6 Best A1C At-Home Test Kits in 2023

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We scoured the options and found that test kits from LetsGetChecked, Everlywell, Verisana, myLAB Box, DTILaboratories, and PTS Diagnostics are the best for monitoring A1C levels at home.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 37.1 million people ages 18 and older had diabetes in the United States in 2019. More concerning: 8.5 million adults who met the criteria for diabetes hadn’t received a diagnosis.

Diabetes tests, like A1C tests, are useful both as a:

Your A1C, or HbA1c, as it’s sometimes referred to, is like a snapshot of your glucose readings over the past 8–12 weeks.

While your blood glucose readings can fluctuate throughout the day, your A1C is an average of these readings. The higher your level is, the more at risk you are of having complications from diabetes.

Your A1C can fluctuate with:

Because of this, it’s important to make sure you’re checking your levels at least twice per year if you’re getting treatment for diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association.

It’s possible you may want to check your A1C more often if your doctor recommends it.

You can take this test at your doctor’s office, but with advances in telehealth, you now have more options for at-home testing.

Some people do at-home tests as a supplement to routine monitoring. If your goal is to substitute home testing for a test ordered by your doctor, it’s a good idea to first discuss it with them.

To select the best HbA1c test kits, we considered the following factors:

We reviewed the type of testing offered and whether testing was done at home or by going to a lab. The variety of these test kits allows for options for every person’s unique needs.

Learn more about how we select and vet products.

*Price is accurate as of the date of publication.

LetsGetChecked offers two options for diabetes testing:

You can choose free delivery for standard shipping, or, for a fee, express delivery.

You activate your test when you receive the box and answer a short questionnaire. Instructional videos are easily found on the testing page. If any results are out of range, a nurse will call you before your results appear on the platform.

Learn more about LetsGetChecked here.

*Price is accurate as of the date of publication.

Everlywell launched in 2015 and offers a wide range of at-home testing, including an A1C test.

If you decide to become a member, you get access to significant discounts on the testing options. For $24.99 per month, you can have one qualifying test shipped to you.

After you order and pay for your test, it ships to your home in 5–10 business days. You’ll register your kit once it’s delivered using the ID number on the box.

Testing is done by pricking your finger, and instructional videos are available on the site.

A physician reviews your results, and you get those results delivered to your online account within 5 business days. This report also contains details of how to interpret your results. If the results are positive, or out of normal range, a physician will contact you to go over the results and discuss next steps.

Learn more about Everlywell here.

*Price is accurate as of the date of publication.

You’ll receive your Verisana HbA1c kit within 5–7 days of ordering. Follow the instructions on the website to collect a finger-prick blood sample and send it to the lab.

Verisana sends your results via email within 3 weeks. Results include a lab report explaining the analyzed markers and symptoms that may arise if blood sugar levels are outside normal range.

Verisana doesn’t provide medical advice and encourages you to visit a healthcare professional to interpret your results and receive guidance.

According to the website, Verisana values customer privacy and doesn’t disclose your information to unauthorized third parties.

Due to regulations, Verisana tests are not available in Maryland, New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island.

*Price is accurate as of the date of publication.

MyLAB Box has been providing at-home test services since 2014. The company’s specialty is sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing, but there are plenty of other tests.

Unlike other companies, myLAB Box offers testing in all 50 U.S. states, but the A1C test is temporarily unavailable in New York.

Ordering your test online is easy. It ships to you in discreet packaging.

You activate your A1C test online with the provided ID number, and then you collect your sample using the finger-prick method, which takes 5 minutes.

The sample needs to be mailed on the day you take the test. If your results come back out of range, you have the option of a free telehealth consultation with a physician.

*Price is accurate as of the date of publication.

Considered a leader in HbA1c testing, DTILaboratories test kits have been approved by the FDA since 1998. The company specializes in diabetes testing.

In addition to the A1C test, DTILaboratories also offers diabetes education and counseling. There are also kits related to diabetes care, such as monofilaments for testing the loss of sensation in your feet.

Delivery is typically 2 days from the time you pay. You’re assigned a secured ID and password for the site. Your test kit comes with a patient ID, a sample collection device, and a capillary device for pricking your finger. Only one drop of blood is needed. You can mail your sample back right away — no waiting for it to dry.

The AccuBase A1C Home Test Kit is FDA approved, unlike many other home test kits. The kit uses HPLC-IE, which is a testing method known for more accurate results. This is because it tests for abnormal hemoglobins that can interfere with A1C results.

You can use the PTS Diagnostics A1CNow SelfCheck monitor to check A1C levels at home.

To perform the test, you need to collect a finger-prick blood sample. You’re able to view your results in 5 minutes. Each National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program (NGSP) certified meter comes with four test strips.

