LetsGetChecked review – Can you get your lab test results from home?

LetsGetChecked Review Summary

LetsGetChecked is a company that sells at-home lab tests that measure various biomarkers such as cholesterol. Learn more in our LetsGetChecked review!

Nebula Genomics

Results

Price

Ease of access

Summary

LetsGetChecked offers at-home testing kits for sexual health and general wellness. The company allows patients to access these tests without a doctor’s visit but can get pricey if ordered individually.

4.3

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 23, 2020

Edited by Christina Swords, Ph.D.

7 Facts from our LetsGetChecked Review

1. Location: Head Offices in New York, NY, and Dublin, Ireland. Tests are processed at different labs depending on type of test and customer location. All labs are CLIA, CPA, INAB approved and/or CAP accredited
2. Products: A wide range of at-home testing kits for sexual health, general wellness, Men’s and Women’s-specific health, and Coronavirus testing
3. How it works: Customers order lab tests online, test at home, and receive results from LetsGetChecked nurses.
4. Ordering: You can order online at letsgetchecked.com or amazon.com; also available at some retail stores and pharmacies like CVS and Walmart
5. Reports: Returns biomarker levels associated with health conditions and general wellness; reviewed by physicians with 24/7 treatment support provided by nursing staff
6. LetsGetChecked Cost: Individual tests start at $49, with options to bundle multiple tests or subscribe for repeat testing at a discounted rate
7. Complementary products: Nebula Genomics Whole Genome Sequencing with weekly updated reports, Women’s Health Test, and Men’s Health Test

LetsGetChecked Introduction

This is a review of LetsGetChecked (Lets Get Checked), a health testing company providing LetsGetChecked at-home medical testing kits focusing on fertility, sexual health, cancer screening (including a colon cancer screening test), hormone, and “lifestyle” testing.  The company currently serves 28 markets and has performed more than 584,000 tests to date. 

Learn more about colon cancer genetic testing in our special hereditary cancer series!

Founded in 2014 by Peter Foley, the company’s goal is to connect customers to LetsGetChecked at home health testing directly through lab tests. This is particularly useful for those who have trouble finding time to visit a clinic, or don’t want to wait to speak to a doctor. Founder David Foley describes this as cutting out the middleman and making medical testing more efficient.

LetsGetChecked offers 34 at-home testing products that use blood, urine, vaginal swab, nasal swab, or stool samples to test for certain health conditions. Many of the products like the liver test, kidney test, diabetes test, and testosterone levels are single test kits. Others combine several related tests, like the Standard 5 STD test which includes Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Trichomoniasis, HIV, and Syphilis testing. Testing is discreet and can be done at home. 

Each test includes sample collection tools, video, and written instructions, and prepaid return-shipping labels. The test kits are produced by LetsGetChecked and are sent to CLIA, CPA, INAB approved, and/or CAP-accredited labs. Tests are reviewed within 2-5 business days by a medical team. 

Results are delivered to customers by a nurse. Results can also be accessed through LetsGetChecked’s secure platform from any device, or through their mobile app (available as an Apple App Store download, or is available for download on Google Play). 

Review of LetsGetChecked’s Science: Biomarkers

LetsGetChecked, like many competing at-home health and wellness testing companies, uses biomarkers to analyze health conditions. Biomarkers are organic substances, such as metabolites or hormones that can identify diseased states in a patient, and track various conditions like liver and kidney function or vitamin/mineral deficiencies (Vitamin B12 test and Vitamin D test). To measure the relevant biomarkers, the majority of tests sold by LetsGetChecked require a small blood sample. However, some tests can be done with only a urine sample or vaginal swab.

Taking a LetsGetChecked Test

LetsGetChecked offers a wide range of single-focus and bundled at-home test kits. If customers know what they would like tested, it is simple to select the tests they want and have them sent Express (1-2 business days) or Standard to your door. 

Some tests provide a single result. For example, the folate test only analyzes folate serum and the cortisol test only looks at stress. To guide customers, LetsGetChecked has made collections of tests for some specific concerns like Female Reproductive Health (which includes three different tests – Female Hormone, Ovarian Reserve, and Progesterone tests), the Essential Vitamins test, or the Standard 5 STD package. Customers are advised to consult a health professional before deciding which tests they want (though a prescription is not required to order any of these tests).

