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Everlywell is a digital health testing company that began in 2015. It offers consumers access to home laboratory testing.
This health and wellness company provides 32 tests for various health issues. It allows you to screen for different sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including trichomoniasis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis C, syphilis, and HIV, all from the comfort of your home.
According to the
If you’re sexually active, having access to home-testing services is one of the most proactive ways to put you in control of your sexual health and overall well-being.
Pros
- It’s convenient. By ordering these testing kits, you can check for different STIs without ever having to leave your home.
- They’re discreet. Everlywell ensures that all testing kits arrive in discreet packaging.
- It’s easy to receive results. After submitting your test, results should be digitally delivered within 5 business days. You can check your results on their online platform.
- They’re in-depth. The tests provide in-depth information about your body, along with resources and access to doctors to help you better understand your results.
- You can speak with a doctor. With your purchase of a testing kit, you get a free virtual consultation with an independent board certified doctor in your state if your results come back positive.
- It gives you better control over your sexual health. By taking at-home STI tests, you have more privacy and control.
Cons
- It’s expensive. It could be a cost-effective option if you don’t have health insurance or if going for a doctor’s visit is more expensive. However, test costs range from $49 to $149.
- Some reviewers weren’t happy with the service. There have been instances of inaccurate test results.
- Only you can take the samples. For some testing kits, you have to prick your finger to draw blood, so if you’re afraid of needles, this may not work for you.
- At-home STI tests aren’t always accurate. Self-collection samples aren’t always the most precise. While Everlywell’s labs meet CLIA standards, not all tests are FDA-approved.
Order your kit
You can request any of their at-home STI test kits online.
To ensure your order matches your unique health needs, a board certified doctor reviews and approves your request before it’s shipped to your address.
The kit usually arrives within 3 to 5 business days after your order.
Register your kit
After the kit arrives, you’ll register it on their website using the unique ID number. This registration process allows them to link your account to their HIPAA-compliant platform to the test.
Take your sample
After registering, you may want to watch videos that tell you how to take your sample. The kit also comes with every tool you may need to take it.
You may need to take a saliva, blood, vaginal, or urine sample depending on the STI test you chose.
After collecting your sample, you then lock it in the biohazard bag that comes with the package.
Send your sample to the lab
Every kit has a prepaid shipping label so you can send your sample to their lab for testing.
According to Everlywell, all their labs are
Get your results
You’ll get a notification from their online platform when the lab starts processing your sample. When your results are ready, you’ll receive another notification via email, which directs you to check your results on their digital platform. You can download your results, including the “doctor’s version,” which you can share with your primary care practitioner.
In some cases, you may not get a clear result. But this is usually rare and mainly occurs if the infection is at its early stages or if the sample provided isn’t enough. When this happens, repeat testing may be recommended.
If your results show positive, a board certified doctor within the Everlywell network will reach out to you to evaluate your results and recommend treatment if necessary, at no extra cost.
According to Everlywell, they are required by law to report results to state health authorities for disease tracking and prevalence.
Everlywell STI tests are available in 49 states except for New York, which has specific laws in place that regulate at-home testing.
Everlywell offers 7 STI tests:
- Trichomoniasis test
- Chlamydia and gonorrhea test
- Hepatitis C test
- Syphilis test
- HIV test
- Female STI test
- Male STI test
They also offer a sexual health membership called Current. This membership runs on a monthly subscription, and for $14.99 you get:
- 1 STI test every month
- If your results come out positive, you get a doctor’s consultation to discuss your needs and get medication recommendations when necessary.
Trichomoniasis test
- Sample type: Urine
- Price: $49
This test checks to see if you have trichomoniasis, a common infection caused by a protozoan parasite. If you have trichomoniasis, you may experience symptoms like discomfort with urination, painful intercourse, itching, and bleeding. However, most people who test positive for trichomoniasis don’t experience any symptoms.
In your testing kit, you’ll receive a urine cup, a urine sample tube, a pipette, and a biohazard bag.
Use code “HEALTHLINE25” for 25% off.
Chlamydia and gonorrhea test
- Sample type: Urine
- Price: $49
This noninvasive test identifies whether you test positive for chlamydia or gonorrhea. Both infections are very common and easy to cure, but you’ll still receive access to an Everlywell doctor if your results are abnormal.
Although many people who test positive for gonorrhea and chlamydia don’t experience symptoms, some common ones are fever, pelvic pain, and a painful or burning sensation when you urinate.
Since the kit requires a urine sample, you’ll receive the same contents from the trichomoniasis test, including a urine cup, a sample tube, a pipette, and a biohazard bag for shipping.
Use code “HEALTHLINE25” for 25% off.
Hepatitis C test
- Sample type: Finger prick
- Price: $49
This test checks if you’ve been exposed to hepatitis C. This STI is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis C infection (HCV). It’s a blood-borne virus that is commonly transmitted through needles or blood exposure, and is rarely spread through sex.
