Everlywell vs LetsGetChecked: What At-Home Lab Tests Can and Can’t Tell You

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Not medical advice. At-home tests don’t replace care from your own doctor or clinician. If you have symptoms, feel unwell, or are worried about a result, contact your clinician. In an emergency, call 911.

There’s something appealing about pricking your finger at the kitchen table, mailing off a little envelope, and getting your results on your phone a few days later. No waiting room, no time off work, no awkward conversation if the test is about something private.

Everlywell and LetsGetChecked are two of the best-known companies selling these mail-in lab tests in the U.S. Both can be genuinely useful. Both can also be a waste of money if you buy the wrong test for the wrong reason.

This guide explains how these services work, what to check before you order, where they fit, and where your regular doctor is the better choice. We have not used either service ourselves for this article; it’s based on the companies’ own published information and guidance from the FDA and the National Library of Medicine.

The short version

Both companies sell “self-collection” kits. You collect a sample at home (often a finger-prick blood sample, a swab, or urine) and mail it to a lab.
Lab quality: Everlywell says its samples are processed by CLIA-certified partner labs. LetsGetChecked says its own labs are CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited. CLIA is the federal quality program for clinical labs.
Doctor involvement: Both say a licensed clinician reviews or authorizes tests. Everlywell describes an independent network of board-certified physicians who approve test requests and review results. LetsGetChecked says a provider authorizes the test and that its clinical team can contact you about results.
Best uses: convenient checks you were going to do anyway, private screening (for example, for sexually transmitted infections), or tracking a known number between appointments, ideally with your clinician in the loop.
Poor uses: diagnosing symptoms, replacing recommended screenings, or “wellness” panels that measure things with little proven meaning for your health.
Price: varies by test and changes often. Check the current price on each company’s site. Insurance generally doesn’t cover these direct-purchase kits, but check your own plan.

How mail-in lab tests work

MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine’s consumer health site, divides at-home tests into two types (MedlinePlus):

Self-tests give you a result right there, like a pregnancy test or a rapid COVID-19 test.
Self-collection tests have you collect the sample at home, then mail it to a lab. You get results later, often through an online portal.

Everlywell and LetsGetChecked mostly sell the second kind. The usual steps:

You order a test online and answer some health questions.
A clinician reviews the order (more on that below).
A kit arrives. You register it, collect your sample following the instructions, and mail it back in the prepaid packaging.
The lab runs the test.
Results show up in your account, sometimes with a call or message from a clinician if something needs follow-up.

LetsGetChecked says on its lab page that results typically come back in about 2 to 5 days after the lab receives the sample (LetsGetChecked). Shipping time adds to that.

What “CLIA-certified” means, and doesn’t

You’ll see “CLIA-certified lab” on both companies’ sites. It’s worth knowing what that is.

CLIA stands for the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments. Under CLIA, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regulates labs that test human samples to assess health or diagnose, prevent, or treat disease. The goal, in CMS’s words, is to make sure results are “accurate, reliable, and timely” (CMS).

That’s reassuring. It means the lab follows quality standards and is inspected. What it doesn’t tell you:

whether the specific test you’re buying is the most useful one for your situation
whether a finger-prick sample you collected at home was collected well enough to give a reliable result
whether the result means anything for your health

CAP accreditation, which LetsGetChecked mentions, is a further lab accreditation from the College of American Pathologists. Again, it’s about how the lab operates, not about whether a particular test is worth buying.

The FDA question

People often assume every test sold online has been reviewed by the FDA. That isn’t the case.

The FDA explains that some direct-to-consumer tests are reviewed and others aren’t. Tests for general wellness or low-risk purposes generally aren’t reviewed before they’re sold, while tests for moderate- to high-risk medical purposes generally are (FDA). The FDA also notes that “no test is 100% accurate” and that direct-to-consumer results shouldn’t be the sole basis for medical decisions.

MedlinePlus goes further and advises using FDA-approved or FDA-authorized tests where possible, following instructions exactly, and not changing medicines based on a home result without talking to your provider (MedlinePlus).

In practice: before you buy, look on the product page for what the company says about the test’s regulatory status and which lab runs it. If a page is vague, that’s useful information too.

Everlywell: what the company says

Based on Everlywell’s own help pages:

Physician review. Everlywell says it works with an independent network of board-certified physicians. When you order, a physician reviews the request and decides whether the test is appropriate. If it isn’t, Everlywell says it will contact you and refund you. If approved, the physician orders the test, and after the lab processes your sample, the physician reviews and releases the results (Everlywell).
Talking to a physician. The same page says customers can speak with one of these physicians before buying a test.
Labs. Everlywell says samples are processed by CLIA-certified labs (Everlywell).
Range. Everlywell sells a wide catalog, from single tests to broad panels, and also offers ways to get lab work done near you. Check the site for what’s currently available in your state.