Once a test is shipped, customers will be able to start tracking their orders. Orders are shipped from their facility daily and will arrive in “discreet” packaging to maintain customer privacy. 

What’s inside the kit

Inside the package, customers will find an activation code that is needed to register a customer’s kit to their online account. They will also be required to answer a few health-related questions. This allows the LetsGetChecked health team to provide personalized support and health recommendations. It is important to note that the company’s Terms of Service state that “THE PRODUCTS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE SITE ARE FOR GENERAL GUIDANCE ONLY AND ARE NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE.”

After registering and activating a kit and letsgetchecked.com, customers take the required samples. Many of the tests require finger-prick blood testing. Other tests require urine, fecal, vaginal swab, or a “gentle” nose swab samples. Detailed instructions are available on the LetsGetChecked website, which links to their Vimeo account. 

LetsGetChecked recommends that tests be done in the morning so that samples may be sent back for analysis as soon as possible. All tests include a prepaid shipping label that can be tracked. Labs are CLIA, CPA, INAB approved, and/or CAP accredited. For safe shipping, a biohazard bag is provided. 

Results are obtained between 2-5 business days after the lab receives the kit. A member of LetsGetChecked’s medical team reviews the results, and one of their nurses contacts the customer to discuss results and next steps, which may include lifestyle changes to improve health and in some cases, prescription recommendations. Results are also made available through their website and mobile app.

Review of LetsGetChecked Products (Updated March 2021)

LetsGetChecked offers 34 different products to assess various health characteristics based on biomarkers. Some of these tests are available in bundles, which will ultimately save you money compared to purchasing individual tests.

Coronavirus Testing

General Wellness (including Lyme disease)

Women’s Health

Men’s Health

Sexual Health – Bundles

Sexual Health – Individual Tests

Review of a LetsGetChecked Reports

Overview 

The LetsGetChecked reports describe levels of specific biomarkers that were measured in the customer’s sample that is related to the various health characteristics. When the results are ready, a digital report is made available, and customers are contacted by a registered nurse to discuss how the results may affect the customer’s health. A live chat is also available 24/7 with LetsGetChecked’s medical team to discuss how to improve or maintain healthy biomarker levels.

Review of LetsGetChecked at home STD testing (and other detection tests)

The STD tests by LetsGetChecked are a popular product on account of their simplicity and privacy. In many cases, customers only need to know if something was “Detected” or “Not Detected”. The online (and mobile app) reports exactly that, with some additional contextual information. An example of the results are shown below:

Consistent with the subscription model, LetsGetChecked saves previous test results to compare with overtime, and like all of their tests, positive results are delivered to customers by a nurse who can help explain the next steps.

Review of LetsGetChecked tests with result ranges (essential vitamin test, hormone levels, cholesterol test, etc)

Many tests offered by LetsGetChecked provide the actual biomarker measurements from the tested samples. This is important for when results are more nuanced than detected or not detected. For these tests, normal ranges for the customer (according to the personal health questionnaire) are displayed with the customer’s actual results. An example of this is shown below:

These sorts of tests are where the subscription option shines. In many cases, customers will want to track the levels of biomarkers over time. With LetsGetChecked’s digital interface, it is easy to observe changes in biomarkers as customers attempt treatment. 

LetsGetChecked at home COVID-19 test

LetsGetChecked was one of the first at-home Coronavirus test kits to get emergency use authorization by the FDA. The cost of the test is currently $129, which includes all postage, processing, diagnosis, and materials. The company claims to be selling COVID-19 tests at-cost. 

The test consists of online screening and sample collection via a nasal swab (a less uncomfortably deep swap than what is administered in clinics). A digital report is returned within 24-48 hours of the lab receiving the test. A telehealth consultation is available free of charge once the results are received. The test analyzes the presence or absence of RNA from the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

Interested in COVID-19 travel tests? Kurix Health and Project Screen offer special testing meeting requirements for departing and arriving in the UK.

Payments and Insurance

LetsGetChecked tests cost between $49 and $349, however, many customers will be interested in combining several tests. It’s important to note that the tests are usually not covered by insurance. LetsGetChecked accepts credit/debit, PayPal, as well as FSA & HSA cards.

Review of LetsGetChecked Privacy Policy

LetsGetChecked’s Privacy Policy describes how they will use customers’ data. In general, data will be de-identified before it is shared with third-party vendors and business partners for the purposes of service and quality improvement, research, or other business operations. Personal information is also shared with accredited laboratories and health professionals in order to provide their services to you, including delivering your results to you, and in some cases, discussing relevant treatment options.

All personal information and data may be securely stored with accredited laboratories or other data processing and management services. However, the transmission of information over the internet may be insecure. In cases where this is a concern to customers, LetsGetChecked is willing to arrange for secure means of transmission. 

Some states legally require companies like LetsGetChecked 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 and used for public health purposes such as tracking of new infections, but generally remains private. That is, family members and employers do not have access to it.  

Customers can contact customer support via email at support@letsgetchecked.com or by calling (929) 376-0056.

LetsGetChecked in the News

LetsGetChecked made news this year as one of the first at-home COVID-19 tests given emergency use authorization by the FDA. Their mobile app release including third-party integration was also noteworthy, as they seem to be moving toward and comprehensive health care company.

Amid social distancing and guidelines, many consumers are looking to get their health testing at home. TIME recently covered some pros and cons of at-home testing, citing the possibility of poorly prepared samples affecting the accuracy of tests.

LetsGetChecked Reviews (Updated March 2021)

• Reviews on Trustpilot: 4.3/5 with over 7000 reviews
• LetsGetChecked reviews on Amazon.com (Thyroid test): 3.9/5 with over 70 reviews (not available in NY, NJ, or RI)
• LetsGetChecked at home STD testing reviews on Amazon.com (Simple 3 STD test): 4/5 with over 100 reviews

The company links to the letsgetchecked.com reviews on Trustpilot on all of its product pages.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• 34 products available at-home, without requiring a doctor’s office visit
• Quick processing of results (2-5 business days)
• Easy to access reports on all devices
• Mobile app with third-party integration for more comprehensive health tracking
• Results delivered electronically and by a member of the medical team
• Subscriptions available for repeat testing at a sizable discount
• LetsGetChecked coronavirus testing available for the United States and the United Kingdom individuals

Cons

• Less pre-purchase guidance than some services
• Ordering several single-test kits can get pricey
• Coronavirus testing does not indicate immunity or antibodies

Nebula Genomics

We finish our LetsGetChecked review with a comparison to Nebula Genomics.

Services offered by Nebula Genomics and LetsGetChecked are different but complementary. The costs of individual tests from LetsGetChecked can add up quickly so customers will want to know exactly what tests they need. Genome Sequencing from Nebula, in consultation with a medical professional, can help guide customers to the right biomarker tests.

Nebula Genomics offers the most affordable 30x Whole Genome Sequencing service that sequences 100% of your DNA. In contrast, LetsGetChecked analyzes biomarkers, not DNA. Biomarker tests and DNA tests should be seen as complementary to each other rather than alternatives. For example, DNA testing provided by Nebula Genomics can help customers identify which biomarker tests they should consider. 

Similar to LetsGetChecked, the Nebula Genomics test does not provide medical advice. 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.   

Other posts you may be interested in

If you’re interested in at lab testing, you may also be interested in these other products:

• BlueChew (at home diagnosis and prescriptions for erectile dysfunction)
• Curofit (cholesterol, glucose, and blood pressure monitoring)
• empowerDX (women’s, men’s, heart, mental health, and more)
• Everlywell (wide range of health and wellness tests)
• imaware (at home blood tests for wide range of health conditions)
• InsideTracker (biomarker health tests and optional DNA test)
• 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)
• Paloma Health (at-home thyroid testing and consultations)
• Personalabs (over 400 lab tests taken at local labs)
• Rightangled (UK based DNA and biomarker testing)
• STDcheck.com (on-site STD testing and consultation)
• Verisana (hormone, gut, and STD tests plus many more)

For gut health, you should check out:

• 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)
• Thryve (personalized probiotics)
• Viome (gut health and microbiome testing)

You may also be interested in virtual health care such as that offered by PlushCare, Teladoc, and Lemonaid Health. Or, MicroGenDX, which offers advanced technology for a wide range of infections.

Did you like our LetsGetChecked review? You can read more reviews on our blog and check out our complete guide to the best DNA test kit and other home tests.