According to PTS Diagnostics, the A1CNow SelfCheck is appropriate for people with diabetes who must check their A1C levels quarterly. It’s also an option for people who want to prevent or manage diabetes. The compact, portable device stores easily at room temperature.

This device expires, so check out the expiration date before making your purchase.

If your A1C levels are outside your target range or you want to discuss your results, make an appointment to talk with a doctor.

High A1C levels may be a sign of an underlying condition or diabetes. This can cause complications and symptoms, such as headache, fatigue, and frequent thirst and urination.

Your doctor may take additional tests, change your medication, or modify your treatment plan.

If you have diabetes and are meeting your treatment goals, visit your doctor every 6 months. If it’s difficult to meet your treatment goals, visit your doctor every 3 months.

Also meet with a doctor if you:

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), some things can skew results. Your home reading should never be used to diagnose diabetes.

It’s possible to have a false A1C reading.

Certain conditions, such as hemolytic anemia or an enlarged spleen, can cause a false low reading. Other factors, such as older age or obesity, can elevate A1C levels, too, even if you don’t have diabetes.

If you have a high A1C, it’s a sign your treatment is not managing your diabetes well, and your blood sugar is too high.

You might experience the following symptoms:

It’s important to use your A1C as part of your diabetes monitoring, but it doesn’t replace daily blood sugar checks.

There are instances when your A1C might not be accurate. Always make sure you’re informing your doctor of your results and any symptoms you may be having.

Blood Test for Fibromyalgia: What You Need to Know

The FM/a test is still new and subject to research. Many doctors don’t use it yet, and insurers may not cover the cost. Doctors may still use current diagnostic criteria as confirmation.

Fibromyalgia is a neurologic condition that causes pain across most or all of the body. A neurologic condition is one that affects the nervous system.

Fibromyalgia affects 2 to 4 percent of people. More women than men have the condition.

The primary symptoms of fibromyalgia are:

Even though fibromyalgia is a common condition, it’s very challenging to diagnose.

Diagnosis can be a lengthy process of ruling out other diseases and medical conditions. This process could even take years for some people.

In the past, fibromyalgia hasn’t had a specific diagnostic test. However, some doctors and researchers think they may have found one in the FM/a test.

Let’s take a look at current methods of reaching a diagnosis of fibromyalgia as well as the FM/a test.

The symptoms of fibromyalgia are often similar to those of other conditions. Before your healthcare provider considers a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, they’ll want to rule out these conditions.

The conditions that have symptoms that resemble fibromyalgia are:

These conditions can be diagnosed, or ruled out, through blood tests.

Some blood tests your healthcare provider may order to rule out other conditions include:

If these tests are negative for these similar conditions, your healthcare provider will start looking more at a possible fibromyalgia diagnosis.

There have been some promising studies on a possible diagnostic blood test for fibromyalgia. It’s called an FM/a test.

The test collects plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in a small sample of your blood. It tests the concentration of cytokines within your blood sample.

Significantly lower levels of cytokines may be an indicator of fibromyalgia. Abnormal levels of cytokines have been linked to being a trait in people with fibromyalgia.

Because of this link, researchers are hoping that the FM/a test may prove to be a way to more definitively diagnosis fibromyalgia.

The research that has been done up to this point does show promise that the FM/a test may be able to diagnose fibromyalgia.

However, more clinical trials need to be done before this test will be fully recognized as a diagnostic tool for fibromyalgia.

There are some steps that you can take to help determine if you might have fibromyalgia.

These steps are part of the diagnostic criteria and information that your healthcare provider will need to know before being able to give you a correct diagnosis.

Gathering this information before making an appointment will help your healthcare provider better determine the next steps in your diagnosis.

Some of the steps to test yourself are:

After you collect this information, if you think you may have fibromyalgia, it’s recommended that you make an appointment to see your healthcare provider.

They’ll ask you a number of questions. The information gathered in your journal will help you answer those questions.

Currently, most healthcare providers still use the traditional criteria for diagnosing fibromyalgia.

This diagnostic process includes:

The FM/a test is still new and subject to research. Many healthcare providers may not use it yet, and some insurance companies may not cover the cost.

However, even with the FM/a test, it’s likely that your healthcare provider will still use the current diagnostic criteria as confirmation.

Primary care healthcare providers are now much more familiar with fibromyalgia and its symptoms than they were in the past.

This familiarity will likely help you to get a diagnosis more quickly, while the FM/a test continues through additional clinical trials.

If you’re interested in having the FM/a test, talk to your healthcare provider. It may be an option for you.

Your healthcare provider may also recommend that you get some information on possibly participating in a clinical trial for the test.