Three years ago, hardly anyone knew about at home health testing. However, due to the pandemic searches for "at home" have skyrocketed.
That includes the search for "at home health test". Three primary companies rose to the occasion. Primarily those being Let's Get Checked, EverlyWell & Lab Me.
This blog covers the differences between pricing and testing menus so that you can save time when choosing who is a right fit for you.e
At Home Testing: Cholesterol & Heart
Undoubtedly, one of the more common at home health tests performed is cholesterol and heart disease.
Given that 1 in 4 women (and men) will suffer from heart disease this year in the USA alone, it makes sense.
Here are the key differences between the three companies. In the comparison you will see:
- The company name
- The price
- The biomarkers measured
Now, it is important to note that not all of these "biomarkers" require any kind of analysis. Some of them are simple calculations made from the actual biomarkers that were measured.
For example, % of total cholesterol is simply as follows: HDL level + LDL level + 20% of your triglyceride level. So it's not a biomarker in the sense of being something that is directly measured but instead a calculation of biomarkers measured.
EverlyWell
$49Total Cholesterol, HDL, Calculated LDL, Triglycerides
A total of 4 biomarkers, one being a simple calculation.
Let's Get Checked
$89% of Hemoglobin A1c, Cholesterol, HDL, LDL, HDL % of Total Cholesterol.
One calculation, 4 biomarkers.
Lab Me
$89GGT, LDL, % of HDL, VLDL, Total, Triglycerides, Lipids, Cholesterol, HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein), LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein), HDL % of Total Cholesterol, HS-CRP, hbA1C & Glucose.
A total of 10 biomarkers, with 2 being calculated.
Bottom Company By Price
Everlywell. With only 3 biomarkers and one calculation.
Most Value
Lab Me. For the same price as Let’s Get Checked, you are getting 8 additional, highly important biomarkers for screening your heart and risk for future heart disease.
Most Expensive
Let’s Get Checked. You are paying $40 extra dollars for the same four biomarkers as Everlywell.
At Home Testing: Thyroid
More than 12 percent of the U.S. population will develop a thyroid condition during their lifetime. An estimated 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease. Up to 60 percent of those with thyroid disease are unaware of their condition.
How Different Environmental Toxins Affect the Thyroid
Environmental toxins that mirror thyroid hormone structure and invade the thyroid gland come in different categories but for this article, we will cover one of the most common.
Heavy Metals
While heavy metals are abundant in the environment, four specific heavy metals damage the thyroid the most. Those heavy metals are aluminum, cadmium, lead, and mercury.
Commonly found in toiletries like deodorant, over-the-counter medications like antacids, food additives, cookware, and vaccines, aluminum oxidizes the thyroid, inhibits iodide uptake, limits thyroid hormone production, and can mislead the immune system to attack the thyroid, as seen in autoimmune disease.
Cadmium is released via mining and smelting activities and is present in batteries, pigments, plastics, sewage, and phosphate-based fertilizers. Cadmium triggers thyroid enlargement, produces multinodular goiters of the thyroid, reduces thyroglobulin secretion, and can induce thyroid cancer.
One of the earliest heavy metals recognized for its toxicity, Lead remains high in the environment thanks to its use in the paint used in old housing, some metal jewelry, children’s toys, mining, and other forms of industrialization. Lead exposure in work environments alone has been linked to reduced thyroid function and increased levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Mercury, found in seafood, dental amalgams, and pollution produced by coal-burning power plants, lowers iodide uptake in the thyroid and prevents thyroid hormone production.
Let's Get Checked
$99Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, Free Thyroxine, Free Triiodothyronine
A total of 3 biomarkers.
EverlyWell
$99Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, Free Thyroxine, Free Triiodothyronine
A total of 3 biomarkers.
Lab Me
$145TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone)
Free T3 (Triiodothyronine)
Free T4 (Thyroxine)
TPOab (Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody)
Includes one thyroid antibody biomarker.
Lab Me
$299Thyroxin (T4), Free T3 – Triiodothyronine, Thyroglobulin (Tgbn), Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), Free Triiodothyronine (fT3), Free Thyroxin (fT4), Thyroid, Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOab), Iodine, Selenium, Bromine, Lithium, Arsenic, Cadmium, Mercury
A total of 16 biomarkers, 6 being heavy metals.
Bottom Company By Price
Let’s Get Checked & EverlyWell. They offer a very basic thyroid overview with the same biomarkers at $99
Most Value
If you are looking for a very basic overview of your Thyroid then Let’s Get Checked & Everlywell present good options.
However, if you are looking for a test that will comprehensively rule out many variables contributing to Thyroid issues then go with Lab Me for complete peace of mind.
