Everlywell Review Summary
Summary
Everlywell is an at-home lab testing company that offers 30 lab test options. However, some of them are not recognized by healthcare professionals who have scrutinized Everlywell accuracy.
7 Facts from our Everlywell Review
- Location: Austin, Texas
- Products: 30+ at-home testing kits for a variety of health conditions
- Ordering: You can order online at everlywell.com or amazon.com; also available at some retail stores like Target
- How it works: You send a sample (blood, urine, saliva, or vaginal swab). Everlywell describes levels of specific biomarkers measured in the sample and their relation to various health characteristics
- Reports: Provide insights into biomarker levels associated with health conditions; may be used for health-related purposes in consultation with medical professionals
- Everlywell Cost: $49-$259
- Complementary products: Nebula 30X Whole Genome Sequencing is a reliable DNA Test that decodes all of your genetic blueprints with high accuracy
This review is written with the intent to be as unbiased as possible. However, it represents the opinion of an individual reviewer and is therefore subjective. Furthermore, at Nebula Genomics, we seek to educate the public about the benefits of Whole Genome Sequencing. Information about our Whole Genome Sequencing DNA test is therefore incorporated into the review.
September 26, 2022
Table of Contents
Pros and Cons
| Pros |
|---|
| 30+ accurate home health test kits available without requiring a doctor’s visit Quick return on results (3-5 business days) Easy to access reports on all devices Results that guide patients to seek professional medical advice |
| Cons |
|---|
| Everlywell tests are not available to residents in NY Small drops of blood sample needed via finger prick for 24/30 tests Some tests require fasting, including Cholesterol tests & the Lipids and Heart Health ones Science to support the Food Sensitivities test is not recognized by many health professionals |
Introduction
Everlywell (Everly Well) is a Texas-based at-home lab testing company founded in 2015 by CEO Julia Cheek. It gained popularity after it was featured on ABC’s Shark Tank. Consequently, the Shark Tank episode led to Lori Greiner investing in the company. Cheek says she was inspired to start Everlywell when she experienced high costs and long waiting times for routine lab tests.
The company offers 30+ at-home comprehensive testing kits that use blood, saliva, urine, or vaginal fluids to test for certain health conditions. For example, some of its most popular products include thyroid function, metabolism factors, chronic inflammation, and vitamin D deficiency.
Cheek reports that the direct-to-consumer success of 23andMe has had a significant influence on her business. In similar fashion to the DNA site, Cheek wants to expand her product to be widely available in retail stores. The company claims to serve hundreds of thousands of customers and to have delivered tens of millions in sales two years after launch.
Each test includes instructions and sample collection tools. The samples are then processed in a CLIA-certified lab and reviewed by a board-certified physician. Everlywell states that results are typically available within five business days from the lab receiving the sample and can be viewed through a secure platform from any device.
For regulatory reasons, these tests are not available in NY, except for COVID.
Review of Everlywell’s Science
The company uses biomarkers to analyze health conditions. Biomarkers are organic substances, such as metabolites or hormones, that can inform a patient’s health.
While DNA can be classified as a biomarker, the company does not use genetic biomarkers. Instead, the 30+ testing kits analyze different biomarkers related to the tested health traits.
However, in 2017, Everlywell did enter the genetic testing space by partnering with the personal genomics company Helix. Together with Helix, they offered three new products that analyze biomarkers and DNA:
- Food Sensitivity+
- Metabolism+
- Breast Milk DHA+
The goal was to provide customers with a comprehensive view of their health.
When a customer would purchase one of these products, they’d receive two kits. The first was a DNA testing kit from Helix while the second was a small blood sample collecting kit from Everlywell.
As of May 2020, the collaboration with Helix appears to have ended. Therefore, customers looking for personalized health information from Everlywell will have to rely on biomarker results only.
Taking an Everlywell Test
Before reviewing, let’s take a look at how to get started.