The finger prick testing kit contains gauze, an alcohol pad, a collection card, two lancets, a bandage, and a biohazard bag.
While not everyone experiences the same symptoms from hepatitis C, you should get tested if you think you’ve been exposed to it. Frequently reported symptoms include fatigue, joint pain, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), and abdominal pain.
Use code “HEALTHLINE25” for 25% off.
Syphilis
- Sample type: Finger prick
- Price: $49
This test checks whether you have the syphilis antibody, immunoglobulin G (IgG), and tells whether you have contracted the infection or not. Syphilis is an STI caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum. Common symptoms include muscle aches, weight loss, fatigue, fever, and painless genital sores.
This test requires a finger prick, so you’ll receive the same sample collection as the hepatitis C and HIV tests: gauze, an alcohol pad, a collection card, two lancets, a bandage, and a biohazard bag.
Use code “HEALTHLINE25” for 25% off.
HIV test
- Sample type: Finger prick
- Price: $49
This test screens for HIV by looking for IgG antibodies and p24 antigen. It indicates whether you’re positive or negative of the virus.
This test is a 4th generation HIV test, meaning it can accurately detect the virus 1 month after a person contracts it. HIV can be transmitted through exposure to bodily fluids via sexual intercourse or blood exposure.
The HIV test is also a finger prick sample.
Use code “HEALTHLINE25” for 25% off.
Female STD test
- Sample type: Finger prick and vaginal swab
- Price: $149
This test checks for the presence or absence of 7 STIs, including:
- trichomoniasis
- gonorrhea
- hepatitis C
- HIV
- syphilis
- herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2)
- chlamydia
In this testing kit, you’ll receive everything necessary for a finger prick, along with a vaginal swab packet. This kit is geared toward helping patients detect any STIs before they potentially cause significant health issues like infertility, cervical cancer, and ectopic pregnancy.
Although this kit uses HSV-2 serological testing for herpes, it’s not very accurate. There are false positives, and the best way to test for HSV-2 is to test an active lesion.
Use code “HEALTHLINE25” for 25% off.
Male STD test
- Sample type: Finger prick and urine
- Price: $149
This test screens whether you’re positive for any of these STIs:
- trichomoniasis
- gonorrhea
- hepatitis C
- HIV
- syphilis
- herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2)
- chlamydia
This kit sends contents needed for both a finger prick and a urine sample.
Use code “HEALTHLINE25” for 25% off.
Everlywell has grown in popularity in the past 6 years as a go-to home laboratory testing company for various health issues.
Many users commend their discreet packaging, the turnaround time between sending out their samples and getting their results, and their straightforward guide on taking the samples.
According to one user’s testimony, “The test itself came very professionally and discreetly packaged. The tests were explained and demonstrated clearly through print and video. The results came back much more quickly than I expected too! A wonderful, discreet, and effective way to perform regular STI screenings.”
However, some users also complained about getting inaccurate results, receiving their results too late without any explanations, and poor communication from the Everlywell customer service team.
Although Everlywell is not Better Business Bureau (BBB) accredited, it has an A+ rating on its site. That said, the rating doesn’t reflect customer reviews. A BBB rating typically looks at how businesses create and maintain trust and whether or not a company treats the public in a fair and honest way.
Everlywell has an at-home STI testing service that many people trust. But are there other home-testing companies that measure up to or are above Everlywell’s standards?
Let’s take a look at these three at-home laboratory test companies.
Compare other at-home STI tests here.
LetsGetChecked
Founded in 2014, LetsGetChecked is a virtual care and diagnostics company that offers at-home laboratory tests for different health conditions, including STIs.
They provide at-home STI tests for the following conditions:
- chlamydia
- gonorrhea
- trichomoniasis
- HIV
- syphilis
- gardnerella
- mycoplasma
- ureaplasma
Their services come in three packages:
- Simple 2 ($99): This package checks for the presence or absence of chlamydia and gonorrhea, whether or not you’re experiencing symptoms. If the results show positive, you get free treatment for chlamydia.
- Standard 5 ($149): This package tests for chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, HIV, and syphilis. You also get treated at no extra cost if you’re positive for chlamydia and trichomoniasis.
- Complete 8 ($249): This package is their most comprehensive, and it allows you to check for these 8 common STIs: ureaplasma, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, HIV, syphilis, gardnerella, mycoplasma, and gonorrhea. This package comes with free treatment for chlamydia, trichomoniasis, gardnerella, mycoplasma, and ureaplasma.
Their testing kits and medications arrive in a discreet envelope. After taking your sample, you send it to their CLIA approved and CAP accredited lab through their prepaid shipping label. Results usually arrive within 2 to 5 days after the sample gets to their lab, and you can view it on your online account registered with them.
