Last month, new coronavirus cases spiked up in eleven states across the U.S. Some of those states include Arizona, South Carolina, California, and Texas, to name a few. Because of this, the FDA has recently stated the prioritization of at-home testing solutions as being more important than ever.
One of those companies manufacturing these at-home coronavirus testing kits is the Austin, Texas-based company Everlywell. Everlywell is an at-home health testing company that has been at the forefront of helping frontline workers and those at high-risk get access to the first FDA-authorized COVID-19 Test Home Collection Kit under the EUA. Consumers could purchase this kit from the company’s website to get tested for the virus.
I had the pleasure of virtually interviewing the company’s CEO and Founder Julia Cheek recently and she shared more information about this test kit, Everlywell’s other health testing kits, and how does the use of home testing kits compare to being tested in a doctor’s office for the coronavirus.
When did you start Everlywell?
Everlywell was founded in 2015. Before I started up the company, I struggled with chronic pain and fatigue at 29. I visited around half a dozen doctors to figure out what was wrong with me. I had insurance and still ended up paying thousands of dollars out of pocket for lab tests without any clarity on what my test results were. Long story short, I was finally diagnosed with a simple but debilitating set of vitamin deficiencies and hormone issues. Once the right tests were conducted, my health issues were actually easy to address.
My personal challenges inspired me to create a better lab testing experience where prices and test results were clear and straightforward. That’s how I ended up starting Everlywell. We’re now the nation’s leading at-home lab testing company.
Does your company manufacture health testing kits for other conditions besides coronavirus?
Yes, we have over 30 health and wellness kits. We connect consumers to lab partners offering a suite of validated lab tests including Cholesterol, Heart Health, Fertility, STDs and STIs, Lyme Disease, Testosterone, Thyroid, indoor and outdoor allergies, and more. Prices are straightforward starting at $49 and are generally covered by FSA and HSA. Physician-reviewed, actionable test results from CLIA-certified labs are provided within days of sample receipt.
What safety precautions are you implementing for your employees working on-site now?
All of our staff are working from home indefinitely. We decided it’s safer for everyone to work from home; especially now that new cases have increased over the past week.
How does at-home testing compare to testing in a doctor’s office as far as safety, accuracy, and experience?
Everlywell uses many of the same laboratories doctors rely on nationwide, and each test result is reviewed by an independent, board-certified physician. We also work closely with independent third parties to ensure our test results meet or exceed the accuracy of traditional laboratory tests.
How many kits were issued to protesters in your Texas area and how much did it impact the number of cases?
Texas is the second-highest state where people are taking action to get tested at home using Everlywell’s COVID-19 Test Home Collection Kit.
Are these kits being distributed to every American state or only for states with the highest cases?
Our FDA-authorized COVID-19 Test Home Collection Kits are available nationwide, except for New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Rhode Island, due to local regulations about at-home lab testing.
As cases continue to rise, getting tested for the coronavirus is becoming urgent as ever. No matter how you get tested, at home or in a doctor’s office, be sure to do so as soon as possible.
Have any further questions or comments about Cheek’s Everlywell health test kits including the COVID-19 one? Leave it in the comments section below and I’ll be sure to follow up with her on her responses.