Lab Me offers two solutions one is the same as EverlyWell and Let’s Get Checked but with a very important thyroid antibody marker (TPOab) for $46 additional. This single test is responsible for really drilling down the cause of issue.
Lab Me also includes in thyroid antibodies which is an additional $199 dollars at Let’s Get Checked (EveryWell doesn’t offer antibody testing).
Which makes Let’s Get Checked most comparable test $298 and that won’t include heavy metals or toxic elements.
At Home Testing: Male Wellness
Men's wellness test traditionally includes biomarkers such as:
- Testosterone
- PSA
- Heart & Liver Markers
- Cortisol
Knowing exactly what you should — and shouldn’t — be doing for your own health isn’t always easy. There’s too much information, not enough time in the day, and a lot of advice that may not suit your lifestyle.
Finding what works best for you — when it comes to fitness, food, nutrition, stress management, sex, aging, gut health, and brain health — is much easier when you know where to look.
That’s why we gathered the best at-home health tests, geared toward men’s health.
Let's Get Checked
$1000+The issue with Let's Get Checked is that they do not offer a comprehensive men's wellness or health test. Instead, they sell each component separately.
Meaning that in order to test your overall health you will need to purchase multiple tests each averaging $99.
EverlyWell
$199EverlyWell does offer four biomarkers being DHEA, estrogen, testosteron, & cortisol. While these are good hormones to test, they fail to address the number one health concern for men - heart disease.
Lab Me
$159GGT, LDL % of HDL, VLDL, Total, Triglycerides, Lipids, Cholesterol, HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein), LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein), HDL % of Total Cholesterol, Vitamin D, Cortisol, Creatinine, HbA1c, hsCRP, Testosterone, & PSA.
That is a total of 16 biomarkers geared towards men's health.
Bottom Company By Price
Lab Me. By offering 16 biomarkers focused on heart, kidney, liver, inflammation, stress, & libido, Lab Me, is a clear market leader for comprehensive men’s health at-home testing.
Most Value
Lab Me. In order to have the same testing that is offered in Lab Me’s Executive Men’s at home test ($159) – at Let’s Get Checked you will be paying upwards of $700!
For just testosterone you will be paying $49 at EverlyWell, $69 at Let’s Get Checked & $69 at Lab Me.
What if you would just like PSA, Testosterone and Vitamin D
all of which are important players in men’s wellbeing?
EverlyWell doesn’t offer PSA but for Testosterone ($49) and Vitamin D ($49) you can pay $98 and have to do two tests.
At Let’s Get Checked you will need to do three separate tests and you can pay $99 (PSA), $69 (Testosterone), & $99 (Vitamin D) totaling $267.
Or pay $109 at Lab Me for 16 biomarkers focused on men’s health and wellness.
At Home Testing: Women's Health
Some of the most common health issues in women include heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in both men and women worldwide, breast cancer, osteoporosis, depression, PCOS, and autoimmune diseases such as diabetes, thyroid issues, lupus, and multiple sclerosis.
Healthy habits are the best way to avoid disease, prolong your life, and live more happily. But in the chaos of a woman’s daily life, healthy living may take a back seat to chores, work, busy schedules, and more. There is a ton of information only about how women can take simple steps toward a longer, healthier life.
However, how do you monitor or track the impact those lifestyle changes are having? Steps, calories, sleep are all great metrics to track but they don't tell you much about what's happening internally. Blood work is that missing link for objective measurement between your lifestyle and its impacts on your body.
Let's Get Checked
$1000+The issue with Let's Get Checked is that they do not offer a comprehensive women's wellness or health test. Instead, they sell each component separately.
Meaning that in order to test your overall health you will need to purchase multiple tests each averaging $99.
EverlyWell
$199EverlyWell does offer a comprehensive testing including biomarkers: estradiol, progesterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, cortisol, DHEA, T3, T4, testosterone, thyroid peroxidase antibodies, & progesterone.
A total of 11 biomarkers, the majority being female hormones.
Lab Me
$159GGT, LDL % of HDL, VLDL, Total Triglycerides, Lipids, Cholesterol, HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein), LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein), HDL % of Total Cholesterol, Vitamin D, Cortisol, Creatinine, HbA1c, hsCRP, & TSH.
That is a total of 15 biomarkers geared towards women's health.
Lab Me. By offering 15 biomarkers focused on heart, kidney, liver, inflammation, stress, & metabolism, Lab Me, is a clear great choice for overall women’s health & wellness at-home testing.
