Every at-home test order is reviewed and authorized by a licensed physician before the laboratory processes your sample. This article explains why physician authorization is required, how the process works, and what to expect if a physician needs to contact you about your results.

In the United States, laboratory testing requires a licensed healthcare provider's order — similar to how a prescription is required for certain medications. This requirement applies to every order, regardless of the test type. You do not need to have your own physician or insurance to complete this process; physician authorization is built into your test service at no additional step on your part beyond kit registration.

When you register your kit, you will answer a short health intake questionnaire. Your answers provide the licensed physician with the information needed to authorize your specific test.

Your kit must be registered before a physician can be assigned. If you mail your sample without registering your kit, the laboratory cannot process it until registration is complete.

A licensed physician from our network is assigned to your order based on your state of residence. Our physician network covers all 50 states, so a physician can be assigned regardless of where you live in the United States.

The physician reviews your intake answers to confirm the test is appropriate for you, then authorizes the order. Once authorization is in place, the laboratory processes your sample.

When your results come back from the laboratory, the physician reviews them. Two outcomes are possible:

Important: Physician review is part of your test service and is included with every order. It is not a substitute for an ongoing relationship with your own healthcare provider.

If you have a question about the physician review process on your specific order, contact our support team through chat and we will take care of it.