Home testing kits allow you to collect samples for lab tests from the comfort of your own home. Sample saliva, blood, urine, or other bodily fluid & get either instant results or mail-in results depending on what you’re testing for. Save time & money by testing at home!
Home health test kits are complete game-changers when it comes to blood, urine, and saliva tests. No more are patients forced to head to a doctor’s office to get a referral for a health test, schlep all the way to a testing site, and spend countless hours in waiting rooms or waiting for results.
Simply order your test, send in your samples, and get your results in a few days. Here is our breakdown of some of the most popular home health test kits on the market.
Ancestry testing kits have become increasingly popular over the past decade or so. The main reason? They can test your DNA to determine where your ancestors are from. They can even trace your lineage back thousands of years.
Over the years, thousands of customers have spit into a plastic tube to determine their heritage — and even connect with relatives from all over the world they never knew.
These days, consumers are buying ancestry testing kits to discover genetic markings that can possibly lead to better medical care — and even predict predisposition to disease and chronic conditions.
Ancestry DNA
Similar to ancestry testing, genetic predisposition testing can help you determine your odds of predisposition to diseases and chronic conditions, all based on your genetic markers.
Doctors can predict your odds of getting certain cancers, rare diseases — and they can even discover if you have a predisposition to certain types of mental health issues. This type of research is helping to destigmatize mental health issues as we start to collect proof that they’re not just psychological; they’re also biological.
Other genetic predisposition tests can determine if you have food sensitivities, and doctors can even discover the types of nutrients and foods you should eat, all based on your genes.
Sexual health testing kits do exactly what you’d expect them to: check for STDs, men’s sexual health issues, and women’s sexual health issues.
STD tests are possibly the most popular sexual health tests on the market. Back in the day, you’d need to head to a doctor’s office to get an STD test. Because there’s a social stigma around STDs, many patients would forgo getting tested altogether. These days, it’s easier to get tested — right in the comfort of your own home, no less. Some of the most common STD tests include:
When it comes to sexual health, it’s not all about STD tests. There are plenty of tests to determine sexual health; from testing testosterone levels to sperm counts, you can get tested for a wide range of men’s health issues — right at home.
Testosterone tests simply check the levels of testosterone in your body. Too much or too little testosterone can lead to a long list of health problems, including:
Men of all ages can suffer from testosterone imbalances. If you’re suffering from any of the above symptoms, getting your testosterone tested can rule out a long list of conditions.
There are plenty of reasons why men might want to get their sperm counts tested and have their sperm stored at a lab.
Like women, men can suffer from low sperm counts for a variety of reasons (anabolic steroid use, drug use, opioid use, among others). Men who are worried that their sperm count could decrease over time and want to keep their family-planning options open in the future can have their sperm saved at a storage facility.
This is also common with men who suffer from testicular cancer and may need one or both testicles removed.
It’s extremely important for women to have access to testing that can diagnose a chronic condition or disease. Unfortunately, when it comes to women’s health, we have far less knowledge than we do for men’s health issues.
Clinical research has been performed on men for decades, and doctors opted for a one-size-fits-all approach to women’s health, assuming that the female body was similar enough to the male body to avoid further testing.
These issues are partially why there is so much gender bias in medicine — and why women need women-specific doctors that can offer high-quality care. Just some of this care includes testing kits made just for women.
HPV rears its head differently in men and women. That’s why it’s important for women to get a special HPV test that’s created just for them. These tests check for 14 HPV genotypes, offering women a better idea of whether or not their HPV is the kind that leads to cancer.
The test generally costs under $100 and can be sent directly to your home. Use the included vaginal swab to collect your sample and mail it back to the lab. A technician will view your results, and you’ll have more info in a matter of days.
Perimenopause, the phase women experience just before menopause, is the result of changing hormone levels. Just some of the symptoms women experience include:
It’s important to note that not all women experience the same symptoms during perimenopause; in fact, some women don’t experience any symptoms at all! But if you are experiencing any of the above symptoms and are in your 40s or older, you might want to get tested so your doctor can advise the appropriate changes.
This test is offered via a finger prick; simply mail your sample back to the lab to get your results.
Endometriosis is a condition where the uterine lining grows outside of the uterus — usually in the fallopian tubes or ovaries. During menstruation, this tissue sheds (as the tissue in the uterus sheds, too). It can be extremely painful and sometimes the tissue doesn’t shed at all — causing cysts and scar tissue.
Women who suffer from endometriosis often experience the following symptoms:
An at-home endometriosis testing kit is non-invasive and virtually pain-free.