[Check current price at Everlywell]

LetsGetChecked: what the company says

Based on LetsGetChecked’s own pages:

Own labs. LetsGetChecked says it runs its own laboratories in the U.S., and that they are CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited (LetsGetChecked).
Turnaround. The company states results typically arrive in about 2 to 5 days.
Clinical support. LetsGetChecked’s help center and how-it-works page describe a provider who authorizes tests and a clinical team who can reach out to explain results and next steps (LetsGetChecked).
Range. Like Everlywell, it sells a mix of single tests and panels. Check the site for current tests and state availability.

[Check current price at LetsGetChecked]

Side by side

	Everlywell	LetsGetChecked
Sample collection	At home, mailed to lab (varies by test)	At home, mailed to lab (varies by test)
Who runs the lab	CLIA-certified partner labs (per Everlywell)	Company-owned labs, CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited (per LetsGetChecked)
Clinician involvement	Independent board-certified physician network approves orders and reviews results (per Everlywell)	Provider authorizes test; clinical team can contact you about results (per LetsGetChecked)
Stated turnaround	Varies by test, check the product page	About 2-5 days after the lab receives the sample (per LetsGetChecked)
Price	Check current price	Check current price

Everything in this table comes from the companies’ own sites as of November 1, 2026. Check current details before ordering.

Honestly, on paper these two services are more alike than different. The bigger choice isn’t which brand. It’s which test, and whether a home test is the right tool at all.

Where at-home lab tests make sense

A check you’d do anyway, made easier. If your clinician has asked you to keep an eye on something like cholesterol or an A1C level, and getting to a lab is hard, a home kit can be a practical option. Share the results with your clinician so they become part of your record.

Privacy. Some people avoid testing for sexually transmitted infections because of embarrassment or access problems. A private home kit is far better than not testing. If a result is positive, you’ll need treatment, so make sure you know how the company handles follow-up.

Hard-to-reach care. For people in rural areas, people with mobility problems, or caregivers juggling someone else’s schedule, mail-in testing can remove a real barrier.

Where they don’t

When you have symptoms. If you feel unwell, a home test may delay the care you actually need. Call your clinician. If symptoms are serious, such as chest pain, trouble breathing, or signs of a stroke, call 911.

Instead of recommended screening. A mail-in panel doesn’t replace the screenings your clinician recommends for your age and history, like colon cancer screening or cervical screening done the way your provider advises.

Wide “wellness” panels. Big panels can be tempting because they test many things at once. But the more things you test without a reason, the more likely you are to get a result slightly outside the “normal” range that means nothing, which can lead to worry, repeat tests, and expense. Pick tests that answer a specific question.

Food sensitivity tests. Many consumer “food sensitivity” panels measure an antibody called IgG. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology recommends against using IgG food testing to diagnose food allergy or intolerance, because IgG to a food often just reflects that you’ve eaten it, not that it’s harming you (AAAAI). If you suspect a food allergy, see a clinician or allergist.

Before you order: a checklist

What question am I trying to answer? If you can’t say, wait.
Is this the right test for that question? Ask your clinician or pharmacist, or use the company’s pre-purchase clinician option if offered.
What sample does it need? Finger-prick blood takes some practice. Read the instructions before you start, and make sure your hands are warm.
Which lab runs it, and what’s its status? Look for CLIA certification and any FDA information on the product page.
What happens if a result is abnormal? Will someone contact you? Can you get a copy to share with your doctor?
How is my data handled? Read the privacy policy, especially for genetic or sexual health tests.
Is it available in my state? Some tests have state restrictions.
What does it cost right now? Check the current price, and look at whether a regular lab visit through your insurance would cost less.

What to do with your results

Share them with your clinician, even if everything looks normal. A single number means more next to your history and past results.
Don’t change medicines based on a home result without talking to your clinician first. MedlinePlus is clear on this point.
Retest if it doesn’t add up. Collection errors happen. If a result surprises you, it’s reasonable to confirm it with a standard lab test.

The bottom line

Everlywell and LetsGetChecked both offer a convenient way to get lab tests done from home, with clinician involvement and certified labs, according to the companies. Neither is a shortcut to a diagnosis. Used for a clear purpose, and shared with your doctor, a home test can save time and remove barriers. Used as a fishing expedition, it can cost money and cause needless worry. Choose the test first, then the brand.

Sources

MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine). At-Home Medical Tests. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/at-home-medical-tests/
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Direct-to-Consumer Tests. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/in-vitro-diagnostics/direct-consumer-tests
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Home Use Tests. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/in-vitro-diagnostics/home-use-tests
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA). https://www.cms.gov/medicare/quality/clinical-laboratory-improvement-amendments
Everlywell. What role do medical providers have in your testing? https://support.everlywell.com/article/57-what-role-do-medical-providers-have-in-your-testing
Everlywell. Why should I trust an Everlywell result? https://memberfaqs.everlywell.com/article/1132-why-should-i-trust-an-everlywell-result
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. The myth of IgG food panel testing. https://www.aaaai.org/tools-for-the-public/conditions-library/allergies/igg-food-test
LetsGetChecked. Meet our Lab. https://www.letsgetchecked.com/our-lab/
LetsGetChecked. How it Works. https://www.letsgetchecked.com/how-it-works/

Written by Mbatia Tony Muitungu. Read how we research and update articles in our Editorial Policy.