- You can enjoy a variety of benefits by using at-home testing, such as: less impact on your daily schedule, less time spent in waiting rooms and commutes, easier access to essential testing, peace of mind that you can test whenever you need to, and fast diagnosis for STIs, allowing for treatment to begin sooner.
- There are a few different types of at-home testing that you can request through Felix, depending on your specific needs, such as prediabetes and diabetes tests, at-home cholesterol and STI tests.
- If you’d like to request at-home blood work through Felix, where a LifeLabs technician will visit your home to perform blood testing, find the type of test you’re looking for, complete your assessment, and select the at-home testing option when checking out.
It can be challenging to get testing completed at an in-person lab, especially when you factor in the commute and waiting time involved in visiting an in-person facility to get testing performed.
Felix is partnering with LifeLabs to help provide you a new level of care by providing at-home blood tests for a wide variety of conditions, from STIs to diabetes and cholesterol.
This page will walk you through some of the potential benefits that utilizing at-home blood tests in Ontario can provide for you, depending on a number of reasons why you may be seeking out testing assistance.
SIDE NOTE: At this time, at-home testing is only available to patients who live in the province of Ontario, and who are over the age of 18.
How Does an At-home Blood Test Work?
Felix can help facilitate an at-home visit from a trained technician. They can perform your test in as little as 15-20 minutes from the comfort and privacy of your own space.
This is how it works: Felix has partnered with LifeLabs to provide our patients with home collection options when doing lab testing.
After you’ve selected a preferred time for your at-home lab testing, a LifeLabs phlebotomist will reach out to you by email to confirm your appointment.
What to Expect Before an At-Home Test
The day of your appointment, be sure that the area where you’re going to have the testing done is clear and easy to access. Be sure to find somewhere comfortable to sit, where you feel at ease.
Depending on whether you have been instructed to fast before a test, having something to drink like water or fruit juice nearby during the test can be helpful; especially if you’re feeling nervous about the testing for any reason. If you have pets, it may be a good idea to put them in a separate room from where the testing is done.
Once your Lifelabs technician arrives, they’ll perform your requested at-home medical test, which typically only takes 10-15 minutes.
Can I Access At-Home Lab Testing Through Felix?
Yes, you can access at-home lab testing through Felix, as long as you’re over the age of 18 and live in Ontario.
To get started, you can either explore our Felix App, or if you’d like to talk to a practitioner about at-home testing, complete a short online assessment by finding your requested testing from our Find Your Treatment database.
At-home testing is available to you as an add-on service, which you can choose to add during your visit.
From 'Maybe Later' to Done Today: The Benefits of At-Home Medical Tests
There are a ton of different benefits that you can enjoy by using at-home medical tests. Let’s explore some of these benefits:
Frequently Asked Questions About Home Blood Tests:
Are There Any Benefits to In-Person Lab Testing?
Of course! There are some types of testing that just can’t be done from your home at this time, and so, it’s maybe necessary to visit a medical lab to have some testing done.
Tests like x-rays, biopsies, and many others just aren’t feasible to have done at your home, due to either the equipment required for the testing, or the hygienic conditions required for the procedure.
How Much Does it Cost to Get At-Home Lab Tests Performed?
There is a fee associated with having at-home blood work performed ($85), in addition to the cost of your assessment, and any prescribed treatments that your practitioner offers you.
The cost of treatment will vary, depending on what your practitioner is suggesting.
Is At-Home Lab Testing Covered by Insurance?
This is a question that would be better asked to your insurance representative directly, since they’ll know whether or not your current benefits package included at-home medical tests. We’d suggest gathering this information before making your request with Felix.
That way, you’ll be able to provide this information to your assigned practitioner during the assessment process, so they can bill your insurer directly for you.
At-home testing is unlikely to be covered by provincial health insurance. Each province will offer different types of benefits, and what’s available in one province may not be offered in another. Coverage will also vary depending on the tests being ordered, the reason for testing, and your practitioner's assessment on the necessity of the testing itself.
We’d suggest reading our blog on understanding insurance, if you’d like to explore whether your province may provide any coverage for your at-home blood testing in Canada.
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