STDCheck.com
STDCheck.com is another diagnostics company that allows you to take charge of your sexual health while protecting your privacy. Using their lab-based at-home STI tests, you can save both time and effort. All you have to do:
- Order any of their STI tests online.
- Visit any of their 4,500 test centers closest to you for sample collection.
- View your results from your online account with them within 24 to 48 hours.
A doctor will reach out to you to discuss your case and treatment options or direct you to a specialist if your results are positive for any STIs tested.
They offer STI tests for:
- HIV-1
- HIV-2
- herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)
- herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2)
- hepatitis A
- hepatitis B
- hepatitis C
- gonorrhea
- syphilis
- chlamydia
They are the only FDA-approved HIV RNA Early Detection Test providers and can screen for HIV infection as early as 6 days after exposure.
For $139, their 10-Test Panel allows you to test for all 10 STIs, and for $258, you get the 10-Test Panel with the HIV RNA Early Detection Test.
myLAB Box
myLAB Box is the first at-home diagnostic company offering STI tests in all 50 states. They provide home-based STI screening for:
- chlamydia
- gonorrhea
- herpes
- hepatitis B
- hepatitis C
- HIV
- HPV
- mycoplasma
- syphilis
- trichomoniasis
They offer STI tests as individual tests and in packages for a more inclusive testing option.
- Uber Box ($269): This 8 panel STI test kit screens for HIV 1 and HIV 2, hepatitis C, herpes simplex virus type 2, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis.
- Total Box ($369–$399): This 14 panel STI test is their most comprehensive test kit. It checks for the presence of HIV, hepatitis C, mycoplasma, herpes simplex virus type 2, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, trichomoniasis, with an optional HPV test.
- Safe Box ($189): This 5 panel home STI test screens for chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, and HIV 1 and 2.
- V-Box ($189): This STI test kit checks for the presence of all the infections that cause abnormal vaginal discharge, including bacterial vaginosis (BV), yeast infection, trichomoniasis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea.
- Love Box Couples’ Kit ($499): This 8 panel test is designed for couples and tests for HIV 1 and HIV 2, hepatitis C, herpes simplex virus type 2, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis.
- Boomer Box ($189): This test kit is exclusively for older adults, and it screens for hepatitis C, HIV, chlamydia, and gonorrhea.
After requesting any of their STI tests on the website, your kit will arrive to your doorstep within 24 hours. It’s delivered in discreet packaging, complete with all of the instructions and materials you need to take your sample at home.
You’ll then mail your sample back to one of their CLIA and CAP certified laboratories. You’ll receive your results on their HIPAA-compliant platform within 3 to 5 days of mailing it out. A doctor in your state will connect with you to answer any questions you may have, along with recommending treatment options if your results are positive.
Going to the doctor’s every time you’re curious about your health status or concerned about a possible infection may not be feasible. This is where at-home STI tests come in. You no longer have to sacrifice convenience, time, and privacy to be in control of your sexual health.
At-home STI tests may be relatively expensive and do not provide all the benefits of in-person STI testing. However, they empower you with knowledge of your body and sexual health, allowing you to be a responsible sexually active person, all from the comfort of your home.
Are at-home STI tests reliable?
Most of the time, Everlywell STI tests are reliable. Results are reviewed by an independent board certified doctor in your state. Their laboratories meet the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments standards, so you can trust that your samples are in safe hands, just as if they’re with your primary care doctor.
Also, the National Coalition of STD Directors affirm that home-based STI-tests are “straightforward and safe, validated to ensure accuracy consistent with traditional lab testing.”
Everlywell’s digital platform is HIPAA-compliant, which means you never have to worry about the security and privacy of your data.
Plus, if your STI test results come back positive, a doctor from the Everlywell network will reach out and discuss any of your concerns and available treatment options with you.
Does insurance cover the testing kits?
You’ll have to ask your health insurance provider to find out if at-home health tests are covered, but they typically are. However, Everlywell recommends verifying the purchase with your network, especially if you have a restrictive plan.
While some insurance networks may reimburse you for your at-home testing kit, Everlywell is not currently partnered with any. They are also not enrolled with Medicaid and are not eligible for Medicaid reimbursement.
Can at-home STI tests replace a doctor visit?
At-home STI tests give you information about your body and sexual health while offering convenience and privacy.
However, they may only be suited as an alternative method when in-person testing may be inconvenient, time-consuming, and pricey. Also, the
What’s more, according to the
At-home STI testing is a step forward in improving STI testing rates, and anyone who is sexually active can benefit from using the services of home testing companies. However, this testing method shouldn’t stop you from making periodic visits to your doctor.
Check in with your doctor to explain your test results immediately after receiving them before anything else.
Frances Gatta is a freelance healthcare writer with experience writing on general health, women’s health, healthcare technology, mental health, and personalized nutrition. You can connect with her on Twitter and LinkedIn.