
For those interested in gaining health insights or managing chronic conditions, at-home blood tests offer the convenience of conducting tests without visiting a healthcare provider. However, concerns about their accuracy, ease of use, and cost-effectiveness are valid.
To simplify your decision-making process, I personally evaluated various DNA kits, focusing on their precision, turnaround time for results, and ease of use. After thorough analysis, I’ve compiled a list of the top-performing kits that provide reliable and convenient at-home testing solutions.
My top recommendation is LetsGetChecked, for multiple reasons. It’s lab-certified, accurate, has rapid turnaround times, and has simple sample collection procedures. You can also get nurse-led support throughout your testing journey.
Short on time? Here are the best at-home blood tests
- Everlywell — Cheap individual tests for different conditions and diseases; very fast turnaround times (within 2-4 days, even 1 day in some cases).
- myLabBox – Good test if you’re trying to improve your nutrition and fitness, and if you want to know your possible health risks.
- HealthLabs – Great choice if you want the privacy of at-home testing, but don’t want to draw blood yourself; simply order your test and visit one of its 4000 labs across the US to get discreet testing.
- LetsGetChecked — Affordable, easy to use, and delivers results quickly. You can also get free nurse support during your testing process and after getting your results.
🧪 Sample Type | ✈ Ships outside the US? | 🌎 Free Shipping? | ❓ Free raw DNA upload? | 💰 Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Everlywell | Blood Sample | Yes | No | No | Starts at $159.00 |
myLAB Box | Blood Sample | No | No | No | $149.00 |
Health Labs | Blood Sample | No | No | No | $65.00 |
LetsGetChecked | Blood Sample | No | No | No | $89.00 |
What We Look For in the Best At-Home Blood Tests
We tested many companies against a strict set of criteria to make sure we only recommended the very best blood tests. Here’s what we looked for:
- Test variety: You could be looking for a blood test for a whole host of reasons, so it’s important to have a choice of kits that cover various aspects of your health.
- Results times: We picked tests that can turn your reports around in just a couple of days, and sometimes less than 24 hours.
- Extra support: Many of the tests on this list come with free physician consultations who are available to walk you through your results and advise you of the next steps or treatment options.
- Value for money: We found kits that suit all budgets, whether you’re after just an individual kit or a bundle option. And, kits that are actually worth paying for.
1. Everlywell — Blood Tests for Food Sensitivities & Allergies
- Assesses 200+ food intolerances and 40+ common allergens
- Blood tests for organ function, vitamin levels, fertility, and more
- Metabolism test analyzes hormone imbalances linked to weight gain
- Results only take a couple of days
Everlywell is another company that has loads of blood tests, covering organ function, hormones, vitamin levels, and more. We like it best for its food sensitivity and allergy tests.
Both of the food tests we reviewed were very comprehensive. The cheaper option screens for 96 foods, while the more expensive kit covers 206 foods. These are broken down into common groups like dairy, meat, fruit, and vegetables, to give you a good indicator of where you have any sensitivities.
There’s also a comprehensive allergy test that only requires a finger-prick blood sample. Our report analyzed 40 common indoor and outdoor allergens, including everything from pets to grass.
You can also buy plenty of other blood tests, covering thyroid function, heart health, cholesterol levels, and vitamin D. We also liked the metabolism test which measures hormones that can influence weight gain and energy.
Taking your blood sample is easy and completely painless. The instructions are straightforward with images to guide you which our researchers appreciated.
The reports don’t take long either. We only had to wait a couple of days to get ours via email. Depending on the kit you chose, your results show where your levels sit on a color-coded scale, with a small description of what it means.
We found these descriptions useful for interpreting our results and liked that they weren’t too scientific. You also get links to further resources and can download your results as a PDF to take to your clinician. But there’s no one-to-one support.
Assess Your Intolerances & Allergies with Everlywell!
2. MyLAB Box — Fitness & Weight Loss Blood Tests
- Blood tests for weight loss, fitness, skin vitality, metabolism, and more
- Results in 1-5 days
- Free physician results walk-through with STD kits
- Pay with HSA/FSA cards
We like MyLAB Box for its huge offering of STD kits and bundles, but recently, it’s also become one of our popular choices for regular wellness testing, too.
It has quite a few different blood tests available, a lot of which are centered around weight and weight management. The fitness kit and weight loss kits stood out to us. These analyze your levels of various hormones, such as estradiol, DHEA, cortisol, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein.
