Review: Let’sGetChecked®

Detailed Review of Let’sGetChecked® Home Cancer Screening

Overview

LetsGetChecked is a medical company that was founded in 2014 in order to sell at home diagnostic tests to the general public. The company sells a variety of at home tests that test for disorders or diseases such as sexually transmitted diseases and fertility tests. The company also sells cancer screening tests, including their at home colon cancer screening test.

The LetsGetChecked company partners with lab facilities that are CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments), INAB (Irish National Accreditation Board), CPA (Composite Panel Association), or CAP (College of American Pathologists) certified. 

The LetsGetChecked company that sells these home diagnostic tests partners with lab facilities that are CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments), INAB (Irish National Accreditation Board), CPA (Composite Panel Association), or CAP (College of American Pathologists) certified. 

The LetsGetChecked colon cancer screening test is a type of fecal immunochemical test or FIT. A FIT test detects blood in the stool by using an antibody that identifies hemoglobin proteins in samples. A positive result from a LetsGetChecked screening test means fecal blood was detected and this may indicate the presence of cancerous or precancerous growths in the colon. 

A positive result from a LetsGetChecked screening test means fecal blood was detected and this may indicate the presence of cancerous or precancerous growths in the colon. 

The tests are affordable and easy to use. Unlike the other fecal occult blood test (FOBT), this test does not require you to limit any foods or medications. The stool samples are taken at home, and the results are returned within 5 days of the lab receiving the stool sample. 

Features

The LetsGetChecked® colon cancer screening test kit contains the following:

• Instruction guide
• Fecal test card
• Brush kit
• Waste bag
• Prepaid return shipping label

Accuracy

FIT tests like those sold by LetsGetChecked are accurate in finding colon cancer and have a high sensitivity and specificity. Sensitivity ratings indicate how effective a test is in detecting a disease, in this case colon cancer. Specificity refers to how accurate the test is in giving a negative result for the presence of a disease. In this case, the LetsGetChecked test gives an accurate negative result in those people who do not have colon cancer. 

Sensitivity: 79%

Specificity: 90% 

How to Administer

The kit is mailed to your home in a small box. The box contains the sample container, paper, a sealable bag for you to collect your sample and a prepaid self addressed envelope for you to send your sample back to a lab.  

Steps for the test involve the following:

1. Activate your testing kit through the LetsGetChecked website.
2. Read through the instructions given to you carefully.
3. Fill out the label on the biohazard bag with the date of collection, DOB, and gender. 
4. Wash your hands.
5. Place the collection paper into the toilet on top of the water. 
6. Go to the bathroom.
7. Open sample bottle, remove the sampling stick, and do not pour out the liquid inside of the bottle.  Collect a small sample of your stool with the provided swab and place into the plastic container. 
8. Collect you sample (before the paper sinks) and scrape the surface of the stool with the sampling stick and place it in the sample bottle.
9. Place the sample bottle into the biohazard bag and seal.
10. Wash your hands.
11. Return sample to the box it came in and place in the return envelope. 
12. Send the kit back on the same day. . 

The Good and the Not So Good

Good

• If you have any questions you can chat with an online consultant before buying the test kit. 
• Free phone consultations with a registered nurse are available for people who test positive.
• Your results are accessible through the LetsGetChecked website and they are able to downloaded to share with your physician
• No dietary or medication restrictions before the test
• Tests are delivered in plain, unmarked packaging for privacy

Not So Good

• There is a possibility that the test may be taken inaccurately and result in a false-positive or false-negative.
• Some customers have complained that their personal information has not been deleted when requested. 
• Samples may not be returned during the weekend, including Friday. 
• Test is more expensive than a few other tests. 
• You have to return your sample through the mail to a laboratory for testing. 

Price

Cost

One kit: $69

Subscription: $48.30