At-home testing is a growing part of health care that, like telemedicine, has captured more interest during the COVID-19 pandemic. Direct-to-consumer at-home tests now include a diverse range of test types offered by numerous companies, providing customers and patients with more options than ever before.
Not all at-home tests are created equal, though. It’s normal for people who are considering easy at-home lab tests to have questions about how testing works: whether it’s safe, accurate, and how it compares to traditional laboratory testing.
This guide contains essential information about at-home testing and at-home lab testing companies that can shed light on these important questions and help every individual make an informed choice about whether a specific at-home test is right for them.
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Whether you’re trying to avoid contact with a communicable disease (such as COVID-19) or you have limited mobility or ability to leave home, there are a number of reasons to seek out an at-home testing solution. New at-home lab test services are being developed by every major medical testing supplier and are gaining in both availability and accuracy.
At-home tests can be utilized for various reasons. The most common uses include:
Read reviews of the best at-home tests and at-home lab kits for a variety of medical concerns, from sexually transmitted diseases to high cholesterol. We reviewed dozens of at-home tests based on value, convenience, and availability for the best combination of cost, turn-around time, and ease of use. We also reviewed at-home tests for the services offered, certifications and lab safety, and professional support. Reviews are based on data including price, insurance acceptance, comprehensiveness of the tests, and how quickly you can get results or speak to a health care provider.
At-home tests can be classified into three main types:
Self-tests and self-collection tests are typically available as at-home kits designed to be self-administered, but in some cases, assistance may be provided by another person or home health professional. At-home test kits for children generally require testing to be conducted by an adult.
For people who are homebound or have specific medical needs, special at-home testing options may be available through home nursing or home health care services. Patients in need of these services should talk with their doctor or a medical social worker.
Some at-home tests require a prescription from a licensed health professional in your state. In contrast, over-the-counter tests can be purchased either online or in a physical store without a doctor’s order.
Many providers of prescription at-home tests offer services to get the prescription required to obtain a test kit. This usually involves submitting a questionnaire or other health information so that a physician can verify that you meet the basic requirements for receiving the test.
For both prescription and over-the-counter at-home tests, it’s best to discuss testing with a doctor familiar with your health history. Your doctor can review the benefits and risks of testing, order a test if appropriate, and once you have results, explain their significance in your specific situation. Note that if your doctor did not prescribe the at-home test, they may decline to interpret the results and instead may recommend repeating the test using traditional laboratory methods.
At-home tests have become widely available through a variety of outlets. Many pharmacies and drug stores sell over-the-counter tests in their physical stores and on their websites.
Major online retailers as well as online companies specializing in testing have dramatically expanded options for purchasing at-home tests.
For people who need in-home health care, services for mobile sample collection, such as mobile phlebotomy, may be arranged through a doctor or through third-party companies offering home health care with trained health professionals.
The cost of at-home testing can vary significantly based on the type of test, whether laboratory analysis is required, and whether coverage is provided by health insurance.
In most cases, at-home testing is not covered by insurance. Tests that are purchased at a pharmacy or online usually must be paid for entirely by the patient or customer. Many companies that offer at-home tests accept payment with funds from a health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA).
Some insurance providers may cover at-home testing that is prescribed by a doctor in their network. Certain costs may also be covered for people with a demonstrated medical need for home health care.
The sample for an at-home test is tailored to what the test is designed to measure. Blood, urine, saliva, stool, or a respiratory swab are the most common specimens used for at-home tests.
An at-home test kit will indicate the kind of sample required such as a oral, vaginal or rectal swab. The kit will also include materials and detailed instructions for collecting your sample. Following these instructions carefully and using only materials in the kit is critical both for taking self-tests and for correctly storing a sample to send to a laboratory.
If you are planning to take an at-home test, these practical tips can help you avoid misleading or invalid results:
If you take an at-home self-test, results are usually available in less than 60 minutes. Many rapid self-tests provide results almost immediately. The test kit itself will include a mechanism for seeing and interpreting your results.
For self-collection tests or laboratory tests that you order from home, you will generally get results through an online health portal. Because these tests require laboratory analysis and may need to be shipped to the lab, it often takes a few business days before results are available.
These resources offer additional information about at-home testing:
Ayala-Lopez N, Nichols JH. 93-1198.Benefits and Risks of Direct-to-Consumer Testing. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2020;144(10):11 doi:10.5858/arpa.2020-0078-RA
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. COVID-19: Self-testing at Home or Anywhere. Updated September 6, 2022. Accessed October 3, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/testing/self-testing.html
Court E. Quest Sees Direct-to-Consumer Testing Taking off Post-pandemic. Bloomberg. Published March 11, 2021. Accessed October 3, 2022. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-11/quest-sees-direct-to-consumer-testing-taking-off-post-pandemic
Ibitoye M, Frasca T, Giguere R, Carballo-Diéguez A. Home Testing Past, Present and Future: Lessons Learned and Implications for HIV Home Tests. AIDS Behav. 2014;18(5):933-949. doi:10.1007/s10461-013-0668-9
Procop GW, Kadkhoda K, Rhoads DD, Gordon SG, Reddy AJ. Home Testing for COVID-19: Benefits and Limitations [published online ahead of print, 2021 Mar 1]. Cleve Clin J Med. 2021;10.3949/ccjm.88a.ccc071. doi:10.3949/ccjm.88a.ccc071
Tidy EJ, Shine B, Oke J, Hayward G. Home Self-Testing Kits: Helpful or Harmful? Br J Gen Pract. 2018;68(673):360-361. doi:10.3399/bjgp18X698021
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Direct-to-Consumer Tests. Updated December 20, 2019. Accessed October 3, 2022. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/in-vitro-diagnostics/direct-consumer-tests
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA Executive Summary: Over-the-Counter Diagnostic Tests for the Detection of Pathogens Causing Infectious Diseases. Published August 16, 2016. Accessed October 3, 2022. https://www.fda.gov/media/99873/download
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Home Use Tests. Updated June 21, 2022. Accessed October 3, 2022. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/in-vitro-diagnostics/home-use-tests
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. How You Can Get the Best Results With Home Use Tests. Updated December 28, 2017. Accessed October 3, 2022. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/home-use-tests/how-you-can-get-best-results-home-use-tests
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Laboratory Developed Tests. Updated September 27, 2018. Accessed October 3, 2022. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/in-vitro-diagnostics/laboratory-developed-tests