The Fast Facts
- Everlywell is an online health company offering 22 at-home test kits for daily wellness, digestive, heart, hormone, and sexual health.
- As well as at-home tests, Everlywell provides four in-person sexual health tests that require sample collection at a Quest Diagnostics laboratory.
- All Everlywell tests are processed through Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certified laboratories, ensuring high standards for accuracy and quality.
Everlywell is an online company that offers at-home test kits for various medical conditions, general wellness, and sexual health.
They also offer four in-person sexual health tests that require sample collection at a Quest Diagnostics laboratory.
According to Everlywell, all laboratories it uses and all tests it provides are regulated under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA). Some laboratories also hold accreditation from the College of American Pathologists (CAP), another widely respected accreditation for clinical laboratory quality.
The Everlywell headquarters are in Austin, Texas. To date, the company has been in business for 11 years.
Everlywell offers 22 at-home tests for a range of things, including:
- Daily health: This includes tests for vitamin D and colon cancer screening.
- Digestive health: This includes a celiac disease test.
- Sexual health: This includes tests for STIs, such as trichomoniasis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis C.
- Hormone health: This includes a general men’s and women’s health test, thyroid test, and metabolism test.
- Heart health: This includes tests for heart health and high cholesterol.
Everlywell also offers four in-person sexual health tests that require sample collection at a Quest Diagnostics laboratory.
Below, our tester Laramy Applekamp gives their hands-on review of their experience with Everlywell.
The reviewer in this article received free Everlywell products to try. All opinions are their own.
Ordering the test
“I was sent this test, so I didn’t have to order it. However, looking at the website, it appears fairly straightforward to purchase, though the shipping window of 2 to 8 days could be rather frustrating for people who are feeling a sense of urgency about getting test results.
“My Everlywell test arrived in very discreet packaging. Within the box, the materials for the two samples I had to provide were distinctly separated, and the instructions laid everything out clearly.”
Taking the test
“The instructions were very clear, shipping with their prepaid envelope was easy, their texts were extremely helpful, [and] their results page was extremely straightforward and educational.
“However, I had some uncertainty around whether a sample where the circles weren’t fully filled would be acceptable and if there was a time limit on getting the samples to the lab.”
Getting the results
“Everlywell’s test comes with the pre-paid shipping envelope to return your test, so I just had to swing by the nearest post office to drop it off. It wasn’t clear in the kit whether there was a time frame when you had to get the sample into the lab, so to be safe, I mailed it the same day.
“Friday afternoon (3 days from when I took my sample), Everlywell texted me to let me know my results were ready. I was able to click in directly from the text and was directed to a results page, where it looks like it keeps the results of all tests you take in one convenient place for easy access.
“The company also allows you to download to a PDF, which could be very helpful for printing if you need to share these results with a medical professional. At the bottom of the results, Everylwell provides suggestions for how to share these results with your primary care provider.”
Hormone health test
Digestive health tests
Heart health tests
Sexual health tests
Everlywell has several advantages and disadvantages to consider before purchasing a test.
Pros
- Convenience: Everlywell offers at-home tests for a wide variety of conditions, including food sensitivities, allergies, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
- Tests are discreet: At-home testing allows a person to get results on their own, easily, without needing to step into a laboratory or doctor’s office.
- Kits are fully stocked: Each kit has all the tools that a person needs to get their results, and shipping is prepaid for test results.
Cons
- Costly: Replacing doctor’s visits with Everlywell tests may be more convenient if a person is unable to travel. However, in terms of cost, Everlywell is not necessarily less expensive.
- Not great for those with a fear of needles: Everlywell tests are self-administered, and some require users to prick their finger to draw blood.
- Limited evidence for certain tests: For example, there’s limited evidence to support the method used to test for food sensitivities (which is why we have not included this product in our review).
Everlywell may be suitable for people who cannot easily visit a doctor’s office. Individuals living in a remote area or experiencing difficulty with mobility may prefer to use an Everlywell at-home test kit.
It may also be a more convenient option for people who work during the day, as they will not need to take time off from work to visit a doctor.
Some individuals may also prefer to complete a sexual health test at home if they feel uncomfortable undergoing testing at a doctor’s office or in a laboratory.
Everlywell offers its testing kits exclusively to adults aged 18 and above, and shipping is not currently available to New York State.
1. Order a test online
A person begins by selecting either an at-home or in-person test on the Everlywell website, creating an account, and completing the purchase. An at-home test kit is then shipped directly to the individual, typically arriving within 5 to 10 business days.
2. Collect a sample
For at-home testing, all necessary materials and detailed instructions for collecting a sample are provided. Depending on the test, this may be a finger-prick blood sample, saliva, urine, or stool. Everlywell provides online video tutorials and customer support to guide the individual through the sample collection process.
In-person tests require a visit to a Quest Patient Service Center to have a sample taken. Appointments are recommended, though walk-ins may be accepted depending on location availability.
3. Submit the sample
At-home samples are placed in the provided packaging and mailed to the laboratory using the prepaid shipping label. In-person samples are collected directly at the Quest location.
4. Receive results
Once laboratory testing is complete, results are reviewed by a licensed physician within Everlywell’s independent clinical network. Results are then made available in the individual’s secure Everlywell account. Timing varies by test type, with in-person tests often returning results more quickly.
