The Importance of Lab Testing - Why and Where

The Importance of Lab Testing

As long as I have been a healthcare provider, I have appreciated the great importance of lab testing. It can tell you if you have underlying conditions that you cannot see or feel like diabetes or high cholesterol, or thyroid conditions; it can help diagnose various symptoms, and can help you monitor various diseases, vitamin levels, inflammatory problems, urinary or prostate problems, pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. It's pretty remarkable how many lab tests you can get done these days without going to the doctor's office.

The following is intended to help provide access to the lab aspect of health. While you can order many of your own tests now, it is imperative that you follow up with a healthcare provider if you have labs that are out of range (the lab results indicate normal parameters) or consult with a medical professional if you have any questions. If something is out of whack, the place that does your test usually will recommend associate practitioners.

Where and How to Test

There are several ways you can do lab testing on your own:

1) You can buy some over-the-counter tests at a pharmacy (private or retail). Instructions must be followed exactly or your results may be inaccurate.

2) You can order some testing kits online: They will be sent to you with a paid postage return envelope to send your sample back to the company to be read.

3) You can go online to order the labs tests you want done from Quest or Labcorp (or other nearby labs): Make an appointment then go to the lab to have your blood drawn or urine checked in person. If you receive results that are out of range, these testing agencies typically provide contact information for a healthcare provider with whom you can consult ($$) or you can call a healthcare provider. Most of these options do not take insurance but they often take HSA/FSA funds. Check first. They are very transparent about the cost.

Please see a healthcare provider if you are feeling sick, worried about a possible medical condition, have out-of-range results, or if the test instructions recommend it. Additionally, results should not be used to start, stop, or change any course of treatment without consulting with a healthcare provider.            

Lab Tests are Readily Available

Over-the-Counter Tests (Buy at Pharmacies - Testing at Home)

                                             

There are many FDA-approved over-the-counter tests. FDA approved are best to use. Most of those listed in the following have been checked for FDA approval or are popular brands. They will typically the test(s) labeled "FDA approved" (for a newly approved) or "FDA cleared" (proven equivalence to similar tests). If you want to check if your over-the-counter test is FDA-approved, check their website: FDA Approved Tests. Click on their database. One of the better ways to negotiate the site is to choose "test type", find a test on the list and scroll down to "decision" (should say SASE-equivalent).

Below a partial list of some tests that are available and approved

COVID TESTS

There are plenty of FDA-approved Covid-19 tests out there. A combination of COVID and Flu tests is available over the counter. The FDA has a handy list of these tests, explanations on how to use them and when to repeat them, and extended expiration dates (if you have an expired test at home, you you think may be good; the FDA extended some of the expiration dates). You can also check If your tests have been recalled.

There are many approved home COVID-19 tests listed on the FDA website tests (see link above). Some of these include:

• 3EO Health Covid-19 Test

• CareStart COVID-19 Antigen Home Test

• QuickVue At-Home OTC COVID-19 Test

• BinaxNOW

  
  

COVID AND FLU TESTS

You can ALSO test for COVID and Flu at the same time

• ​CorDx

• Flowflex Plus COVID-19 and Flu A/B Home Test

• OSOM Flu SARS-CoV-2 Combo Home Test

• QuickVue At-Home OTC COVID-19 Test

  
  

Be careful of COVID test counterfeits: These may have no lot numbers, bar codes, expiration dates, and may have misspellings.

The following have a history of recalls and may be inadequate for testing: CUE, Celltroin Diatrust (some recalls), Flexflow COVID-19 (lot number shown is COV2110012); Empowered Diagnostics COVID-19 tests (many recalled); Ellume COVID-19 TESTS. Check for recalls and recalled lots before using.

See expiration dates and recalls

There are a number of others.

STREP TESTS

Home strep tests are available, but as of 2024, the FDA has not approved them. While those home strep testing kits from Amazon may be a way to test for strep, they are not yet considered reliable enough to give absolute accuracy. You take your chances using these.

GLUCOSE (BLOOD SUGAR)

For good information regarding various diabetic glucose meters, please see this link on the American Diabetic Association. Be sure to check to see if your insurance provider will cover the item you want. If you have trouble with coverage or have no coverage, you can try calling the company to find discounts or coupons.

