LetsGetChecked review: is it worth it?

What is LetsGetChecked and how does it actually work?

LetsGetChecked is a direct-to-consumer health testing service founded in 2015 by Irish entrepreneur Peter Foley, co-headquartered in Dublin and New York and operating across the United States, the United Kingdom, and much of the EU. Unlike most of its competitors, which are essentially logistics layers sitting on top of third-party reference labs, LetsGetChecked has built a more vertically integrated model: it manufactures its own collection kits, runs sample analysis through laboratories it operates, employs clinical staff for results follow-up, and — after its roughly $525 million acquisition of digital pharmacy Truepill, completed in October 2024 (BusinessWire, 2024) — can fulfill prescriptions directly.

The consumer experience is straightforward:

1. Order online. You select an individual test or a panel. No clinic visit or insurance is needed; an affiliated physician authorizes the lab requisition on the back end so the order is legally placed.
2. Activate and collect. A discreet, unbranded kit arrives by mail. You register the kit online, then collect your sample at home — a capillary finger-prick blood sample, a urine sample, or a saliva sample, depending on the test.
3. Mail it back. A prepaid return label is included. Timing matters for some tests (more below), and same-day return is generally advised so the sample doesn't degrade.
4. Get results. Results post to a secure online account or the mobile app, typically within 2 to 5 days of the lab receiving your sample.
5. Follow-up. Results are reviewed by the clinical team. For positive or out-of-range results — particularly STIs and certain disease markers — a nurse or physician can reach out to explain next steps, and with the Truepill integration, arrange treatment and medication delivery in eligible cases.

One technical detail worth knowing: LetsGetChecked uses liquid capillary finger-prick collection (you fill a small vial) rather than the dried blood-spot cards some competitors use. Independent reviewers note this can be slow and messy, especially for people whose blood clots quickly, and an under-filled vial is one of the most common reasons a home sample gets rejected.

Who runs the lab, and is the testing legitimate?

This is the question that matters most for accuracy, and it deserves a careful, honest answer because public sources are not perfectly consistent.

LetsGetChecked markets itself as owning and operating its own laboratory infrastructure, and its samples are processed in facilities that are CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited — the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments standard that governs U.S. clinical labs, plus College of American Pathologists accreditation, which is the same regulatory caliber as hospital and physician-office labs. Some independent reviewers describe the labs as company-operated; others describe them as a mix of owned and partner facilities across the U.S. and Ireland. Either way, the regulatory floor is the right one, and the underlying assays are clinical-grade.

For STI testing specifically, the company uses nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT/PCR) for infections like chlamydia and gonorrhea — the method the CDC treats as the diagnostic standard — and electrochemiluminescence immunoassays for antibody-based markers where appropriate. That is a meaningful point: the analytical methods are not consumer gimmicks. For a correctly collected sample, the analytical accuracy is comparable to what you'd get from a clinic draw.

The honest caveat is that legitimate analytical methods do not guarantee a correct answer for you. Two failure modes are intrinsic to home testing and the lab cannot fix either: (1) self-collection error — an under-filled finger-prick vial, a urine sample given at the wrong time, or a sample that degrades in transit can produce an inconclusive or falsely reassuring result; and (2) window periods — antibody-based tests for infections like HIV or syphilis may not detect a very recent exposure, so a negative result soon after a risk event does not rule out infection. A clinic visit puts a phlebotomist and a clinician in that loop; a mail kit does not.

What does LetsGetChecked test for?

The catalog is broad and organized around proactive wellness and sexual health rather than diagnosis of acute illness:

• Sexual health / STIs: panels ranging from a basic 2-infection screen (chlamydia and gonorrhea, urine-based) up to comprehensive 8- to 10-marker panels covering HIV, syphilis, hepatitis, herpes, trichomoniasis, and more.
• Men's health: testosterone, male hormone panels, PSA-based prostate screening.
• Women's health and fertility: female hormone panels, ovarian reserve / fertility markers, thyroid.
• General wellness / metabolic: cholesterol/lipids, HbA1c and diabetes-and-heart panels, vitamin D, vitamin B12, iron, thyroid (including thyroid antibody panels), cortisol.
• Other: Lyme disease antibody testing, and various deficiency screens.

