Best At-Home Diabetes Tests

Founded in 1969, the company has been providing diagnostic lab services for over 50 years via its network of CAP-accredited and CLIA-certified laboratories. This means that the lab meets the highest standards of accuracy of test results.

The company itself performs a very high volume of lab tests, touting over 2.5 million patient samples each week. Labcorp OnDemand is a division of Labcorp aimed at serving those who prefer to do at-home tests. Labcorp performs quality assurance tests regularly to ensure the accuracy of its lab test results.

Here is how the Labcorp OnDemand test works. An independent healthcare provider will review and approve your order (you do not need to visit a physician.) Then, your test kit will be mailed out to you. When you receive your kit, it will include detailed instructions on collecting a blood sample.

Once you receive your results, they can be read online. But some results require prompt attention and physician consultation by phone or mail.

Customer support is available by phone Monday through Friday during business hours and Saturday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. There is also an email form for customer inquiries. The website is HIPAA compliant and adheres to the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) Privacy Policy.

The AccuBase A1C Home Test Kit utilizes a method of testing called Ion Exchange High Performance Liquid Chromatography (IE-HPLC) that is approved for the diagnosis and screening of diabetes. Many other types of tests are not FDA approved. Other types of tests can also be impacted by environmental factors (such as outdoor temperatures), but the AccuBase A1C Home Test is reportedly stable for up to 21 days after the sample is sent off to the lab.

The kit comes with a positive patient ID, a sample vial that preserves the blood sample, and a unique capillary (small blood vessel) device for ease of collecting an accurate sample (only one drop of blood is required).

Test results are usually available in five to seven days from mailing, but a quick turnaround option (just 24 hours from receipt of the test) is available. The accuracy rating on the website is reportedly over 98% (meaning less than 2% "CV's," a technical term for the number used to calculate the total error of a lab test).

The company is HIPAA compliant, offering a secure website for lab result reporting; each patient gets assigned a secure ID and password to the website. 

LetsGetChecked encourages the use of technology (via the useful and simple app) to track lab results and keep a personal health record. The mission statement is all about empowering people to take control of their own health.

A health history is taken as part of the initial ordering process, and your health record will be reviewed by a medical team member at LetsGetChecked. The company provides support via its 24/7 team of nurses to stand by throughout your testing process and explain your test results. The company Physicians review lab reports and provide support when needed. And, when it comes to privacy, the LetsGetChecked website is HIPAA compliant. Plus, the company claims that they won’t share your information with any third party.

After ordering your test, here are the steps to your final results: After you receive your test in the mail, you'll activate it and be connected to the alphanumeric barcode within the kit. (This ensures the correct lab results will be assigned to your specimen.) After collecting your blood sample via the enclosed instructions, you'll return it with the prepaid shipping label that's provided. Results will be accessible online within two to five days from the time your sample arrives at the lab.

With hundreds of satisfied customer reviews, the Everlywell test method is fast and easy to use. The company has been around since 2015 and claims to have served a million people for at-home testing. Each lab that works with Everylywell is CLIA-certified.

The website is encrypted to ensure data security and the company complies with HIPAA standards; the company vows never to sell or share any of your data, under any circumstances.

The test works like this: Once you receive your test kit, you'll enter your unique test ID. Then, you'll complete a finger prick, and apply the blood to a sample collection board. After the sample dries, you'll send it in via a prepaid shipping envelope. A board-certified physician (licensed in your state) will read the results, and you will receive your lab results on a secure platform in five to eight days.

There’s a lot of educational information on diabetes and on the test itself on the website. The test kit includes a detailed step-by-step manual on how to perform the test, sterile blood collection tools, and a prepaid return shipping envelope.

Once you receive your results, Everlywell can suggest some healthy lifestyle changes (such as a change in diet), and you will be encouraged to share them with your own healthcare provider. 

Based in Los Angeles, myLAB Box has been providing mail-in lab testing services since 2014 and is one of the few online lab testing organizations to generally offer its services in all 50 states, though it is temporarily unavailable in New York state.

The test is simple and fast: After you get your test, you will then be able to activate it online and create a unique ID number ensuring your sample matches your account. Then, you will collect your sample in just five minutes, according to the package instructions. Return your sample on the same day with a prepaid shipping label provided, and results will be available within two to five days.

The myLAB Box website is HIPAA compliant. Any information about your screening or results is said to be held in strict confidence. No third parties will receive your information unless they are legally authorized to do so. There is a customer service line that's open during business hours.