What Does It Mean if My Everlywell Result Is “High” or “Low”?

What Does Normal or Abnormal Mean When It Comes to Tests?

Test results can be reported in several different ways. They can be a simple positive or negative, as in the case of STI tests such as gonorrhea and chlamydia. Either you have them, or you don’t.

Other tests are reported as ranges of values. Your result is flagged as too high or too low if it is outside the usual or expected range. The normal range is the range of lab values for a given test that most healthy people have when tested. Abnormal means your test result is not in the normal range.

Just like the normal range for your temperature is usually somewhere between 97 and 99 degrees Fahrenheit, above that could be considered abnormal, and you may have a fever. But that range can also vary throughout the day and from person to person. This is why a healthcare provider most likely won’t diagnose you with an infection and prescribe antibiotics just because you have a fever. The same is true for many of the tests Everlywell offers. A single test result is not the same as a diagnosis.

Which Everlywell Tests Could Come Back With a High or Low Result?

The tests offered by Everlywell that might come back with a high or low result are:

Here are the tests that measure antibodies:

• Food Sensitivity Tests
• Celiac Disease Screening Test

Here are the heart health tests:

• Heart Health Test
• Cholesterol and Lipids Tests (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides)
• HgbA1c Test

The Hemoglobin A1C test is a test for diabetes. If your test value is high or low, it is a good idea to talk with a healthcare provider about whether you have any other risk factors for diabetes, such as a family history or a larger body size.

Here are the hormone tests for hormones and wellness:

• Women’s Health Test
• Men’s Health Test
• Metabolism Test
• Thyroid Test
• Testosterone Test
• Women’s Fertility Test

What Does High or Low Really Mean?

Scientists and healthcare providers choose specific values within a normal range. Anything outside of that range, either too high or too low, is labeled as abnormal.

But abnormal is not necessarily the same as unhealthy. The human body is very complex. Many factors could make your lab value normal for you, even if it is higher or lower than most people’s values. Examples of these individual factors affecting lab values are:

• Your age
• Your gender
• Other medications or supplements you take
• Other medical conditions you might have
• Your diet and how much you exercise

In other words, you need to look at the big picture. Zoom out to realize that one Everlywell test result is part of your overall health picture. Many other factors influence your risk of various diseases.

For example, just because you had one high cholesterol test result does not mean you will die of heart disease. How much you exercise, what you eat, and your family’s history of heart disease also need to be taken into account when considering the causes of heart disease. Talking to a healthcare professional about your heart health and risk factors can help put your high cholesterol test results into perspective.

What About Borderline High or Low Test Results?

For test results reported as a value within a range of normal values, it is possible to have a result that is “borderline high” or “borderline low.” This means that your lab value is only slightly high, closer to the normal range if it is borderline high. If your result is borderline low, then your value is only slightly below the normal range. Depending on the test, this can be reassuring.

Another Possibility to Consider: Your Test Results May Be Wrong

Even though Everlywell tests deliver results your body can count on, tests that you take on your own can be less accurate and less reliable than tests done at a laboratory or healthcare facility.

Everlywell offers clinical-grade, highly accurate, lab-validated tests. Those tests are processed at CLIA-certified laboratories that must meet strict regulatory standards. The process and science behind Everlywell tests offer the most accurate and reliable at-home testing available.

No test is 100% accurate. No test is perfect. Neither are humans. Human error is, unfortunately, something you need to account for when considering what your lab tests mean. Human errors may make your test results less accurate, especially with self-collected samples, such as those from Everlywell. On the lab side, there can be paperwork errors, lab mix-ups, or issues with the laboratory machines.

Next Steps for a “High” or “Low” Test Result

If you have a high or low Everlywell result, you have a couple of options:

1. Repeat the test immediately.
2. Wait and then repeat the test.
3. Choose to have the same test done at a laboratory or healthcare facility in person.
4. Talk with a healthcare provider about your test result.

Repeating the test can help you rule out that there was a possible error involved in the way you took the test or how it was processed. Waiting a while before repeating the same test can also provide more information. Comparing the two results and whether or not they have changed over time can help you better understand:

• What is “normal” for you
• If your values are consistently high or low, rather than just a fluke-abnormal result
• How your values are changing over time

Healthcare providers like to see trends in lab results. For example, how often you should check your hemoglobin A1C depends on whether or not you have been diagnosed with prediabetes or diabetes.

Talk With a Healthcare Provider to Figure Out Your Action Plan

After you take a slow, deep breath in and out to calm your initial freakout about your abnormal test result, you are ready to take action. Developing an action plan for your next steps can help you feel more in control and less anxious, but it can be unclear if you don’t know what those next steps should be.

Healthcare providers are valuable resources who can help you see the whole picture of your health. For example, they can help you put context around your test result. What other symptoms or health changes have you noticed? Have you had any major changes in your lifestyle, diet, or current medications? They can also help you determine whether additional testing could yield more information.

For example, the Everlywell Women’s Health Test measures some hormones that control your menstrual cycle and fertility. Additional tests, such as an ultrasound of your uterus and ovaries, may help explain more about the symptoms you might be having, such as irregular periods.

Don’t worry if you don’t have a regular primary care provider or healthcare home. Everlywell offers virtual healthcare at an affordable price point. Knowledgeable providers can talk with you about your test results and make a personalized health action plan to put your mind at ease and keep you healthy.

FAQs About Everlywell Test Results

How long do you have to wait for test results?

Everlywell will send a notification to your registered email address when your results are ready. Results for most tests are typically available within 5 to 7 business days of the lab processing your sample. If there are any delays or changes, they will show up on your dashboard. You can also check the current status of your test, see turnaround time estimates, and view your completed results on your dashboard at any time.

Should you be concerned if your Everlywell test result is "high" or "low"?

Whether you should be concerned depends on the specific test and how far outside the normal range your test result falls. If there is an urgent issue, Everlywell will notify you.

Should I share my test results with my healthcare provider?

Yes, Everlywell always recommends sharing your test results with all of your healthcare providers. Everlywell test results are not intended to diagnose any disease or condition or to substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

How accurate are Everlywell at-home test results?

Everlywell uses CLIA-certified labs, which ensure a high standard of accuracy and quality. All of the at-home sample collection testing we offer has been thoroughly validated against traditional testing conducted in healthcare provider offices and clinics.