A note on two categories. Cortisol testing has a strict collection protocol — the sample generally must be taken in a narrow morning window (roughly 8–10 a.m.) on specific weekdays and returned the same day — because cortisol follows a daily rhythm; a sample taken off-schedule is close to meaningless. And the Lyme disease test carries a documented, serious limitation covered in the next section.

Is the Lyme disease test trustworthy? (The lawsuit you should know about)

This is the most important YMYL caveat for LetsGetChecked, and it is well documented. In June 2023, the nonprofit TruthCures filed a proposed class action against LetsGetChecked in Massachusetts federal court (case 1:23-cv-11391) alleging the company's at-home Lyme test was marketed as a reliable, comprehensive diagnostic when it is not.

The underlying clinical facts are the part that matters regardless of the litigation. Lyme disease testing is genuinely hard. The CDC recommends a two-tier serologic testing algorithm and stresses that Lyme disease is a clinical diagnosis made by a provider based on symptoms, exposure history, and tests together — not by a single antibody result. Antibody tests also perform poorly in early infection, before the body has mounted a detectable response: per FDA-referenced figures cited in the lawsuit, a positive result in early-stage infection is correct only about 58% to 85% of the time, and the FDA's longstanding guidance is that a negative antibody result should not be used to exclude Lyme disease. A single-strain antibody test cannot, on its own, confirm or rule out Lyme.

The case was terminated in early January 2024 — a quick resolution, before any discovery or ruling on the merits, so there was no court finding of wrongdoing against the company. But the clinical limitation is real and independent of the legal outcome. If you suspect Lyme disease, especially with a known tick exposure, a rash, or symptoms, see a clinician; do not rely on a home antibody test to rule it in or out.

How much does LetsGetChecked cost, and what do you actually pay?

Pricing is cash-pay and à la carte, roughly $69 for a basic single test up to around $349–$399 for comprehensive panels. Representative examples seen across the catalog and reviewers:

• Simple 2 STD panel (chlamydia, gonorrhea): around $99
• Standard 5-panel STD: around $149
• Complete 8-panel STD: around $249
• Testosterone: around $89
• Thyroid antibody panel: around $119
• Diabetes & heart / metabolic panels: around $99
• Standalone telehealth consultation: around $49

Two things move the real price. First, subscriptions discount recurring tests substantially — reported tiers run about 15% off for annual delivery, 20% for every six months, and up to 30% for every three months. Second, the company runs frequent promotional discounts (often 30%, sometimes higher), so the list price is frequently not the price you pay.

Value reality check: as with all cash-pay home testing, this is convenient but not automatically cheaper than the alternatives. Many people qualify for free or low-cost STI screening through Planned Parenthood, local health departments, or insurance-covered lab orders, and a standard cholesterol or HbA1c panel ordered by your doctor is often covered. LetsGetChecked wins on privacy, on not needing an appointment, and on the integrated clinical follow-up — not necessarily on raw cost.

What's the customer experience really like?

LetsGetChecked has a relatively strong consumer reputation for the category. On Trustpilot it has carried a rating in the mid-4s out of 5 (roughly 4.3–4.5, which shifts over time) across many thousands of reviews — notably higher than several competitors. Positive reviews cluster on convenience, privacy, the polished app, and the value of having clinical staff actually reach out about results rather than dumping numbers on you.

The recurring complaints are operational and familiar to the whole industry: delayed results, difficulty reaching customer support, sample rejections requiring a re-collection, and confusion about what borderline results mean. Turnaround is usually quick (independent reviewers report some results back within 24 hours, and the 2–5 day window is realistic), but it is not guaranteed, and a rejected finger-prick sample resets the clock entirely. Subscriptions also auto-renew, so cancel if you only want a one-time test.

Who is LetsGetChecked best for — and who should skip it?