Customers can purchase an Everlywell testing kit online at everylywell.com. Before ordering, customers can educate themselves about symptoms associated with various conditions (e.g., bloating and joint pain) to choose the most appropriate test. Some also require the customer to take a medication history questionnaire.
Customers go to the company’s website, register their kit using the provided barcode, and then collect the required sample following the instructions. Finally, the sample is returned to Everlywell using the prepaid shipping label.
Results are produced in a CLIA-certified lab (many Everlywell labs are also CAP-accredited) and reviewed by an independent physician within the customer’s state.
The company also provides a personalized report of each tested biomarker within days through its secure platform.
Overview of Tests from Everlywell and Cost
The company offers over 30 at-home tests to assess various health characteristics based on biomarkers.
General Wellness
| Test | Measures | Collection Method | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food Sensitivity | IgG response to 96 common foods | Finger prick blood | $159 |
| Food Sensitivity Comprehensive | IgG reactivity to 203 foods | Finger prick blood | $239 |
| HbA1c | Hemoglobin sugar levels | Finger prick blood | $49 |
| Heart Health | Total cholesterol, HDL, Calculated LDL, Triglycerides, hs-CRP, and HbA1c | Finger prick blood | $99 |
| Cholesterol and Lipids | Total cholesterol, HDL, Calculated LDL, and Triglycerides | Finger prick blood | $49 |
| Lyme Disease | IgG and IgM reactivity to Borrelia garinii, Borrelia afzelii, and Borrelia burgdorferi | Finger prick blood | $109 |
| Sleep and Stress | Critical sleep and stress hormones | Urine | $199 |
| Indoor & Outdoor Allergy | 14 trees, 9 weeds, 4 molds, 2 dust mites, 2 pet allergens, 2 pests | Finger prick blood | $199 |
| B Vitamins | Vitamin B6, B9, and B12 levels | Finger prick blood | $89 |
| Heavy Metals | Levels of several environmental heavy metals and minerals | Urine | $199 |
Men’s Health
| Test | Measures | Collection Method | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Testosterone | Levels of free testosterone | Saliva sample | $49 |
| Men’s Health | Levels of key male hormones | Finger prick blood, saliva | $249 |
Women’s Health
| Test | Measures | Collection Method | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women’s Fertility | Hormones regulating ovarian function | Finger prick blood, saliva | $149 |
| Postmenopause | Estradiol and progesterone | Finger prick blood | $99 |
| Perimenopause | Hormones that change with perimenopause | Finger prick blood | $99 |
| Ovarian Reserve | Day 3 FSH level | Finger prick blood | $49 |
| HPV – Female | 14 high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes | Vaginal swab | $49 |
| Women’s Health | Levels of key female hormones | Finger prick blood, saliva | $249 |
Energy + Weight
| Test | Measures | Collection Method | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamin D and Inflammation | 25-OH D and hsCRP | Finger prick blood | $99 |
| Metabolism | Hormones that can influence your metabolism | Finger prick blood, saliva | $99 |
| Vitamin D | 25-OH D | Finger prick blood | $49 |
| Thyroid | Thyroid levels | Finger prick blood | $149 |
Sexual Health
| Test | Measures | Collection Method | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlamydia and gonorrhea | Presence of chlamydia or gonorrhea infection | Urine | $69 |
| Hepatitis C | Exposure to hepatitis C virus | Finger prick blood | $69 |
| HIV | Exposure to HIV | Finger prick blood | $69 |
| Syphilis | Exposure to syphilis bacteria | Finger prick blood | $69 |
| Trichomoniasis | Presence of trichomoniasis | Urine | $69 |
| Everlywell STD test – female | Chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis C, herpes type 2, HIV, syphilis & trichomoniasis | Finger prick blood, vaginal swab | $169 |
| Everlywell STD test – male | Chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis C, herpes type 2, HIV, syphilis & trichomoniasis | Finger prick blood, urine | $169 |
Payments and Insurance
Tests cost between $49 and $259. It’s important to note that they are usually not covered by insurance. The company claims that its at-home lab tests are comparable or lower in price than in-person lab tests.
