Blood Tests at Home How At-Home Lab Tests Work Everlywell

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At-home blood testing is a convenient alternative to traditional lab tests.
The process is as simple as following the included instructions.
At-home kits can screen for diabetes, hormone imbalances, heart health and more.
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Most people have had blood drawn at some point in their lives. Healthcare providers order blood work for all kinds of reasons, from routine checks to specific tests to screen or diagnose a condition. Getting blood drawn is a regular part of care for people with chronic health issues that require ongoing monitoring, such as diabetes.

Traditionally, most blood work is completed at a lab or doctor’s office through a venous blood draw — in other words, through a vein. A nurse or phlebotomist inserts a needle into a vein to extract the number of vials of blood required for the requested tests. It’s an old process, and it works — but it takes time, and it can be uncomfortable or even painful.

Here’s how the at-home blood testing process typically works at imaware:

1. Order, receive and activate your at-home blood test kit.
Once you've ordered your imaware kit online, it will be delivered in five to seven business days. 

Once you receive your kit, you need to activate it by creating an imaware account; later, you’ll use this account to view your test progress and access your results in our secure patient portal.

2. Prepare for your test.
Each at-home blood test kit works differently, and each sample collection may require different steps. It’s essential to read the instructions, so you’re prepared for your at-home blood test. 

Some tests require fasting, some require taking a sample in the morning, and some need to be sent back on the same day. Get to know the requirements, so you’re ready. 

3. Collect your blood sample.
To collect your sample, you’ll prick your finger with a lancet. It's almost painless, and you'll only need a few drops of blood to get accurate lab test results from home. Scared of needles? The good news is that our lancet stays hidden until after its work is done.

Here are some tips and tricks for collecting the best sample possible:

• Drink up: Make sure you're well hydrated before collecting your sample. Your blood is thinner when you're fully hydrated, so getting the drops of blood you need is easier. Increase your water intake the day before the test, and drink one or two glasses of water about an hour before you complete the test.
• Heat your hands: Warm your fingers by running your hands under warm water to encourage blood flow.
• Move your body: Vigorous movement in the five minutes before your test will also help, so get up and go for a power walk, do some jumping jacks or throw on your favorite YouTube dance video. 
• Put your ring finger on it: The finger next to your pinky is generally less calloused than the others, making it a good choice.
• Aim to the side of the middle: The side of your fingertip has fewer nerve endings than the exact middle, so it’s less painful, while the center of your finger will produce the most blood. So aim for somewhere around the center to the side for the best of both worlds.
• Be gentle: Avoid squeezing your finger to get a drop of blood, which can break the blood cells and compromise the sample. If you’re not generating enough blood, try massaging from the palm up to the first knuckle of the pricked finger.

4. Drop your sample off at the courier.
Our kits come with prepaid shipping and instructions for which courier company to use. Drop off your completed home test at the nearest location on the same day you take your test. You can track your sample’s progress by logging into our online portal.

5. Receive your doctor-reviewed results in our secure dashboard.
Around five to seven business days after you drop your sample at the courier’s, your physician-reviewed results will be ready to read on our online portal.