The Healthcare Hustlers celebrate companies that make healthcare more convenient and more affordable for consumers. myLAB Box and Health Testing Centers are two lab testing companies that make home lab testing convenient and affordable for those with and without insurance.
The Healthcare Hustlers may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. Oh, and FYI — any prices listed are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication. These are subject to change.
myLAB Box and Health Testing Centers Quick Links
Type(s) of Tests: PrEP, Yeast, General Wellness, Men’s Health, Women’s Health, and Sexual Health
Location of Tests: At Home
Type(s) of Tests: Infectious Disease, Immunization, General Wellness, Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Energy & Weight, and Sexual Health
Location of Tests: At Home or at LabCorp or Quest depending on the test
What are myLAB Box and Health Testing Centers?
During a usual lab testing, patients go to a hospital or clinic where a doctor has a consultation with you about your needs, they then write an order for the labs discussed. The healthcare professional will then take a sample at the office and process the sample at their in-house lab, or will send it for processing at their lab partner - typically Quest or LabCorp. In some cases, the healthcare professional will send your order to a lab which you then drive to and have the specimen taken there.
If the labs needed are separate from your annual physical (note: annual physical labs tests are free and you should NOT pay out of pocket for!), there are several pain points with this traditional lab testing that are resolved with myLAB Box and Health Testing Centers, including:
| TRADITIONAL LABS | myLAB Box | Health Testing Centers |
|---|---|---|
| A patient has to schedule a doctor’s appointment, wait a few days, then physically go to the appointment for the lab order. | Order the tests you want online, test at home, get your results online, and get a free telemedicine consult if you have a positive test. | Order the tests you want online, test at home or at a nearby lab, and receive your results electronically. |
| Doctors may only prescribe the labs that they recommend. | You can order any labs that you decide are right for you. | You can order any labs that you decide are right for you. |
| You don’t know the price of the labs up front. Labs are sent to the doctor’s preferred lab vendor, who may be out of network with your insurance or may charge higher prices than other nearby labs. | All prices are listed on the website, so you know exactly what you will pay before you buy. | All prices are listed on the website, so you know exactly what you will pay before you buy. |
Additional Things to Be Mindful of When Considering myLAB Box and Testing Centers
With insurance, some preventive labs are covered at 100% during your in-person annual physical with an in-network provider. Many health departments also provide some STD testing free of cost. Learn more about those no-cost tests here and here.
These two companies do not accept insurance, so they are most cost-effective for those who do not have insurance, for labs that are not covered by your insurance, for folks on high deductible health plans with few other healthcare expenses, or for those who want more convenience and discretion.
myLAB Box and Health Testing Centers Comparison
MYLAB BOX
Test Categories: STD, Vitamin D, Heavy Metals, Gluten Sensitivity & Celiac Disease Screening, Diabetes, Rapid Strep, Rapid Flu, Rapid Anemia, Ovarian Reserve (AMH), Testosterone, and Male Fertility
Company Overview/Mission: “myLAB Box is a first-of-its-kind service that delivers STD screening solutions to your doorstep allowing you to keep private things private. Best of all, you can enjoy FREE physician consultations without setting a foot outside if you ever test positive. Uncomplicate your life and get results with a click! We’ve worked with some of the best experts in the U.S. to design a program that allows you to screen anytime and anywhere. Each test can be completed in less than 5 minutes (including reading the instructions) with no need to drive, schedule appointments or wait in line. We will remind you when it’s time to test again so you will never have to worry or keep track. And best of all, our revolutionary system is so affordable, you won’t believe you ever lived without it!”
Test Location: All myLAB Box collection methods can be completed at home.
Claims:
Is this covered by my health insurance?: myLAB Box does not mention insurance on their website. It appears that they do not submit claims to insurance, but do encourage you to pay with your FSA or HSA funds if possible."
FSA/HSA: “myLAB Box accepts both FSA and HSA cards. They can be used the same way that a normal debit or credit card would be used at checkout. If you have trouble completing your purchase with an FSA or HSA card, please contact your issuing bank and let our team know at orders@mylabbox.com.”
Results: “Turnaround from order to results for all mail-in kits is estimated at 5-11 days. This includes 1-3 days for customers to receive the kit and 2-8 days for processing and posting of the results online. An email notification with a link to our secure portal will be sent as soon as the results become available. Please be advised mail delivery timelines may vary and in rare occasions result in longer processing timeframes. Rest assured we are working to get your test results ready as fast as possible.”
Fun Fact: myLAB Box offers gift cards so you can share the love! Also, “If you get a positive test, enjoy peace of mind with free telemedicine physician consultations and same day prescriptions without setting a foot outside.”
Credibility: “myLAB Box works only with the best health providers, medical experts, and lab facilities in the U.S. Our HIPAA data storage system also means your records are safe and secure so you can access them anytime you need to. Our CLIA High Complexity lab affiliates are certified in all 50 U.S. states and have been at the forefront of infectious disease testing methodologies for over a decade.”
