myLAB COVID-19 Test Review

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myLAB At a Glance 

Why Go With myLAB

myLAB allows you to get tested for COVID-19 without leaving your home. The testing kit is overnight mailed to you and includes overnight shipping to the lab, so you can get results in as little as 3 days from when you order. myLAB only works with CLIA-certified testing labs so you can feel confident in the results.

The myLAB testing kit is slightly more expensive than what competitors offer. But it’s one of the only kits that requires a saliva sample rather than a nasal sample. In addition, your kit comes with a phone consultation with a doctor in case you test positive.

What it Tests For

The myLAB kit tests for active COVID-19 infections. The test uses reverse transcription PCR, which is a highly sensitive procedure that identifies COVID-19 RNA in your saliva.

How it Works 

Ordering a COVID-19 testing kit from myLAB only takes a few minutes. There’s no screening process and you can pay for your test online. Once you order, myLAB will overnight ship your kit to your home so you can take the test as soon as the next day.

Taking a sample simply requires swabbing your mouth. Then, just package up the kit and ship it to myLAB’s lab facility in the included overnight mailing envelope. The lab will process your test in as little as 24 hours, and you can view your results securely online. The whole process takes 3 to 4 days in most cases.

If you do test positive for COVID-19, myLAB offers free follow-up with a physician. So, you have a chance to ask questions about what to expect and when to seek additional treatment.

What’s in the Box?

The myLAB testing kit includes several components:

• Instructions that guide you through the sampling and return shipping process.
• Your patient ID, which you’ll use to access your test results.
• Sample collection equipment, including 2 oral swabs and collection tubes containing a buffer solution.
• A prepaid overnight mailing envelope to send your sample to the testing lab.

Screening Process

myLAB doesn’t require a screening process to order a COVID-19 test kit. Anyone can get tested for any reason.

Collection Process 

myLAB offers one of the few at-home COVID-19 testing kits that requires a saliva sample rather than a nasal sample. For most people, collecting a saliva sample is easier and more comfortable. Studies have also shown that COVID-19 RNA is just as prevalent in saliva as in nasal samples in infected patients.

To collect a sample, simply swab the inside of your cheeks and the roof of your mouth using the included oral swabs. There are 2 swabs, so you’ll repeat the process a second time. After swabbing, place the swab tip-down in the collection tube, which contains a buffer to preserve COVID-19 RNA.

Once the collection process is finished, place the collection tube in the secondary containment bag and seal up your kit. Don’t forget to take out your patient ID form, which you’ll need to access your test results online. Then put the whole kit in the prepaid Fedex overnight envelope and ship it to the lab for processing.

Note that myLAB requires that you collect your samples and ship your kit to the lab on the same day. So, it’s best to collect the oral swabs in the morning and then take your kit immediately to your local Fedex pickup (or arrange to have it picked up at your home).

How Long for Results?

myLAB’s CLIA-certified partner lab typically processes samples within 24 hours of their arrival at the lab. Including overnight shipping of the kit to your home and from your home to the lab, you can expect to get results in 3 to 4 days from when you order the kit.

Report Features

You can access your test results through myLAB’s secure online portal. You’ll need your online account information as well as your patient ID, which was provided with your test kit. The results are presented as a simple positive or negative, indicating whether you have an active COVID-19 infection.

Follow-Up Support

If you test positive for COVID-19, myLAB offers a free follow-up phone consultation with a physician. The physician can provide more information about what symptoms you should expect and offer advice about what symptoms potentially warrant hospitalization.

Pricing

myLAB’s test kit costs $150, including all shipping charges. This is slightly more expensive than some other test kits, but overnight shipping ensures that you get your test results as quickly as possible.

It’s important to note that myLAB doesn’t accept health insurance for payment. However, you can request an itemized receipt to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.

Confidentiality

All test results from myLAB are fully confidential and protected by HIPAA. The testing lab only receives your patient ID, never your name or identifying information. Most states require that COVID-19 test results are reported, whether positive or negative, but any reported data is anonymized.

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Customer Support

myLAB offers customer support by phone and email from 8am to 6pm Pacific, Monday to Friday. The company’s website doesn’t offer much additional information about the sampling procedure for the COVID-19 test kit. So, if you’re having issues with the test kit, you will likely need to call.

Bottom Line

myLAB offers a fast and easy at-home kit that anyone can use to get tested for COVID-19. The test kit includes overnight shipping both to your home and to the lab, so results are available in as little as 3 days. Helpfully, myLAB offers a phone consultation with a doctor in case you test positive so you can find out more about what to expect from the infection.