DotLab
Women’s fertility can be a tough subject. Although it’s super common (more than 10% of couples have difficulty becoming pregnant in the U.S.), women’s infertility still carries a stigma.
The ability to take a fertility test at home has been a game-changer for some women. Not worrying about driving to and from appointments, wasting hours in waiting rooms, and uncomfortable chats with doctors can ease a lot of the stress and tension some women experience.
At-home fertility tests are very simple to use. Simply prick your finger and mail your sample back to the lab. A doctor will review your results and you’ll get your results on the secure platform. No waiting rooms or uncomfortable conversations necessary.
Later in life, women go through several phases of menopause: peri, menopause, and post. Knowing when you’re on the other side of menopause can be a huge relief. If you suffer from the symptoms of menopause, you’ll want to know when you’re in the last phase.
The symptoms of postmenopause are very similar to menopause, including:
A postmenopause test is simply a finger prick that you can administer at home. Send in your blood sample, and get your results.
Pretty much every test we’ve covered in this section is a women’s health test. But there’s one company that’s changing the way women view their health and analyze their health data.
NextJane is currently developing a testing kit to understand more about women's bodies. All you need to do to discover information about your hormonal and reproductive health is send NextJane a used tampon. That one piece of cotton holds a world of information that the lab’s doctors can use to understand the female body.
NextGen Jane
Ovarian reserve tests are the female version of male testosterone or sperm count tests. These tests simply count the number of eggs your ovaries have produced in your lifetime (you’re born with the exact amount of eggs you’ll produce).
Each year, the typical woman loses one egg per month. Depending on how many eggs you started out with will help determine your fertility.
This is a blood test, so you simply need to perform a finger prick at home and send your results to the lab for testing.
Urinary tract infection (UTI) tests are some of the easiest tests to administer at home. Women who suffer from constant UTIs are generally thrilled to find out that they don’t need to drive to the doctor’s office to take the test and get treatment anymore.
To administer the at-home UTI test, you simply need to hold the test strip underneath your stream of urine. You’ll get a result within two minutes. After taking the test, you can get treated for your UTI (usually with antibiotics).
In addition to testing your body for STDs, sexual health, and chronic conditions, you can also test your body for some simple health issues.
One of the most common and popular at-home test kits is blood nutrient tests. They take the guesswork out of taking vitamins.
Other common at-home health tests include food sensitivity tests, thyroid tests, and diabetes tests. While some of these tests will simply improve the quality of your life, other tests can actually be life-saving.
Blood nutrient test kits simply test the levels of vitamins in your blood or urine. These tests can take the guesswork out of which vitamins you need to take (or which vitamin-rich foods you need to eat).
Some of the most common nutrient tests include:
Baze (urine strip)
Some of us suffer from full-blown food allergies and intolerances — while some of us are simply ‘sensitive’ to certain foods.
Whether you’re gluten-intolerant or get that fuzzy feeling in your mouth when you eat bananas, cherries, and walnuts (or other foods), these tests can help you avoid the foods that trouble your tummy.
At-home Lyme Disease tests can help save lives. These tests can determine if your mysterious symptoms are related to Lyme Disease — or if you can rule out Lyme Disease altogether.
Common symptoms of Lyme Disease include:
The symptoms of Lyme Disease are so similar to symptoms of other diseases and chronic conditions, so it can be a relief to rule out LD as soon as possible.
An at-home Lyme Disease test requires you to simply prick your finger and send a blood sample to the lab. You’ll get your results within a few days.
Thyroid test kits can help you determine if you have hypo or hyperthyroidism. This test kit can test for three types of thyroid hormones, including TSH, T3, and T4.
An overactive or underactive thyroid can affect your eating habits, appetite, and overall nutrition levels. It can also cause unnecessary stress and abnormally low or high energy levels.
This test kit is a finger prick kit; simply prick your finger and place a few drops of blood into the test tube. Send the kit back to the lab, and you’ll get your results in a few days.
Just as your thyroid can affect your appetite and nutrition levels, so can your metabolism. People with slower metabolisms take longer to digest foods than those with faster ones.
Find out if your metabolism hormone levels are optimal. The hormone that’s measured with this test is cortisol, a hormone that affects energy and stress levels.
You can choose either the finger prick or saliva test type; simply follow the instructions and send the tests back to the lab to get your results.
