It wasn’t too long ago that finding out your cholesterol, blood sugar, hormone or nutrient levels typically started with a visit to your healthcare provider, who would order the necessary lab work. But today, direct-access testing is offering an alternative route: to order multiple lab tests—and receive the results—without needing that doctor’s appointment.
From step counts and strength-training progress to sleep and spending, Americans have become used to tracking all kinds of daily habits and behaviors. As direct-access lab testing becomes more widely available, though, self-tracking is turning inward. And in recent years, the scope keeps widening, with modern tools monitoring physiological signals like heart rate variability and blood oxygen.
And direct-access or at-home lab tests, like those offered by Quest Health, can provide important insights into your internal chemistry.
Health tracking is moving beyond steps and sleep
Simple pedometers have existed for decades, but the emergence of smartphones and wearables in the late 2000s and early 2010s drastically expanded not only what consumers can measure, but how easily they can measure it. In the last two decades, we’ve essentially gone from: “How many steps did I take?” to “What’s my ApoB level, when am I ovulating, and how are my cortisol levels fluctuating throughout the day?”
Quest, for example, offers a wide range of tests specific to women's health, pediatrics and allergies, as well as an exclusive, at-home Gluten ID Celiac Genetic Health Risk Home Collection Test ($199).
And if you're prioritizing your cardiovascular health (as we all should be), quest is even running a 20% off discount on heart-related tests. Other testing categories offered with quest include:
- Annual basics
- Anemia, blood and bone health
- Cancer screenings
- Diabetes and pancreatic health
- Liver and kidney health
- Hormone and thyroid health
Purchase your own lab tests through quest
Offers range from women's health and fertility tests, to annual basics and metabolic panels.
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The range of trackable health markers is increasing
If you’re looking for a broader picture, comprehensive panels bundle many of these tests together. Quest's Elite Health Profile ($399) includes more than 85 biomarkers across metabolic, hormonal, cardiovascular, and nutritional health. In addition to results for these individual tests, you’re also provided with a personalized health score based on your bloodwork that can be followed for improvements over time that can be used as a baseline.
Now, consumers can order some lab tests themselves
Whether you’re looking for more information about your gut health, metabolic health, or risk for certain genetic diseases, there are a wide range of lab tests you can now purchase directly.
This consumer-initiated lab testing generally takes two forms: You either collect the urine, saliva, or blood sample yourself and then mail it to a lab for analysis, or you order the testing yourself but the specimen is collected at a lab or other collection site. Quest even allows you to purchase certain tests online without a doctor's visit, and then samples are collected at a local quest laboratory.
Why having more health data can be appealing
It’s not hard to understand the appeal of consumer-initiated testing. A 2020 study shows that some of the main factors driving the popularity of direct-to-consumer testing are curiosity, convenience, and the desire to take more control over one’s health.
Lab testing can empower you to make proactive diet and lifestyle changes that may make a meaningful difference in your quality of life and health span. Consumer-initiated testing offers a way to access that kind of information, and then review your results right from home via an online portal or digital dashboard, without requiring a doctor’s appointment to facilitate the process—which is advantageous if your doctor’s office has a long waitlist.
Additionally, establishing your baseline and then following those same biomarkers over time can help you track what lifestyle, diet, and medication changes are actually moving the needle. Staying informed about your health and seeing improvements can be motivating, keeping you engaged in your health journey. It may also inspire meaningful conversations with your clinicians, where you can bring in concrete information for more personalized guidance.
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How to decide what health information is worth tracking
Now that so much health information is within reach, the question becomes: Which of it is actually valuable Remember: more information isn’t necessarily better—unless it’s genuinely useful.
Knowing your goal is key. So, before ordering any health tests, ask yourself: What am I hoping to learn? Maybe you’re monitoring something your physician has flagged in the past or trying to understand the underlying cause of a specific symptom—or maybe you’re just curious. Either way, pursuing lab work with a clear purpose can help you determine which tests are most useful for your needs.
Bear in mind your current personal health and risk factors, too. Your age, medications, existing health conditions, symptoms, and family history can all play a part in whether a particular test makes sense for you—something a healthcare professional can also help you to determine. And quest's Elite Health Profile includes the option to discuss results with an independent healthcare provider at no additional cost.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How at-home health tracking is evolving beyond steps, sleep and screen time
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