However, due to the nature of some, there is a chance that some insurance policies may cover selected ones. The company recommends its customers to contact their insurance providers if they purchase one of these tests:
- Cholesterol & Lipids
- Inflammation & Vitamin D
- Comprehensive Thyroid
Since tests are authorized by physicians, customers can submit their purchase receipts for reimbursement through health savings account and flexible spending account (HSA/FSA) benefits.
Customers paying out of pocket may save money by using Everlywell coupons or Everlywell promo codes on popular discount sites like RetailMeKnot.
Review of Everlywell Tests
The Everlywell reports describe levels of specific biomarkers measured in the customer’s sample and related to the various health characteristics. Furthermore, the reports include information on how the results may affect the customer’s health. They also provide insights on improving or maintaining healthy biomarker levels and links to related medical research.
Everlywell Food Sensitivity Test Reviews
The Everlywell home test for food sensitivity test measures the body’s Immunoglobulin G (called immunoglobulins – IgG) immune response. The 96 foods tested for are common in western diets. In brief, foods include 5 dairy products, 2 egg products, 16 fruits, 10 grains, 5 legumes, 5 meats, 11 seafoods, 7 seeds and nuts, 20 vegetables, and 15 spices. Sensitivity to each food (food intolerance) is categorized as follows:
- High Reactivity level (Class 3)
- Moderate Reactivity level (Class 2)
- Mild Reactivity level (Class 1)
- Low Reactivity level (Class 0; normal)
The higher the reactivity, the more sensitive the company claims the body is to that food. Therefore, it recommends customers eliminate high-sensitivity foods from their diet to help maximize health and minimize weight gain. Breath tests can also be useful for detecting some forms of food intolerance.
It should be noted that the Everlywell food sensitivity test cannot detect lactose intolerance. However, this can be determined with a DNA test, such as the Whole Genome Sequencing we offer at Nebula Genomics.
Customers should also know the differences between food allergies and food sensitivities. Everlywell tests for sensitivity to a particular food. However, they do not detect food allergies. Food sensitivities are usually characterized by a slow onset of symptoms that are generally mild, like stomach pain and low energy levels.
In contrast, symptoms of allergic reactions typically occur immediately after exposure and can be very severe and sometimes even life-threatening. The responses are also mediated by different antibodies: IgG for food sensitivities and IgE for food allergies.
Everlywell Heart Health Test Reviews
The Heart Health test is another popular one. It analyzes blood biomarkers for total cholesterol, HDL, calculated LDL, triglycerides, hs-CRP, and HbA1c. Therefore, customers interested in heart health and preventing heart disease are the target population for this product. This includes individuals who take cholesterol medication, have a family history of high cholesterol or heart disease, or have a personal or family history of type 2 diabetes.
Results include the numerical result for each biomarker measured and rates each on various risk scales.
- Total Cholesterol (lipids associated with heart health): Normal or elevated
- Calculated LDL (lipids associated with heart health): Normal or elevated
- HDL (lipids associated with heart health): Low, normal, or elevated
- Triglycerides (lipids associated with heart health): Normal or elevated
- hs-CRP (a marker that may indicate chronic low-grade inflammatory response): Normal or elevated
- HbA1c (a measure of glucose levels): Optimal, acceptable, or elevated
Everlywell STD Test Review
The company sells two STD tests, one for males and one for females. Doctors recommend that all sexually active adults get tested for sexually transmitted diseases and sexually transmitted infections annually.
What is the STD testing process like? Females require a finger prick sample and a vaginal swab sample. At the same time, the male version is through a finger prick and a urine sample.