It's a good fit if you:

• Want private, convenient STI or wellness screening without a clinic visit. The CDC recommends annual chlamydia/gonorrhea screening for sexually active women under 25 (and older women with risk factors) and at least one lifetime HIV test for everyone aged 13–64; many people skip this out of embarrassment or access barriers, and a mail kit removes that friction.
• Value having clinical follow-up built in — the nurse/physician outreach on positive results, and now the ability to get treatment and medication through the Truepill pharmacy arm, is a genuine differentiator versus a bare results PDF.
• Are screening proactively while asymptomatic, where a few days' wait carries no urgency, and you'll repeat tests over time (where the subscription discount helps).

You should skip it — or go in person — if you:

• Have active symptoms (discharge, sores, pelvic or testicular pain, fever, a spreading rash) or a known recent high-risk exposure. These warrant prompt in-person evaluation, not a mail turnaround.
• Are specifically worried about Lyme disease — the home antibody test cannot reliably confirm or exclude it.
• Are pregnant and being screened for an STI, which requires clinical management.
• Need a fast, time-sensitive answer, or qualify for free public-health screening and don't need privacy.

How does LetsGetChecked compare to Everlywell and myLAB Box?

These three dominate the U.S. at-home testing market and are more alike than different — all use accredited labs and self-collection.

• Lab model & integration: LetsGetChecked's pitch is end-to-end control — its own kit manufacturing, company-operated lab analysis, clinical follow-up, and (post-Truepill) prescription fulfillment under one roof. Everlywell processes through its own in-house CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited lab. myLAB Box relies on partner labs. For a "find a problem and treat it without leaving home" workflow, LetsGetChecked is the most complete.
• Turnaround: LetsGetChecked is generally among the fastest, often returning STI results within roughly 24–72 hours of lab receipt. Everlywell typically runs about 5–7 business days. myLAB Box's stated window is competitive but has shown the most real-world variability.
• Pricing: Everlywell is frequently the most affordable for an equivalent test. LetsGetChecked and myLAB Box sit at similar, slightly higher price points, though LetsGetChecked's subscription and promo discounts can close the gap.
• Follow-up: LetsGetChecked's nurse/physician outreach plus integrated pharmacy is the strongest follow-up of the three; myLAB Box offers a free telemedicine consult for treatable STIs; Everlywell offers clinician-reviewed results and some consult options.

If integrated clinical support and speed matter most, LetsGetChecked tends to edge ahead. If lowest price is the priority, Everlywell often wins. If breadth of STI panels and a long track record matter, myLAB Box is competitive.

The bottom line

LetsGetChecked is a legitimate, clinically grounded way to screen for STIs and a range of wellness markers from home, and its vertical integration is a real advantage: the analysis runs in CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited labs, the STI methodology (NAAT/PCR) is the diagnostic standard, the customer reputation is among the best in the category (a mid-4s Trustpilot rating across many thousands of reviews), and the nurse/physician follow-up plus the new Truepill pharmacy pathway mean a positive result can flow straight into treatment. For private, proactive, repeat screening, it does what it promises and reduces the "now what?" gap better than most rivals.

The honest caveats are real. Self-collection puts sample quality on you, and the finger-prick vial is fussier than it sounds. Antibody-based tests have window periods that a home setting won't flag. Subscriptions auto-renew. And one product — the Lyme disease test — carries a documented accuracy limitation serious enough to have drawn a proposed class action in 2023 (the case was terminated in early January 2024, with no court finding against the company): it cannot reliably confirm or rule out Lyme, and you should treat that question as a job for a clinician, not a kit. If you have symptoms, a recent high-risk exposure, or need a fast answer, an in-person clinic is the safer call. For everyone else screening on schedule, LetsGetChecked is one of the strongest options in at-home testing — order ahead of any deadline, follow the collection instructions precisely, and review results with a qualified professional.

*This article is for general education and is not medical advice. Test results should be interpreted with a qualified healthcare professional, and a negative home test does not rule out a recent infection within its window period.*