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Metabolism tests done at home measure hormones that affect how your body converts food and drink into energy. Here are three we recommend.

Metabolism refers to the chemical process that converts calories from what you eat and drink into the energy needed to fuel every physical, biological, and mental activity in your life.

It may be worth checking your metabolism if you’ve noticed a change in your weight, sleep, or energy levels.

You can measure how well this process is working with a metabolism test, which takes a snapshot of certain hormone levels that may help you better understand your symptoms. These tests are often conducted in a medical setting, but you can also order and take a metabolism test at home.

In this article, we’ll explain how metabolism tests work, when you might consider using one, and share our recommendations for the best options.

Pros

  • You’re not required to go into a medical office to give a sample.
  • The tests that are ordered online don’t require a prescription.
  • You might use the results to gain insights into your fitness goals.
  • Relatively affordable for bloodwork.

Cons

  • They aren’t covered by health insurance, but you can use HSA/FSA.
  • Some people may find it challenging to take a blood sample at home.
  • It can be difficult for some people to produce enough saliva to fill the sample tube.
  • They provide limited information. These tests are most beneficial when combined with a physical examination and evaluation of your medical history.
  • Faulty results can be caused by many factors, including human error, medications you take, or something you ate or drank prior to testing.
  • They cannot explain your basal metabolic rate (BMR).
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At-home metabolism tests measure hormones or other markers that affect metabolism. Importantly, these test kits differ from metabolic testing, which is more involved and often occurs in medical or fitness centers.

Instead, these at-home tests — primarily used to help with weight and fitness goals — require you to give a saliva sample, blood sample, or both, to analyze hormones, including:

Your test kit will contain all the instructions and materials you need for sample collection and shipping. It’s important to follow each step exactly. Then, you send your samples to a laboratory to be processed.

You may wish to modify your diet or exercise habits based on your test results. If your cortisol is high, you may wish to add stress-reduction activities, such as meditation, to your routine.

Remember that these tests can be the first step in determining whether your metabolism is functioning properly. Still, they are less complete than full metabolic panels you’d get at a doctor’s office, which generally measures up to 14 substances instead of just a few.

For example, your doctor may order a basic metabolic panel to analyze multiple bodily functions. It can test for multiple conditions, including diabetes and kidney and lung issues.

Healthcare providers may also order comprehensive metabolic panels (CMP) to scan for possible medication side effects, to look for kidney or liver disease, or to check for diabetes.

Additionally, it’s important to note that metabolism tests at home can’t give information about your basal metabolic rate (BMR). Your BMR is the number of calories your body needs to function.

The kits on this list come from vetted manufacturers. Each manufacturer has stated that they comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and use Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certified laboratories for sample analysis.

We didn’t choose kits from manufacturers who make medical claims or give medical advice. Each manufacturer recommends that you discuss your test results with a doctor.

Each kit gets more positive than negative reviews for accuracy, customer service, and speed.

Right now, we recommend just a few at-home metabolism tests on the market, although you’ll run into a good handful of them during your search.

It’s best to shop from brands that use at least a CLIA-certified laboratory to get accurate results. It’s also a good idea to research your brand before purchasing, checking reviews for comments about accuracy, ease of use, and fast results and shipping.

Remember to follow the provided instructions carefully, checking that your test kit has not expired before using it.

Again, following up with your doctor is the next best step after completing an at-home metabolism test.

At-home metabolism tests can provide you with a snapshot of cortisol, free testosterone, and TSH levels and may make suggestions for lifestyle changes based on your report. You may even receive a phone call from one of the brand’s on-hand physicians if you receive abnormal results.

However, these kits should not replace routine wellness exams, nor should they replace talking about issues like weight gain, fatigue, or increased stress with your doctor.

A medical professional should always analyze the results of a metabolism test. At-home tests may provide information that will inform your doctor about your overall health or signify the need for additional testing.

Visiting a doctor or nutritionist may also be helpful if you want professional input about changes you can make.

Let your doctor know if you took an at-home test and received atypical results. Discussing hormone levels outside the typical range with a medical professional is important. They may indicate underlying conditions you can treat with lifestyle changes or medication.

You can purchase an at-home metabolism test to check cortisol, free testosterone, and TSH levels. Depending on the kit, you’ll be required to provide blood or saliva samples and ship them to a certified lab to receive results online.

At-home metabolism tests can give you a report analyzing cortisol, free testosterone, and TSH levels. More comprehensive metabolic testing is performed in medical or fitness centers and checks for a higher number of substances and functions than at-home test kits.

myLAB Box At-Home Metabolism Test uses both CLIA and CAP-certified labs, offers 2-day shipping, and offers test results in 2–5 days.

An RMR test analyzes the amount of oxygen you breathe in and the amount of carbon dioxide you breathe out. This test helps determine the number of calories your body burns while you’re resting. It’s done while you’re sitting or reclining.

At-home metabolism tests analyze hormones and other markers that can affect metabolism, weight, libido, and energy levels.

At-home tests are convenient and private, though handling your blood at home isn’t for everyone. These test kits can be a beneficial first step toward getting information about your health and metabolism. However, do not use these tests in place of medical advice.