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Consumer health startup Everlywell got its big break in late 2017 when its CEO, Julia Cheek, secured a $1 million investment from the hit TV show Shark Tank. Fast forward more than a year later, and this burgeoning business is making a name for itself and garnering some significant partnerships to propel its at-home health testing business. Are Everlywell’s tests accurate? And what can you learn from the 30 separate tests this company offers?
Visit Everlywell’s Website | View on Amazon
EverlyWell Overall Rating
4.45 / 5.0
To arrive at this score, we took into account the variety of tests offered by EverlyWell, the ease of use of conducting the DNA test and submitting the sample, the speed at which results can be obtained, pricing, and customer service. We also speak with customers, read online feedback, and communicate one-on-one with companies to obtain a well-rounded, unbiased analysis of a provider’s standings.
Pros And Cons Comparison Table
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy sample collection process | Not offered in NY, NJ, MD and RI |
| CLIA-certified labs | Must be 18 or older to take test |
| Secure website and mobile apps | No weekend customer support hours |
| Results reviewed by independent physicians | |
| Get results in less than 2 weeks | |
| Prepaid postage both ways |
Key Features
- Easy fingerprick, saliva or urinary collection with detailed instructions.
- Results show specific values and where these values land on a scale of low, normal and high.
- You get actionable insights based on your results.
- Only uses labs certified according to the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA). These include federal standards for all U.S. facilities that test human specimens for health assessment or to diagnose, prevent or treat disease.
- All tests are covered by Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account plans.
- Partners with Helix’s DNA sequencing lab for the three genomic tests offered (Food Sensitivity+, Metabolism+, DHA+). Helix is the same DNA lab formerly used by National Geographic’s DNA test (which was discontinued in 2019).
What Tests Does Everlywell Offer?
Everlywell offers an impressive 30 separate at-home health tests. Here are some details about its two most popular tests. Click here to see all tests and pricing.
Food Sensitivity Test
Who should consider this test? If you suffer from frequent digestive issues and bloating or fatigue, headaches and other symptoms after eating, this test could shed some light into foods your body may not tolerate well.
Everlywell’s Food Sensitivity Test measures your body’s immune response to 96 foods to help provide guidance on what foods you may want to eliminate from your diet, including gluten, dairy, wheat, nuts, soy, yeast and more.
Keep in mind: this test doesn’t diagnose serious food allergies; rather, it looks at food reactivity. What does food reactivity mean? It’s a delayed immune response by the Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody, the most abundant circulating antibody in our immune system.
According to Everlywell’s website, “studies suggest that an IgG immune response may contribute to headaches, joint pain, eczema, gut malabsorption, and other chronic conditions.”
Everlywell’s Food Sensitivity Test is a finger prick blood test, and results give you a possible indication that you could react from certain foods with a low, mild, moderate or high level.
Metabolism Test
Who should consider this test? If you’re concerned about your metabolism, energy level or are experiencing unexpected weight loss or weight gain, you could benefit from Everlywell’s Metabolism Test.
This test measures TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone), testosterone and cortisol and tells you if your levels of these three hormones are low, normal or high.
- TSH is the primary indicator of thyroid health, which has a significant effect on your body’s metabolism.
- Testosterone influences muscle production and athletic performance.
- Cortisol, a primary stress hormone, promotes fat storage, mobilization of blood sugar, muscle breakdown and other potentially detrimental effects.
All Tests & Pricing
With many of these test kits, you can find discounts off the MSRP on Amazon, rather than purchasing them directly on Everlywell’s website.