FAQ: myLAB box FAQ
Reviews: myLAB box Reviews
HEALTH TESTING CENTERS
Test Categories: Health & Wellness, Allergy, Anemia, Diabetes, Lyme Disease, Drug Testing, Gastrointestinal, Heavy Metals & Toxins, Hormone, Immunization, Infectious Disease, Inflammation & Autoimmune, Liver Function, Pregnancy & Fertility, Prostate, STD, Thyroid, and Vitamins & Nutrition
Company Overview/Mission: “Health Testing Centers is a mission-driven company on the forefront of transparency and greater control in healthcare through personalized preventive care. Since 1980, the Fort Lauderdale, FL company has enabled consumer access to laboratory testing, including Doctor's oversight, and provided helpful resources for individuals to understand their health data. 100,000 patients served, Health Testing Centers now works nationwide with major laboratories LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics, as well as the premier specialized laboratories to provide an online menu of best-in-class testing options, delivered with a 100% satisfaction guarantee and unparalleled level of service.”
Test Location: Tests are taken at-home or in LabCorp or Quest lab depending which test you choose.
Claims:
Is this covered by my health insurance?: “No, Health Testing Centers tests are paid for by you and we do not bill your insurance.”
FSA/HSA: “Health Testing Centers accepts HSA or FSA cards with a VISA® or MasterCard® logo. Please contact your benefits provider to verify plan rules and eligible expenses.”
Pricing: “Order online or over the phone: 1-877-511-LABS. No doctor or consultation visit is needed. We include the required doctors order with all our testing. You will not incur any additional charges at the lab. Our prices are all inclusive.”
Results: “We’ll email you when your results are ready. You can access the test results logging into our portal with your secure account. Most results take 1-2 days, but some take longer. See the test description for an estimate on how long your results might take.”
Fun Fact: “The Basic Health Check only costs $99 with a Health Testing Centers order complete at a Quest Lab. It includes the following:
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel 14 (CMP14): CMP blood test measures levels of 14 individual components to assess overall health.
Complete Blood Count (CBC) with Differential: Measures red and white blood cells, hematocrit, hemoglobin and platelets
Urinalysis (UA): Examines a urine sample for the presence of proteins and other signs of infection
Lipid Panel: Cholesterol test for LDL, HDL, Total and Triglycerides. (aka Lipid Profile).
Hemoglobin A1C (HgbA1c): An A1C blood test, measures the average amount of glucose (blood sugar) over the past 2-3 months to screen for diabetes or monitor existing diabetes”
Credibility: “Our labs, Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp, are trusted by doctors and hospitals.”
Reviews: Health Testing Centers Reviews
Pricing At-Home Lab Testing With myLAB Box and Health Testing Centers vs Traditional Labs
Note: There are many more tests available - this is just a sample! Click on the links to see the full list of tests. They also sell several in packages at a discount.
| TEST NAME | TRADITIONAL LABS (Does not include the cost of the doctor’s visit) | myLAB Box | HEALTH TESTING CENTERS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron | $11-$28 | $59 | $29 |
| PSA | $32-$80 | - | $49 |
| Urinalysis (UA) | $4-$10 | - | $29 |
| Vitamin D, 25 Hydroxy | $51-$128 | $89 | $59 |
| Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) and Free T4 | $29-$73 | - | $59 |
| Ovarian Reserve (AMH) | - | $139 | - |
| Heavy Metals | $55-$138 | $139 | $89 |
| Genital Herpes | - | $79 | - |
*Most traditional lab prices found via average, estimated costs on Healthcare Blue Book. These will vary by state and facility, and do not include the cost of the doctor’s visit. The Healthcare Hustlers are not responsible for the final cost of any medical care.
Are myLAB Box and Health Testing Centers Right for Me?
myLAB Box and Health Testing Centers are better for people in one of the three scenarios described below:
You want lab testing that is not covered by your insurance
You do not have insurance
You have a very high deductible and don’t plan to meet it with other services
At-Home Lab Testing FDA Guidance
According to the FDA: Home use tests allow you to test for some diseases or conditions at home. These tests are cost-effective, quick, and confidential. Home use tests can help:
Detect possible health conditions when you have no symptoms, so that you can get early treatment and lower your chance of developing later complications (i.e. cholesterol testing, hepatitis testing, etc.)
Detect specific conditions when there are no signs so that you can take immediate action (i.e. pregnancy testing)
Monitor conditions to allow frequent changes in treatment (i.e. glucose testing to monitor blood sugar levels in diabetes)
Not all at-home lab testing is FDA approved, and it can vary by each test. To find out if the FDA regulates the over-the-counter test that you are looking at using, check out this resource from FDA.gov, and use this link for the FDA’s recommendations on how to get the best results with home use tests.
Disclaimer: Most of this information was taken directly from the companies’ websites in fall of 2020. We also included links to the companies’ website to access any additional information easily. The Healthcare Hustlers is not responsible for the content of any linked site or any link in a linked site and we do not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability, and accuracy of this information. Any action you take upon the information on this website is strictly at your own risk.