Both the female and male tests check for six sexually transmitted infections (Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Hepatitis C, HIV, Syphilis, and Trichomoniasis). For women, early testing for these conditions helps detect problems before causing significant health issues like infertility and cervical cancer.
All STD kits are shipped in discreet packaging, and results are ready within a few days of the lab receiving the samples.
Everlywell COVID-19 Test Review
In May 2020, the company announced it had received an Emergency Use Authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This authorization was for an Everlywell COVID test kit for collecting samples at home, currently available for $109 (August 2022). This price covers products and services such as overnight shipping, lab processing fees, physician review and diagnosis, and kit components. Additionally, Everlywell claims it makes no profits from selling COVID-19 tests.
To take the test, a customer completes an online screening, collects their sample via a nasal swab, and receives a digital health report within 24-48 hours. A telehealth consultation is available free of charge once the results arrive. In brief, the test analyzes the presence or absence of RNA from the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
Note the Everlywell tests are not a substitute for professional medical advice. Except for certain diagnostic test panels, Everlywell products are not intended to diagnose or treat disease but only to provide guidance when you speak with your physician. Once the report is produced, the company recommends that customers consult their physician for diagnosis or treatment concerning personal health care.
You can learn more about at-home coronavirus tests in our review!
Interested in COVID-19 travel tests? In 2021, we saw Kurix Health and Project Screen offer special testing meeting requirements for departing and arriving in the UK.
Review of Everlywell Privacy Policy
The company does not typically share or sell customer data or results. Its privacy policy does indicate that it may share personal information with third parties in certain circumstances. The company also allows service providers to access personal data to provide the service requested by the customer.
For instance, an independent network of physicians will access customer results to review them. Data is collected and shared only on HIPAA-compliant servers. Records are stored permanently unless the customer requests to delete them.
Some states legally require companies to report certain diagnoses to state health departments. These mandatory reporting guidelines apply to positive results from HIV and other sexually transmitted tests. The data is collected for public health purposes, such as tracking new infections, but generally remains private. That is, family members and employers do not have access to it.
Review of Everlywell in the News
Founder Julia Cheek pitched Everlywell to ABC’s Shark Tank in 2017. As a result, Lori Greiner provided $1 million as a line of credit.
Multiple outlets such as Us Weekly and Forbes praise the company for making consumer lab testing simple and accessible. However, other Everlywell reviews are mixed. Some Everlywell reviews for vitamin and heart health rank highly. Others, especially the very popular food sensitivity test, are ranked poorly.
Is Everlywell legit? In 2018, STAT reported that experts had called the Everlywell food sensitivity test “medically dubious.” The company measures blood IgG antibody levels to determine whether a person’s immune system reacts to specific foods. Then, it recommends that the customer remove that food from their diet if it reacts highly.
However, the allergy expert interviewed by STAT claims that the results only indicate which foods have been consumed recently rather than real sensitivities. The article further claims that people may actually bring harm to themselves by removing healthy foods from their diet, believing they have a false sensitivity. Physicians typically recommend elimination diets to determine food sensitivities.
The article also reports that health professionals do not recognize the validity of IgG tests for diagnosing food sensitivity. This is because many believe the IgG presence is the body’s normal reaction to food intake.
In 2022, the company has been expanding its offers with food allergy tests and celiac disease kits, released in June, and a sexual health report launched in August detailing how navigating through a pandemic has changed our sex lives. Earlier in 2022, the company also launched a series of what it called high-quality vitamins and supplements.
Other Everlywell Reviews
Does Everlywell work? Most reviews of Everlywell products from online retailers like Amazon are mixed, especially for the food sensitivity test. Some users who purchased the products from pharmacies tended to have more positive reviews.
Everlywell tests are generally as accurate as those you would take at your local laboratory. The company has a good rating at BBB, and its labs are CLIA-certified.
Everlywell Food Sensitivity reviews
Everlywell reviews for food sensitivity are available on:
- Amazon: 3.5/5 stars
- CVS Pharmacy: 4.7/5 stars
- Target: 4.7/5 stars
There are also other testimonials on Reddit.