General Wellness | Energy & Weight | Women’s Health | Men’s Health | Sexual Health | Genomic
General Wellness
- Food Sensitivity: $149.00
- Cholesterol & Lipids: $48.99 ($48.99 / Count)
- Heart Health: $98.00 (tests for several markers associated with heart disease)
- HbA1c: $38.23 ($38.23 / Count) (measures your blood sugar levels)
- Omega-3 Basic: $79
- Omega-3 Plus: (tests for Omega-3, Omega-6 and Trans Fat levels)
- B Vitamins: Check Amazon for availability
- Folic Acid: Check Amazon for availability
- Comprehensive Vitamins: Check Amazon for availability (shows your vitamin A, E, K, D, B6, B9, B12 and Beta carotene levels)
- Heavy Metals: $199 (tests for normal or high levels of 7 heavy metals)
- Stress & Sleep: $249 (tests for 4 hormones associated with sleep & stress)
Energy & Weight
Women’s Health
- Perimenopause: $77.96 (check hormone levels that change with perimenopause)
- Postmenopause: $98.00 (tests for hormone levels that change with postmenopause)
- Women’s Fertility: $159 (check hormone levels that influence normal ovarian function)
- HPV: $69.90 ($69.90 / Count) (tests for high-risk HPV Genotypes)
- Breast Milk DHA: $69 (check the Docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, levels in your breast milk)
- Women’s Hormones: $399 (learn if you have any imbalances with 11 hormones)
- Ovarian Reserve: Check Amazon for availability (tests follicle-stimulating hormone levels)
Men’s Health
- Testosterone: $59 (see if you’re producing adequate testosterone for your age)
- Men’s Hormones: $248.00 (tests 4 key hormones that regulate muscle mass, weight, energy & libido)
Sexual Health
- STD Male: $169.98 (tests for 7 common sexually transmitted diseases)
- STD Female: $135.99 (tests for 7 common sexually transmitted diseases)
- Chlamydia and Gonorrhea: $55.99
- Hepatitis C: $69
- HIV: $79.99 ($79.99 / Count)
- Syphilis: $69
- Trichomoniasis: $69
Genomic
The following tests give you the same results as the corresponding blood tests plus DNA analysis.
- Food Sensitivity+: $232 (learn the impact your DNA may have on your digestion ability)
- Metabolism+: $149 (learn how DNA factors may affect your weight)
- DHA+: $89 (learn if your DNA may affect levels of DHA in your breast milk)
How Does EverlyWell’s DNA Test Work?
Everlywell’s process is extremely straightforward to follow.
- Order your test kit online.
- You’ll receive your Everlywell kit within 5 days (possibly sooner if you purchase through Amazon and have Prime).
- Use the barcode on the test kit to register your kit online.
- Follow the collection instructions carefully. Depending on the test, instructions may tell you not to eat or brush your teeth before you collect your sample.
- Place your sample in the collection tube or package provided in your kit.
- Mail your kit in the prepaid envelope.
- Your results will be available online within 5 days, once the lab receives your collection.
How Do I Collect My Sample?
Are you worried about doing a blood test at home? Watch the following video to see how easy Everlywell’s collection process is.
Our Final Verdict On Everlywell
Visit Everlywell’s Website | View on Amazon
Some of its tests are straightforward blood tests like those you’d get at your doctor’s office — and are just as accurate. Everlywell merely gives you the option of testing at home, rather than at your doctor’s lab. You can then share your results with your physician to develop an actionable plan if your results are abnormal.
A few of its tests, including the food sensitivity test, are more questionable from a scientific standpoint. In fact, some allergy experts question the science behind the food sensitivity test. They say this test doesn’t analyze all factors associated with food sensitivity.
Also, keep in mind that the tests analyzing various hormone levels (e.g., heart health, women’s fertility and metabolism) only look at a finite number of hormones and don’t take other physical and environmental influencers into account. Ultimately, they only give you a small window into the overall view of your health.
With that said, Everlywell tests can be a good starting point for you to learn if you have any health problems relating to symptoms you’ve been experiencing.
But — and this is a big but — these tests should never be used as a self-diagnosis (except Everlywell’s sexual health tests) nor substituted for your physician’s input. There are far too many factors that can cause fatigue, digestive problems, headaches and other symptoms, so a visit to your physician is critical.
Other At-Home Health And DNA Tests
Do you have ongoing digestive issues? In addition to taking Everlywell’s food sensitivity test, you can learn about the microbes that live in your gut. Check out our reviews of the best gut microbiome testing companies to learn more.
Other companies, like 23andMe, offer at-home DNA tests to discover more about your health. Our reviews of the best DNA tests for health reasons can give you more options to consider.
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