A1C At-Home Test Kits

A quick look at the best A1C at-home test kits

• Best overall: LetsGetChecked
• Best for membership: Everlywell
• Best price: HealthLabs
• Best for physician-reviewed testing: imaware
• Best for laboratory testing: Pixel by Labcorp
• Best for follow-up care: myLAB Box
• Best for quick results: DTI Laboratories
• Best price for at-home testing: Home Access

According to a National Diabetes Statistics Report, 34 million people ages 18 and older had diabetes in the United States in 2018. More concerning: 7.3 million adults who met the criteria for diabetes hadn’t been diagnosed.

When you have diabetes, it’s important to monitor your blood sugar daily, but a healthcare professional will also want to check your A1C levels to understand how your diabetes is being managed.

Your A1C, or HbA1c, as it’s sometimes referred to, is like taking a snapshot of your glucose readings over the last 8 to 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. A1C can be used to screen or diagnose prediabetes or diabetes, or just monitor how your diabetes is doing.

Your A1C can fluctuate with lifestyle changes, certain medications, or hormonal changes, so it’s important to make sure you’re checking your levels at least twice per year, according to the American Diabetes Association. It’s possible you may want to check it 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 aim is to substitute it for a test ordered by your doctor, it’s a good idea to discuss it first with them.

How we chose

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

cost
• ease of website use and accessibility
• follow-up support offered
• accreditations and certifications, such as Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) and College of American Pathologists (CAP)

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.

imaware

Founded in 2017, imaware provides physician-reviewed testing. Your test is reviewed by the same physician who ordered your test. But you can also order a test online without a doctor’s order.

There are plenty of instructional videos on the site and detailed instructions for administering your specific test.

The Prediabetes/Diabetes Screening Test checks your HbA1c levels and includes a glucose test. This glucose test shows your blood sugar level at the moment of testing. This number will fluctuate, depending on the time of day, the food you’ve eaten, and your overall health status.

You’ll administer your A1C with a finger poke. Five drops of blood are needed for the collection device. After shipping your sample back in confidential packaging, you should receive your results in about 7 days.

A digital lab report is included and gives you actionable steps to take based on your results. However, it’s still your responsibility to report any positive results with your healthcare professional.

myLAB Box

MyLab Box has been providing in-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 states, but the A1C test is temporarily unavailable in New York.

Ordering your test online is easy, and it ships to you in discreet packaging.

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

The sample will need 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.

DTI Laboratories

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

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

Delivery is typically 2 days from the time you pay. You’ll be 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, and your sample can be mailed 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, because it tests for abnormal hemoglobins that can interfere with A1C results.

Home Access

Founded in 1996 in Illinois, Home Access provides lab testing services at home.

The A1C tests meet the standards set by the National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program (NGSP) and are FDA cleared.

You’ll take the test by finger prick and will need to let the sample dry for 15 minutes before mailing the kit back. The company provides a video demonstration of how to perform the test and a detailed PDF instruction guide with pictures.

Online results aren’t available. You’ll need to call a 1-800 number between 6: 00 a.m. and 7: 00 p.m. Central Time.

According to the site, results are available “within days,” but there’s not a clear time frame of what to expect. There also isn’t any support for out-of- range results, so it’s important to follow up with your healthcare professional as soon as possible to share the results with them.

Frequently asked questions

Are A1C test kits accurate?

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), there are factors that can skew results, and your home reading should never be used to diagnose diabetes.

Overall, some A1C test kits have been demonstrated to be as accurate as laboratory testing.

Can you get a false A1C reading?

It’s possible to have a false A1C reading.

Certain conditions, such as hemolytic anemia or splenomegaly, can cause a false low reading. Older age, high blood pressure, or obesity can elevate your A1C levels, too — even if you don’t have diabetes.

What are symptoms of a high A1C?

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

You might experience the following symptoms:

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