Everlywell STD
Everlywell reviews for STD tests are available on:
Everlywell Metabolism
Everlywell metabolism test reviews are available on:
- Amazon: 4.3/5 stars
Everlywell Thyroid
Everlywell thyroid test reviews are available on:
Everlywell Women’s Health
- Everlywell Fertility reviews on Amazon: 3.7/5 stars
- Woman’s Ovarian Reserve on Amazon: 4.2/5 stars
- Postmenopause on Amazon: 3.3/5 stars
Everlywell Allergy
- Amazon: 4.0/5 stars
Everlywell Vitamin D
- Amazon: 3.7/5 stars
Everlywell Chlamydia
- Amazon: 3.2/5 stars
Nebula Genomics
We conclude our Everlywell review with a comparison to Nebula Genomics.
Nebula Genomics offers the most affordable 30x Whole Genome Sequencing service that sequences 100% of your DNA. In contrast, Everlywell analyzes biomarkers, not DNA. Biomarker and DNA tests should be seen as complementary to each other rather than alternatives.
Similar to Everlywell, Nebula Genomics does not provide diagnostic tests. Our Whole Genome Sequencing data is of the highest quality and can be used by physicians and genetic counselors. Individuals who believe they are at risk for a genetic disorder should consult a healthcare provider before taking DNA sequencing tests.
| Everlywell | Nebula Genomics | |
| Testing method | Biomarkers | DNA; Whole Genome Sequencing (all 20,000 genes and regulatory regions) |
| Reporting | Symptomatic conditions | Genetic predispositions |
| Ancestry reporting | No | Yes |
| Data access | No data that can be accessed | Yes (FASTQ, BAM, and VCF files) |
| Cost | $49-$259 | $0, $99, $299 |
| Aid for making medical decisions | No, but CLIA-certified lab data can be used in consultation with physicians. | No, but data is of the highest quality and can be used by physicians and genetic counselors. |
Other ways to test at home
- BlueChew (diagnosis and prescriptions for erectile dysfunction)
- Curofit (cholesterol, glucose, and blood pressure monitoring)
- empowerDX (women’s, men’s, heart, mental health, and more)
- imaware (blood tests for wide range of health conditions)
- InsideTracker (biomarker health and optional DNA)
- LetsGetChecked (wide range of health and wellness)
- LifeDNA (nine reports based on SNP analysis)
- MintRx (at-home prescriptions and biomarker testing)
- MyLab Box (at-home STD testing)
- Nurx (sexual health testing and at-home prescriptions)
- OmegaQuant (blood test for omega-3 measurements)
- Paloma Health (at-home thyroid testing and consultations)
- Personalabs (over 400 lab tests taken at local labs)
- Rightangled (UK-based DNA and biomarker)
- RxHomeTest (biomarkers and genetic tests)
- STDcheck.com (on-site STD testing and consultation)
- Verisana (hormone, gut, and STD tests plus many more)
If interested in gut health, you may want to look at:
- Biohm (gut health, including bacteria and fungi)
- Ixcela (blood test for gut health and personalized recommendations)
- Sun Genomics (gut microbiome testing and personalized probiotics for adults, children, and infants)
- Ombre (formally Thryve) (personalized probiotics)
- Viome (gut health and microbiome testing)
Another supplement that you might be interested in is Tru Niagen or Elysium Health, which are supplements that may be able to slow down aging!
Other reviews include Curology (personalized skincare), Plexaderm (skin anti-aging), Yoga Burn (weight loss), and Medishare, which may be able to help with emergency health bills through cost-sharing ministry. You may also be interested in virtual health care such as that offered by PlushCare, Teladoc, and Lemonaid Health!
Did you find our Everlywell review useful? You can read more reviews on our blog and check out our complete guide to the best DNA test kit and other home tests.