You can also buy a metabolism test which screens TSH, cortisol, and testosterone, showing you how your hormone levels can cause a fast or slow metabolism.
Your levels are clearly explained, but it was a bit annoying that you don’t get much advice. We would’ve liked it if the fitness test included some exercise tips or if the weight loss test recommended some foods to include in our researcher’s diet.
You do get free physician consultations, which are really helpful for explaining your results further. Unfortunately, this is only with STD kits. And only if you test positive for something.
Another reason we like MyLAB Box is because it covers other aspects of wellness you can’t find everywhere. There’s a skin vitality kit, which, with a quick finger-prick blood sample, shows you how your hormone levels might influence your skin elasticity and appearance. And there’s an anti-aging kit, too.
MyLAB Box is quick to produce results. Some of our reports only took one day, but most take up to five. Even so, that’s really quick. The report is accessible from your dashboard, and they’re always easy to follow.
You can pay with HSA/FSA cards, which is a good way of saving money.
Assess Your Weight & Fitness with myLAB Box!
3. Health Labs — Arthritis & Inflammation Blood Tests
- Test kits for arthritis, inflammation, STDs, fertility, and general wellness
- Blood tests for sports that screen for HIV and hepatitis
- Results in 1-3 days from your online account
- Free physician consultation with certain kits
HealthLabs has various blood tests that can diagnose arthritis and indicate if inflammation is occurring in your body. There are four to choose from, including a rheumatoid arthritis kit.
HealthLabs can also help you diagnose other conditions with blood tests for celiac disease, lactose intolerance, H pylori infections, and gastrointestinal infections.
There are even a few sports blood tests on offer. Our researcher tried the MMA fighter blood test, which screens for HIV and hepatitis B and C and is especially good for people who engage in contact sports.
We found all the usual blood tests too, including fertility, general wellness and hormone levels, and STDs.
You can’t take the tests at home, but all it takes is a quick trip to the lab. A nurse is available to take your blood sample.
The reports are usually ready in 1-3 days which we accessed from our online account. You do get a free physician walkthrough, but only with certain kits like STDs.
Test Your Inflammation with HealthLabs!
4. LetsGetChecked — Huge Choice of Blood Tests & Free Nurse Support
- 20+ at-home blood tests for thyroid function, fertility, STDs, stress, organ health, and more
- Subscription options available to save money and monitor your health
- Free one-on-one nurse consultation to advise you on your results
- Results only take 2-5 days, accessible from your online portal
LetsGetChecked offers a wide range of at-home blood tests that cover your overall health. They’ve got kits that look into how your organs, like your heart, liver, and kidneys, are doing. They also offer tests for things like cholesterol and thyroid function.
What’s neat about LetsGetChecked is that they have tests made specifically for guys and gals, making it really easy to find the right test for your needs. It’s especially handy for women looking into fertility, with three blood tests that check out progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and ovarian reserve.
While most of the STD kits need a urine sample, there are a few that need a blood sample. For example, the simple 2 and basic 3 kits stick to urine, while others like the complete 10 test need both a urine and blood sample.
LetsGetChecked offers a cortisol test, which is notable since few companies provide stress assessments. However, it’s important to mention that there are no at-home blood type kits available through LetsGetChecked; those needing such tests will need to seek other providers.
The blood tests we reviewed were simple to administer, requiring only a finger-prick blood sample and taking just a few minutes to complete. Each kit includes all the necessary equipment and clear instructions.
We particularly appreciated the free return shipping and the swift turnaround time for results. Some of our reports were available within five days at most, and STD-related results were even faster, with some ready in just two days.
Results are accessible through an online portal that is user-friendly and easy to navigate. Generally, the reports detail the levels of specific biomarkers in your blood, indicating whether they are high, normal, or low, accompanied by descriptions of each biomarker tested.
You get some extra information about what this means for your health, but not tons of advice. That said, you get a free consultation with a nurse to walk you through your results, so you can get plenty of actionable tips that way.
There’s also an app to download which is great if you want to do ongoing testing, for example monitoring cholesterol levels. You can keep track of how your levels change over time. And there are subscription options for each test so you can save money and get them delivered every few months.
Screen Your Health with LetsGetChecked's Blood Tests!
What’s in the Fine Print?
