LetsGetChecked Thyroid Test Review 2024
SI Showcase
The products featured in this article have been independently reviewed. When you buy something through the retail links on this page, we may earn commission at no cost to you, the reader. Sports Illustrated editorial staff are not involved in the creation of this content. Learn more here.
According to the American Thyroid Association, some 20 million Americans have thyroid disease. Out of this group, approximately 12 million people aren’t aware they have a thyroid disorder. However, your thyroid is one of the most important glands in your body, helping regulate metabolism, growth, development and heart and digestive function. That’s why keeping an eye on your thyroid health is essential.
Whether you’re showing signs of thyroid disease or you simply want to monitor your thyroid health from time to time, an at-home thyroid health test like the LetsGetChecked Thyroid Test can measure thyroid biomarkers and screen for potential thyroid diseases or disorders via a quick finger prick. You’ll then get confidential results online in just a matter of days.
Our LetsGetChecked Thyroid Test review will share our firsthand experience taking this test, what we liked and what we didn’t like. We’ll go over how the at-home test works, what to expect and how to interpret your results.
This test is not a substitute for professional medical advice. These tests are not meant to diagnose any conditions. Discuss any test results with your healthcare provider. If you are experiencing negative physical symptoms, see a doctor as soon as possible.
LetsGetChecked Thyroid Test At A Glance
- Price: $99
- Time from sample received to results: 2-5 days
- Covered by insurance: No
- Tests for: Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4) and free triiodothyronine (FT3)
- Sample type: Finger prick
- Follow up care: You may receive a call from a LetsGetChecked medical professional to discuss your results and next steps in the event of abnormal test results
How the LetsGetChecked Thyroid Test Works
SI Showcase
LetsGetChecked Thyroid Test is one of many health test kits offered by the popular at-home health test company LetsGetChecked. Other LetsGetChecked tests include kits that check your cholesterol, hormone levels and sexual health, to name a few.
The process is simple. You’ll order your thyroid test online from the LetsGetChecked website and receive a discreet test kit in the mail. The kit will include detailed instructions for the sample collection and testing process, lancets for a finger prick and a blood collection tube. You’ll also receive a shipping label to mail your blood test to a LetsGetChecked partner lab, which are all CLIA-certified and ISO-certified (the same grade of labs used by doctors and hospitals).
From there, you’ll receive lab results in a secure online portal two-to-five days after your blood sample arrives at the lab. The test will check levels of three biomarkers: thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4) and free triiodothyronine (FT3), which can give important insights into thyroid function. (We’ll explain what those hormones are later on in this article.) Your results will also show if your levels of each biomarker are low, normal or high.
If your thyroid test comes back abnormal, you may receive a call from a member of LetsGetChecked’s in-house clinical team to discuss your results and next steps. The medical team may recommend further testing at a doctor’s office, or you may want to consider taking a thyroid supplement. Some thyroid disorders can also be due to deficiencies in zinc, magnesium and vitamin A, but before taking a supplement, be sure to speak with your professional healthcare provider.
What It Tests For
LetsGetChecked Thyroid Test checks three biomarkers related to thyroid function. These are the three biomarkers measured by the home test kit and why they matter.
- Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH): Thyroid stimulating hormone, or TSH, is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland in the brain that essentially tells the thyroid how much thyroid hormone it needs to make. Too little TSH (hypothyroidism) or too much TSH (hyperthyroidism) may signal thyroid disease, but not necessarily its cause.
- Free thyroxine (FT4): Free thyroxine, or FT4, is a type of hormone released by the thyroid. This active form of thyroxine enters tissues where needed to promote bodily functions, so an FT4 test can help check how well your thyroid is working.
- Free triiodothyronine (FT3): Free triiodothyronine, or FT3, is another type of hormone released by the thyroid. Thyroid hormones work together to control energy use in the body. FT3 hormone levels that are abnormal can point to health conditions like hyperthyroidism or pituitary disorders.
Interpreting Your LetsGetChecked Thyroid Test Results
Your LetsGetChecked Thyroid Test results will be very straightforward. Each biomarker will land in a low, normal or high range, as well as include the actual measurement of that biomarker. If your test results are abnormal, a LetsGetChecked medical provider may call you to discuss your results and potential next steps.
Still, internal medicine physician Kelvin Fernandez, MD cautions that at home thyroid tests don’t paint a full picture. “Interpreting results without professional medical advice can lead to misunderstandings,” he says. “While high TSH levels usually indicate hypothyroidism and low levels suggest hyperthyroidism, these results must always be evaluated in a broader context of other symptoms, medical history and possibly more specific lab tests.”
Therefore, your aftercare or next steps can vary significantly based on your personal health. Depending on the type and cause of a thyroid condition, treatment can include antithyroid drugs, radioactive iodine, beta blockers and in more serious cases, thyroid surgery.
My Experience With the LetsGetChecked Thyroid Test
SI Showcase
We tried LetsGetChecked Thyroid Test for ourselves to get a feel for the sample collection and testing process. Here’s what we experienced and what you can expect while taking the test.