5. Next steps
If abnormal or positive results are detected, a person may be contacted by a representative from an independent clinician network and offered a consultation to discuss recommended next steps. Everlywell follows
On the Everlywell website, a person can browse all the tests or filter the results to find tests in their area of concern.
A person can also sign up for Everlywell+, Everlywell’s membership program, before making a purchase.
After ordering and receiving a test, carefully follow the instructions and collect a sample. After a person sends off their sample in the prepaid envelope, Everlywell returns the results within days.
The tests range from $49 to $299. One in-person test falls outside this price range. The Galleri® multi-cancer test is an early-detection test that screens for many aggressive cancers before they become symptomatic and costs $949.
If a person signs up for Everlywell’s membership program, Everlywell+, they receive a discount on all the company’s products.
Everlywell+ offers a monthly and annual membership, costing $39 per month or $449 per year. A member can order one qualifying test for free each month and receive a 20% discount on any other tests.
A person can cancel their monthly membership at any time by contacting Everlywell’s customer care team. There is no cancellation fee.
There are several companies that offer at-home test kits similar to those from Everlywell. The table below shows how Everlywell compares with other brands.
At-home tests offered | Price | Results in | Accepts insurance? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Everlywell | 26 tests: • daily health • digestive health • sexual health • hormone health • heart health | $49 to $949 | 5 to 7 business days | Coverage varies depending on insurance company and plan. HSA/FSA is accepted. |
| LetsGetChecked | 14 tests: • sexual health • women’s health • men’s health • wellness | $89 to $249 | 2 to 5 business days | Insurance is not accepted. HSA/FSA is accepted. |
myLAB Box | 53 tests: • COVID & flu • STD • wellness & nutrition • fertility & family planning • drug & toxicology • pet health | $39 to $399 | 5 to 15 business days | Insurance is not accepted. HSA/FSA is accepted. |
| Labcorp | 8 tests: • COVID & flu • men’s fertility • colon cancer screening • syphilis • PCR female STI | $39 to $159 | 1 to 4 business days | Insurance is not accepted. HSA/FSA is accepted. |
| Quest Health | 5 tests: • men’s fertility • colon cancer screening • female STI • celiac genetic health risk • progesterone fertility | $29 to $199 | 1 to 14 business days | Coverage varies depending on the insurance company and plan. HSA/FSA is accepted. |
Learn more about Everywell’s competitors here:
The
The FDA does not mention Everlywell or other companies specifically.
Some potential benefits of using at-home tests include:
- They may lead to an early detection of a medical condition when no symptoms are present.
- The detection of a medical condition can allow a person to take immediate action.
- They can help monitor things such as blood sugar levels, which can lead to changes in treatment when necessary.
- The companies keep their customers’ test results confidential.
Some risks to be aware of include the following:
- Home tests should not replace regular doctor visits.
- A doctor should interpret laboratory tests within the context of a person’s medical history, physical examination results, and the results of other diagnostic tests.
- Errors may occur with at-home tests for a number of reasons.
- The quality may not be the same as that of hospital laboratory tests. Different at-home test laboratories use different techniques and reference ranges.
If a person orders an at-home health test from Everlywell or a similar company and receives results suggesting they may have a health condition, they should confirm the results with a doctor.
If possible, a person should contact a doctor and have any recommended health tests performed at a doctor-recommended facility.
The
The FDA also states that people should regularly visit a doctor, regardless of whether they feel ill.
Everlywell can help provide customers with valuable information about their health in a quick, easy, and convenient way.
The company uses CLIA-certified laboratories. This means that its tests undergo regular quality checks and that its laboratories undergo regular inspections.
However, it is important to note that Everlywell tests should not replace a consultation with a doctor. The service offers a convenient way for a person to quickly and easily take control of their health, but a doctor needs to know about any serious concerns a person has about their health and well-being.
No, Everlywell tests do not have FDA approval. However, they are CLIA-certified, meaning the labs that process the tests meet federal standards for laboratory testing quality.
There is no clear evidence that food sensitivity tests can accurately determine whether a person has a sensitivity.
Food sensitivity tests screen for the presence of antibodies such as IgG. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology states that raised IgG levels are likely to be a typical response to food exposure and do not reliably indicate sensitivities.
The accuracy of Everlywell tests varies by test type. Many tests are processed in CLIA-certified laboratories, but some, such as food allergy tests, have been questioned by researchers for their clinical reliability.
At-home test quality may not be the same as that of tests that people undergo in a hospital laboratory. Other factors — including human error, fasting, and medication use — can also produce false-negative or false-positive test results.
Yes, Everlywell is a legitimate and reputable company that has been around since 2015.
The company uses CLIA-certified labs. This regulatory body ensures labs conduct quality testing, regular inspections, lab quality improvement studies, and more.
Everlywell offers an array of at-home tests and a handful of in-person tests relating to daily, digestive, sexual, and hormone health.
They use certified laboratories to review and analyze their customers’ tests.
However, the FDA states that it is best for a doctor to evaluate a person’s laboratory test results. This is because doctors need to interpret test results alongside a person’s medical history and physical examination findings to make an accurate diagnosis.