way for busy people to receive discreet test results.
While it’s not a substitute for talking with a doctor, it can be a good starting point for discussing your overall health with one.
Keep in mind that Everlywell’s testing kits are only available for adults ages 18 and older. Additionally, Everlywell test kits are not available to ship to New York state because of state regulations around testing.
The cost of Everlywell tests varies considerably. Here’s a quick rundown of the cost range for each category:
General wellness: $49–$199
Men’s health: $69–$249
Women’s health: $99–$249
Nutritional health: $49–$99
Sexual health: $69–$169
Everlywell sometimes offers discounts on its testing kits. It also has a membership program where you pay $39 a month for credits, which can be redeemed for various testing kits.
You can also use a health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA) to pay for at-home health tests from Everlywell. Some plans may be stricter than others about what they allow, though.
Many health insurance companies won’t cover this type of in-home testing, including Medicare and Medicaid plans. Some insurance companies may only cover certain types of testing offered by Everlywell.
You can buy testing kits directly from Everlywell on the company’s website.
You can also buy some kits from Amazon or select retailers like Walmart, Walgreens, Kroger, Target, and CVS. However, not all kits are available from these retailers. Prices may vary from what you see on Everlywell’s site.
Everlywell is a reputable company that has been around since 2015.
The company uses Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certified labs, which is a regulatory body that makes sure labs conduct quality testing, regular inspections, lab quality improvement studies, and more.
At-home health tests may be as reliable as tests ordered by your doctor and done at a lab. But it depends on the type of test. Food sensitively tests, for example, are not considered reliable or accurate.
Other tests, such as those for cholesterol, blood sugar, or STIs, may be as accurate as those you would get at a lab and can be helpful tools for monitoring and managing your health.
Following the test instructions carefully is important to ensure the most accurate readings with any at-home test.
There’s limited evidence to support the use of at-home food sensitivity tests.
Most Everlywell tests will yield results in 5–7 business days after the lab receives your collection sample. These results will be posted to your online account.
Having your health information at your fingertips can be empowering and exciting, but it’s still important to be cautious. If you use a home test kit, be sure to talk with a doctor about your results. Don’t assume you can interpret the results on your own.
Last medically reviewed on March 18, 2024
How we reviewed this article:
Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
