Your home lab kit
How to take a sample with a mail home lab kit
Step 01
Clean the desired fingertip with the alcohol wipe and allow to air dry.
Select a puncture site on the right or left side of the finger.
It is best to use the middle or ring finger of your non-dominant hand.
Step 02
Twist off and discard the lancet cap. Do not pull.
The lancet will only activate and puncture once; do not use cap if it has been previously removed.
Step 03
Place your clean finger against a firm surface.
Activate the lancet by pressing platform firmly against the puncture site until you hear a click.
The lancet will automatically retract into the body of the device.
Step 04
Wipe away the first blood drop with a sterile gauze pad of cleansing wipe.
Starting at the center, apply 3-6 drops to fill the circle and soak through the collection card, trying not to overlap drops.
NOTE: Do not touch the blood collection paper with your finger. Do not add additional blood to a circle once completed or dry. The "layering" of blood will invalidate the collection.
Step 05
When finished, use the gauze pad or cleansing wipe to clean finger and apply bandaid.
Allow the blood spots to dry on a flat surface for 15 minutes at room temperature. Do not use heat to assist drying.
Step 06
Once the blood spots dry, place sample in the ziploc bag and then seal.
Finally, place the ziploc bag into the Fedex Pre-labeled bag and drop in the nearest FedEx Drop Box.
Additional Tips
- Stay hydrated
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- Avoid topical creams before collecting the sample
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- Avoid exercise before collection
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- No need to fast

Common Questions

Where do we source our lab kits?

The name of the lab is HealthQuest Diagnostic Laboratory, https://healthquestdx.com/

How reliable are the lab kits?

The Dried Blood Spot (DBS) kits are reliable for many tests when compared to venipuncture. However, there are some nuances to consider. DBS is highly reliable for specific tests, such as Hormone Testing, where the substances being measured (analytes) are stable on dried blood. On the other hand, DBS is not suitable for tests where analytes are less stable in dried blood or require a larger blood volume, like CBC, Blood Cultures, and other specialized tests.

For the best results, please follow the detailed instructions that accompany your lab kit precisely to avoid issues like insufficient sample volume or sample contamination that would render the test card and the results unusable.

How do lab kits compare to traditional lab panels?

The main benefit of a DBS kit vs. venipuncture at the laboratory is the convenience of completing blood testing without leaving your home, and it is less invasive for the patient. The volume of the specimen collected is much lower, and It is easier to store and transport.

However, unlike a full blood panel at the lab, it is not possible to run a large number of tests on a single DBS card (5-7 tests permitted per card), therefore not all tests can be performed for every patient.

Is a lab panel required to get started?

Depending on symptoms and medical history, your provider will likely recommend starting BHRT or TRT without lab work. Baseline lab work is not required or necessary to see success with hormone replacement therapy. Symptoms are the best indicator of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone deficiencies and imbalances. Guidelines from The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) recommend treating patient symptoms rather than hormone levels in the blood. 

How often are labs required after starting?

While baseline panels are not required to get started, a full panel serum blood test will be required six weeks after starting your hormone or testosterone balancing program. If necessary, we will also perform additional tests after three months to monitor progress. All patients will require annual lab work. 

Watch: Learn More About Labwork for BHRT & TRT