At-Home Test Kits Expanding Patient Access
What to Know About At-Home Test Kits for A1C and Colorectal Cancer
By Amber Smits, quality and health program manager at Network Health
12/12/2022
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for convenient health care solutions that can be completed at-home or virtually. This has been, and still continues to be, a major focus for us at Network Health. That’s why we have partnered with Everlywell, a provider of at-home lab tests and telehealth solutions, to provide our members with A1C and colorectal cancer screening test kits that can be used from the comfort of home.
These test kits are delivered to your home and contain everything needed to collect a sample (from your blood, urine or feces) that can be examined by a medical lab. Once you have completed the test, all you need to do is follow the directions included with your test to send it directly to the lab via mail.
Benefits of At-Home Test Kits for A1C and Colorectal Cancer
If you’re used to taking care of your medical needs in your personal doctor’s office, then it’s understandable to feel a bit apprehensive about doing your own tests at home. That said, these tests are easy to use and there are several benefits to using at-home testing kits.
- You can detect conditions and get the follow-up care you need much earlier
- You can receive necessary preventive care in the comfort of your home
- You can have greater access to care if you live in rural areas or have difficulty with transportation
- You can save money by using at-home test kits
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) website mentions at-home tests as a reliable option specifically for colorectal cancer screening. As the FDA mentions, your personal doctor can determine whether at-home tests will benefit you. If the test does show signs of blood or cancer DNA in your stool, they can help you determine what further testing or treatment should be conducted.
How to Get Your Own Test Kit
There are several at-home screening test kits available on the market, including those from Everlywell. The kits Network Health provides to our members are for hemoglobin A1C screening and colorectal cancer screening (fecal immunochemical test, or FIT, kit). While the need for an A1C screening test may be more dependent on personal health needs, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that adults age 45 to 75 be screened for colorectal cancer.
[Read more: Myths and Facts About Colorectal Screening]
If you are interested in a test kit for yourself, we recommend discussing at-home screening with your personal doctor. They will be able to tell you which kits may be beneficial for your preventive care. If you are a Network Health member, you can receive more information or request a test kit by emailing us at qi@networkhealth.com.