Lab Me & Everlywell. If you are looking for hormones centered around women’s health Everlywell is the clear choice. However, for non-hormonal health concerns Lab Me wins.
At Home Health Testing: Neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters are endogenous chemicals that allow neurons to communicate with each other throughout the body. They enable the brain to provide a variety of functions, through the process of chemical synaptic transmission. These endogenous chemicals are integral in shaping everyday life and functions.
The human brain contains an estimated 86 billion neurons. Those billions of brain cells communicate by passing chemical messages at the synapse, the small gap between cells, in a process called neurotransmission. Those chemical messages are unique molecules called neurotransmitters.
There are many types of neurotransmitters in the brain, but they do have a few things in common. Neurotransmitters are endogenous—produced inside the neuron itself. When a cell is activated, these neurochemicals are released into the synapse from specialized pouches clustered near the cell membrane called synaptic vesicles. Specific receptors on neighboring cells can then take up the neurotransmitters, which can increase or decrease the signal being passed along a particular circuit.
Interactions between neurotransmitters, hormones, and the brain chemicals have a profound influence on overall health and well-being. When our concentration and focus is good, we feel more directed, motivated, and vibrant. Unfortunately, if neurotransmitter levels are inadequate these energizing and motivating signals are absent and we feel more stressed, sluggish, and out-of-control.
An imbalance in neurotransmitters can lead to anxiety, loss of sex drive, lack of motivation, depression, apathy, OCD, sleep issues and more. Here are your options for neurotransmitter testing from home.
Let's Get Checked
NADoes not offer neurotransmitter testing.
EverlyWell
NADoes not offer neurotransmitter testing.
-
Lab Me
$279Includes 17 neurotransmitters including dopamine, serotonin, GABA and norepinephrine.
Lab Me. With the most comprehensive at home neurotransmitter test available today.
At Home Health Testing: Iron Overload
The serum iron test is used to measure the amount of iron that is in transit in the body – the iron that is bound to transferrin in the blood. Along with other tests, it is used to help detect and diagnose iron deficiency or iron overload. Testing may also be used to help differentiate various causes of anemia
When you have low hemoglobin and hematocrit on a complete blood count (CBC); when your healthcare practitioner suspects that you may have too little iron (deficiency) or too much iron (overload) in your body.
Lab Me is the only company in the USA that offers an at home CBC test kit.
Let's Get Checked
$99While it is marked as "coming soon" it will contain: Iron, Total Iron-Binding Capacity (TIBC), Ferritin, Transferrin Saturation
EverlyWell
$49Offers one biomarker: hbA1C
Lab Me
$89Ferritin, hsCRP, Cortisol, hbA1c, & Glucose
A total of 5 biomarkers geared around iron deficiency and athletic performance.
Lab Me. With the Iron Overload at-home health test you get an excellent balance of markers ideal for testing iron deficiency, & athletic recovery.
At Home Health Testing: Single Biomarkers
A biomarker is a biological molecule found in blood, other body fluids, or tissues that is a sign of a normal or abnormal process, or of a condition or disease. A biomarker may be used to see how well the body responds to a treatment for a disease or condition. Also called molecular marker and signature molecule.
| Biomarker | Let's Get Checked | EverlyWell | Lab Me |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamin D | $89 | $99 | $80 |
| Thyroid Stimulating Hormone | $99 | $99 | $80 |
| Testosterone | $69 | $69 | $69 |
| Cortisol | $99 | NA | $79 |
| Ferritin | NA | NA | $59 |
Lab Me is a health services company focused on providing consumers with highly accurate blood test results through at-home blood test kits. The company sells several test kits, such as the Baseline Health Test ($99), which includes fasting glucose, total triglycerides, and cholesterol panels. It also sells gender-specific blood test kits, like the Female Executive Wellness Test ($149), designed to help you monitor your cardiovascular, metabolic, and hormone health.
All Lab Me test kits are comprised of FDA-approved supplies. Each kit includes two sterile lancets and either one or two blood spot cards or micro containers. A consent form and prepaid return shipping to Lab Me’s centralized CLIA-certified lab, located in the Midwest, are included. In most cases, your results are available through the secure online portal within 48 to 72 hours of receipt of your sample at the lab.
Pricing for Lab Me kits ranges from $59 to $159, and payment can be made with any major credit card or through HSA’s. The company has a subscription service that includes testing every three months at 30% off the regular one-time purchase price of each kit. This subscription service may be worth considering if you need ongoing blood testing to monitor a chronic condition or you’d like to track the effects of lifestyle changes on your health.
Lab Me is also the first in the world to offer a CBC with differential. This revolutionary test is putting Lab Me in the front line of at-home diagnostics.