​Some popular brands-

• Contour Next

• Accucheck

• Kroger HealthPro Blood Glucose

• OSANG LLC  Blood Glucose Monitor

• Continuous Glucose Monitors ($$$) – Rio Libre, Stelo Biosensor

PREGNANCY

• ClearBlue

• First Response

• Brand names like Walgreens or CVS

URINE TESTS

Brand names like Walgreens or CVS

• Azo – Nitrites or Leukocytes

VITAMIN D (25-HYDROXYVITAMIN D)

• Walgreens (brand)

• AllTest (CVS)

A1C

• A1C Now

• Medisense Precision A1C

CHOLESTEROL

YOU WANT A TEST THAT MEASURES LDL, HDL, Triglycerides, and  Total cholesterol, not just total cholesterol (total cholesterol will tell you nothing). Apo B is another add-on which some clinicians recommend today - it is a more specific marker for the bad cholesterol or LDL.

• Curo L7 Home use

• CVS Health Cholesterol Kit

HIV

NOTE: Self-tests are not reliable for people with recent HIV infections, those using pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) or post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), or those taking HIV treatment. You can also miss the early infection, so be sure to time your testing accurately. The other big problem with this is that you do not have the immediate counseling you might want or need if it is positive.

My feeling is that you are better off getting tested at a reputable lab

• ​Orasure/Oraquick HIV test

• 4th Generation

STI/STD (Sexually Transmitted Diseases)

STI+HIV CVS

Chlamydia – First to Know Gonorrhea - Lets Get Checked

Syphilis (First to Know)

Trich- My Lab Box

If positive, get treated ASAP!!!!!

COLORECTAL CANCER SCREEN (FECAL OCCULT BLOOD TESTING)

Reese

2 SAN Cancer screening test – Tests for blood, polyps, diverticulitis, and other bleeding growths. If you have a lesion that is not bleeding

OVULATION (URINE AND SALIVA)

Walgreens or CVS

Equate

Clearblue

VAGINAL pH (BV BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS/YEAST TEST ONLY)

Many of these products: Chose carefully

NOVODX

Walgreens or CVS

VpH Vaginal pH screening

AZO Vaginal pH testing: BV

These are not always definitive of a yeast infection.

Pharmacies

Some Walgreens pharmacies test for COVID and flu - Relatively inexpensive - around $24.00 - appointment required

Some CVS pharmacies test for COVID and flu - Relatively inexpensive - appointment required

Urgent Care Clinics

Most of these clinics offer basic in-clinic testing

Mail Order Testing​

**HealthLabs

Letsgetchecked

myLab Box

Laboratories-In Person Blood Testing

ROUTINE LABS (usually done when you get a physical)

You can look online to see which tests they offer.

Quest

LabCorp

Any Lab Test Now

HealthLabs.com can help you find the nearest lab affiliate

The usual tests that primary care providers order are:

CBC - Complete blood panel - to check for anemias and infection, allergy indicators, and some clotting problems.

CMP - Complete metabolic panel - Will be a preliminary check for liver, kidney, blood sugar, electrolyte levels (potassium, sodium, calcium, protein and bicarbonate)

T4 and TSH - To check for thyroid problems - hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism

Lipid Panel - HDL (good cholesterol), LDL (bad cholesterol), and triglycerides (total cholesterol alone is not very specific for cholesterol problems)

Sometimes added:

Hemoglobin AIC - measures an average daily blood sugar for the last 3 months

Some other tests to think about getting:

• Checking for titers. These check for immunity to certain diseases like MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) titers, Tuberculosis, COVID, hepatitis B and C, tetanus, diphtheria and rabies. This will tell you if your immunity has worn off from your vaccines (childhood and other), or if you have developed immunity from exposure.

• Vitamin B12 (in low energy)

• Vitamin D

Being able to order your own blood tests is a relatively recent thing. It puts a lot of responsibility into your hands to follow up with a healthcare provider if you have any abnormal results.

And, remember, labs are good but only part of the picture. Nothing takes the place of a physical exam, which provides you with a visual and auditory exam of lungs, lumps and bumps, and all kinds of things (that you cannot see with lab tests).

*Inclusion of the abovementioned tests and facilities does not necessarily reflect approval of the writer and approval is subject to change.

**This is a reputable CLIA certified affiliate. Affiliates help support Webguide to Healthcare by providing us a small percentage of a sale.