Type 2 diabetes is a major problem all over the world right now. Luckily, changes to diet and exercise can reverse the symptoms and conditions caused by diabetes. There are currently two types of diabetes at-home test kits: the initial diabetes test and a test to help monitor blood sugar levels. The test to monitor your blood sugar levels can give you an overview of your levels for the past three months.
Both tests require a finger prick to collect a blood sample.
An estimated 37 million U.S. citizens suffer from kidney disease. Many people who suffer from this disease don’t know they have it. The most common symptoms of kidney disease include:
To perform an at-home kidney disease test, you’ll simply need to do a basic blood draw by way of a finger prick. Send a few drops of blood in a tube to the lab to get your results.
Despite the fact that a year ago no one knew the phrase ‘COVID-19’, there are more and more COVID testing kits and antibody testing kits on the market every day.
The COVID at-home testing kit tests for the coronavirus disease in patients. If you test positive for the disease, you should stay home and self-quarantine for at least two weeks after the last symptoms dissipate. Doctors recommend going to the hospital if you’re experiencing shortness of breath.
The COVID-19 antibody test can determine if you have antibodies in your system that signify you’ve had the coronavirus and simply didn’t experience any symptoms (or experienced less-severe symptoms).
Without further ado, here is our list of the best home testing kits. These kits help patients lead healthier lives by providing convenient, at-home testing solutions. Many of these companies are also fighting social stigmas regarding the health conditions they treat. Simply order your test, take a blood, urine, or saliva sample, and send back the kit to get your results.
Dadi offers at-home sperm testing and storage. It’s known for its work helping men understand their hormonal imbalances and low sperm counts. It provides at-home sperm testing as well as kits to collect sperm and send to the facility for safe storage.
23andMe provides ancestry testing kits as well as some biomarker testing. Discover where your ancestors lived (up to thousands of years before you were born), make connections with family members also using 23andMe, and find out if you have any genetic conditions you need to address.
Until 2020, Scanwell was known for its urine testing kits — specifically UTI testing and kidney disease testing. Now they also provide testing for COVID-19 antibodies. Simply prick your finger and provide a drop of blood to get your antibody results. The full list of tests they offer include:
OneDrop has made a name for itself in the at-home testing kit industry by offering easy-to-use diabetes tests. It offers both affordable diabetes test kits as well as diabetes care products — all tailored to individuals without health insurance. Customize diabetes packages and get ongoing support to manage your disease.
NextGen Jane is currently developing a test to check women’s health and collect data via tampon sample. The company asks that women simply mail their tampons (using the provided packaging, of course) to its laboratory for further testing. The company plans on using the data it collects to study women’s health issues as well as fill the gap in women’s health in general.
DotLab has developed the first non-invasive test to detect endometriosis. Women simply need to provide a biological sample, using the provided testing kit and send the kit back to the lab.
Baze has developed one of the first nutrient tests that don’t require patients to draw blood. Instead, they simply hold a small data card in their urine stream, wait a few minutes, and scan the card with the Baze app on their phone. The app detects vitamin deficiencies and recommends vitamins and foods that can help maximize a patient’s health.
Thriva has one of the most extensive offerings when it comes to at-home testing kits. This company offers hormone, stress, vitamin, diabetes, gut health, and coronavirus antibody testing kits just to name a few. Their full list of kits include:
Vessel Health currently offers a panel of vitamin deficiency tests to help patients minimize their use of unnecessary vitamins. Its current tests include:
Ancestry DNA is another ancestry testing site. This is the company that put DNA testing on the map. It focuses on both genetic testing and matching as well as determining genetic biomarkers and predispositions to certain chronic conditions and diseases.
My Lab Box specializes in at-home testing kits that you would normally need to schlep to your primary care provider’s office to request. These tests range from STDs to fertility to gluten sensitivities to flu tests. It also offers themed testing kits, such as its V Box, a kit that tests for all conditions related to vaginal discharge. Some of its most popular kits include:
Let’s Get Checked offers one of the most extensive lists of at-home tests on the market. Test everything from diabetes to Celiac disease to STDs — right from the comfort of your home. Available testing kits include:
Health Testing Centers uses LabCorp or Quest Diagnostics (two of the largest testing centers in the U.S.) to test your at-home kits. Order everything from your basic health to lipid panels and STD panels. Available testing kits include:
EverlyWell is possibly the largest at-home testing center right now. This company offers testing kits for more conditions than we even knew existed! It’s essentially a one-stop-shop for all your at-home testing needs. Popular tests include:
STD Check specializes in STD testing kits. If you’re worried about your sexual health or have just met a new sexual partner, get a full panel from this at-home testing website. The most common tests available include: