Best At-Home Cortisol Test

Founded in 2014, LetsGetChecked offers a cortisol test that uses a finger prick method and tests your blood for high or low levels of the cortisol hormone. You collect your sample in the morning, between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Monday through Thursday, and return your kit the day you collect the sample. If your test results come back out of range, a clinical team member will call you for a free consultation.  

You can order your test online using the website or mobile app. Once you receive your test kit, you’ll register it online and answer a series of health history questions within your account. Then, simply collect your blood sample using the package instructions and return it in the prepaid return envelope. Test results will appear online in your account in about five days. The laboratories for LetsGetChecked are CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments)-approved and CAP (College of American Pathologists)-accredited. Your sample is processed in the same labs that providers and hospitals use. 

Note that LetsGetChecked is not covered by insurance, but you can pay for the test using your flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA). LetsGetChecked is known for being easy and convenient to use, and buyers seem to appreciate the clinical team follow-up for results. Shipping delays or missing test kits appear to be the common frustrations with the company.  

MyLAB Box offers the quickest test results without leaving your home. Even better? It’s available in every state except New York. Since 2013, MyLAB Box has been providing home testing services in the area of sexual health and has expanded to include a wide variety of tests. The adrenal stress test uses a saliva sample to check your cortisol and DHEA levels. DHEA is a steroid hormone that converts to estrogen and testosterone in your body.

You can order your test online (from the company or Amazon). Once you receive it, you activate it online and create an ID number to make sure your sample matches your account. You’ll test your saliva four times a day for a full day; testing takes about five minutes, and instructions are included. You’ll return your kit after your fourth saliva sample and mail it back with the prepaid shipping label. You can expect to review your results in two to five days from your secure account, and even have the option to schedule a telemedicine consultation to help you interpret your values. 

The adrenal stress test costs about $150 with free three- to five-day shipping. While the test is not covered by insurance, you can use your FSA/HSA account to pay for it. It takes one to three days to receive your test kit. The company states its tests are as accurate as the ones in health care facilities and are CAP- and CLIA-certified.

Some online users complained that they didn’t receive their test results, but most had a positive experience. MyLAB Box appears to offer good customer service, though it's only available during business hours. Users received their test kits and results quickly. 

Verisana isn’t anything fancy, and results can take several weeks to get, but it’s the most affordable option at just under $50 for a cortisol test kit. The cortisol saliva kit measures morning cortisol levels, so you only provide one saliva test. You can order a test kit on the website or by emailing the company. For the most part, Verisana doesn’t take insurance, though some employers do cover at-home tests, so you can check with your provider. 

Most people will receive their kit in five to seven days. You’ll collect your sample following the instructions and mail it in the return envelope. It takes three weeks to get results, much longer than other home testing companies. With reference ranges to guide you, you can tell if your levels are high or low. Some users have reported confusion with the graph that’s given for test result interpretation, reiterating the need to discuss results with a licensed provider. 

Verisana offers a membership called “Health Club” that automatically ships new test kits every month at a discount. However, tests are shipped to you in a certain order which can’t be adjusted, so you don’t get to choose what you want.

The company states that it vets any new testing methods against scientific studies and participates in laboratory control tests to ensure accuracy. Verisana laboratories are CLIA-certified but aren’t able to serve those living in New York, Maryland, Rhode Island, or New Jersey.