Before purchasing your blood kit, it’s always worth being aware of any extra costs you might incur along the way. I reviewed each test to see if the price you see is really the price you pay.
You get free shipping with all the kits that offer at-home tests, which includes the cost of returning your sample to the lab. There are no extra charges for processing your sample or producing your report.
myLAB Box only offers free support if you test positive for an STD.
You can also get a one-on-one walkthrough of your results with Personalabs, but there’s an $89 charge for this, which might even be more than the price of your test.
For the in-lab tests, lab orders are usually valid for 6 months so you can schedule your appointment any time, it doesn’t have to be immediate. You have to take your lab requisition note to the lab though, otherwise, you can’t take your test.
Health Testing Centers charges you a fee if you don’t take your test within 30 days of receiving your lab requisition, so be aware. There’s an extra $15 charge for a new one.
How Accurate Are At-Home Blood DNA Tests?
Home DNA tests can match the accuracy of blood tests performed in clinical environments, mainly because many home testing companies use the same high-quality laboratories that healthcare providers rely on for analyzing samples.
However, caution is recommended since the quality of DNA testing kits varies, particularly among newer companies. The options we discuss here ensure a minimum accuracy rate of 95%, providing reliable results. Yet, it’s important to acknowledge that no test is entirely infallible, indicating a small chance of inaccuracies exists.
What Will the Results From an At-Home Blood Test Tell Me?
An at-home blood test can uncover a lot about your health, including:
- Your blood type
- How your organs are functioning and overall organ health
- Your hormone levels and impact on weight loss, stress, and fertility
- Any allergies or intolerances you have to food or environmental triggers
- Whether you have any STDs
- If you have antibodies present for various diseases, including rubella and MMR
- Your risk of developing certain health conditions such as diabetes and your risk of cancer
Best At-Home Blood Tests: Comparison Table
Blood Tests Available | Physician Consultations | Time to Results | Starting Price | |
Everlywell | Allergies & intolerances, organ function, fertility, hormone levels, STDs, vitamin levels, weight management & metabolism, health condition risk | ✖ | 2 days | |
myLAB Box | Weight management & metabolism, aging & skin health, fitness & sports, hormone levels, STDs, thyroid | ✔ | 1-5 days | $74.00 |
HealthLabs | Inflammation, health condition risk, intolerances, hormone levels. fertility, STDs, fitness & sports | ✔ | 1-3 days | $65.00 |
LetsGetChecked | Organ function, fertility, hormone levels, STDs, stress & sleep, weight management & metabolism, vitamin levels, health condition risk | ✔ | 2-5 days | $69.00 |
Get Answers with Your Blood
Blood tests are a great way of analyzing all aspects of your health and wellness. You can discover your risk of health conditions like diabetes, understand if you have any allergies, or even assess your fertility.
Why not find your perfect diet with a DNA test? We’ve rounded up the best tests for diet and fitness, with personalized recipes, meal plans, and workout regimes.
FAQs
Can you use an at-home blood test for food allergies?
Yes. There are lots of blood tests that screen for food allergies, including sensitivities and intolerances to common food groups like dairy and gluten. You can also buy blood tests that screen for environmental allergies, too. Everlywell is one of the best options for allergy testing, with kits that screen for over 200 food sensitivities.
Most at-home blood tests can’t diagnose a food allergy, but they can certainly indicate if you have a sensitivity. You should always take your results to your doctor to get an accurate diagnosis before changing your diet.
Are there at-home blood tests that screen for vitamin deficiency?
Yes, you can easily find blood tests that look for vitamin deficiencies.
In your report, you can see your vitamin levels and whether they are high, medium, or low, which is great for knowing where you may need to add supplements to your diet.
How do you do an at-home blood test?
Taking an at-home blood test is really easy. Your kit comes with all the equipment you need to take your sample, including a detailed instructions pamphlet, usually with imagery to help you. Most kits require up to five blood spots that you provide on a card. Once you’re done, you just need to mail back your sample and wait for your results.
If you choose the walk-in lab option, these might require a full blood sample, but these are always carried out by trained nurses and are much quicker than a visit to the doctors.
Are at-home blood tests covered by insurance?
Your blood test might be covered by insurance, but it usually depends on what you’re testing for. It’s always worth checking out your insurance terms and conditions to see if you might be covered.
Many companies also accept HSA/FSA cards even if they don’t accept insurance, so you can typically knock a few dollars off your test that way.