Ordering, shipping and delivery
LetsGetChecked Thyroid Test was the first time our product tester, Chloe S., used an at-home health test. “I personally would rather go to a doctor in person, explain my symptoms and have them run the tests they think are appropriate,” she says. Still, she was interested to see if LetsGetChecked Thyroid Test matched the thyroid levels on a recent thyroid test taken at her doctor’s office.
Her initial first impressions were good. “Everything in the box was set up in order,” she explains. “The activation card was on top, then other information, then the actual test materials.” Chloe notes there was also a detailed infographic pamphlet that outlined the steps of taking the test and activating the test, which “made it really easy” to complete.
Collecting the sample
Collecting the sample, meanwhile, was slightly more difficult. Chloe had to prick her finger twice in order to collect enough blood. “It kind of hurt to squeeze my finger and get the blood out,” she says. Ultimately, a roommate who was a nurse stepped in to help for the second finger prick. “I think having a second person would be helpful,” she says.
She offers two bits of advice for people taking the test: to drink more water before taking the test to help with blood flow, and to point your finger down and massage your hand to draw out the blood.
Customer service
While Chloe didn’t need to reach out to customer service, she knows other testers who did and had an friendly, helpful experience with LetsGetChecked support. LetsGetChecked customer service can be reached by phone at 315-508-7414 or via their online contact form.
Interpreting my results
As LetsGetChecked promises, test results arrived in just three days for our product tester. “I shipped my test out on Saturday and got the results by Monday,” she says. “I thought this was incredibly fast, given I shipped it over the weekend.”
Overall, she feels she received accurate results with her thyroid test, though it’s impossible to say for certain. “I had one number a little high when I got my annual blood work done in June,” she says of a previous test at her doctor’s office. “All of my numbers were in the normal range this time around, so I’m assuming that slightly higher number has regulated itself.”
“I also like that the results are very easy to decipher,” she adds. “It doesn’t look like a standard blood test from the doctor. My results for each biomarker were normal, so I can’t speak to an abnormal result, but there was an obvious button that took you to an explanation of your result.”
What We Like About the LetsGetChecked Thyroid Test
- Fast turnaround time for results
- Easy-to-follow instructions
- Affordable price point
- Certified labs used for diagnostics
- Accepts FSA and HSA cards for payment
What to Consider
- Blood sample may require multiple finger pricks
- Doesn’t paint full picture of thyroid health
- Isn’t covered by health insurance
Who Should Consider a Thyroid Test
SI Showcase
According to board-certified bariatric physician Kevin Huffman, DO, an at-home thyroid test may be a smart choice for the following people:
- Those with symptoms of thyroid disorders
- Those with a family history of thyroid disease
- Those over age 60
- Women (women have a higher risk of developing a thyroid problem)
Symptoms of Irregular Thyroid Function
In general, symptoms of a thyroid disorder can be grouped into two categories: overactive (hyperthyroidism) and underactive (hypothyroidism). While many of these symptoms overlap with other common health conditions, you may want to consider taking a thyroid test to rule out or confirm thyroid disease.
Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
- Anxiety, irritability or nervousness
- Trouble sleeping
- Unexplained weight loss
- Muscle weakness and tremors
- Irregular or no menstrual cycles
- Heat sensitivity
- Vision problems or eye irritation
Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
- Fatigue
- Unexplained weight gain
- Forgetfulness
- Frequent and heavy menstrual periods
- Dry and coarse hair
- Voice hoarseness
- Intolerance to cold
When to See a Doctor
While any persistent symptoms or signs of a potential thyroid disorder should always warrant a visit to the doctor, Fernandez recommends making an appointment as soon as possible if you experience the following: unexplained fatigue, sensitivity to cold or heat or unanticipated weight changes. Abnormal at-home thyroid test results should also be looked into further by a doctor.
A doctor can also order a more comprehensive thyroid screening that includes testing of thyroid peroxidase antibodies (antibodies made against an enzyme created by the thyroid gland) and thyroglobulin antibodies, which can help diagnose thyroid problems like Hashimoto thyroiditis.
LetsGetChecked Thyroid Test FAQs
What is the most accurate home thyroid test?
While it’s not possible to know which at-home thyroid test is the most accurate, LetsGetChecked and Everlywell are two reputable leading brands in the home health testing space.
Is LetsGetChecked legitimate?
LetsGetChecked is widely hailed as one of the most legitimate and trustworthy home health test kit companies. It has a Trustpilot rating of 4.6/5 stars based on more than 17,000 reviews.
Does LetsGetChecked offer any follow up care once you take the thyroid test?
A member of the LetsGetChecked in-house clinical team may call you to discuss your thyroid test results if they are abnormal. You can also print out your results to share with your own professional healthcare provider.
Takeaway: Is the LetsGetChecked Thyroid Test Worth It?
For people at higher risk of thyroid disease or who have symptoms of potential thyroid disorder, the LetsGetChecked Thyroid Test may be worth taking as a screening test. However, true thyroid issues should be evaluated in-person by a healthcare provider in the event that you need further testing or treatment. A healthcare provider can also verify the accuracy of your test results.
Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.
