All HOMED-IQ content is reviewed by medical specialists
Table of contents
- Home Test VS GP Tests
- Why choose a home test over a GP test?
- Sample Stability
- Tests Sensitivity and Specificity
- Data Protection
Home Test VS GP Tests
Homed-IQ home tests offer the same high quality laboratory analysis as a doctor’s test, but with the convenience of collecting your sample at home. Homed-IQ works with certified test material and laboratories that meet the highest international standards. All our laboratories are DAkkS accredited. They also comply with ISO/IEC 17025 (ensuring valid test results) and ISO 15189 (focusing on medical diagnostics and patient safety). All our laboratories meet these standards. Our Allergy Test follows the RiLiBÄK 2019 guidelines. This ensures accurate, reliable results for informed health decisions.
A rapid test gives quick results, usually within minutes to an hour, by detecting specific markers in saliva, blood or urine that are not analysed in the laboratory. Common examples include pregnancy tests, COVID-19 antigen tests or glucose meters for diabetes. They are easy to use and ideal for home or point-of-care testing, but some markers require laboratory analysis. Homed-IQ does not offer rapid tests. Instead, our test kits are designed for home collection, with professional analysis performed in certified laboratories to ensure the highest accuracy and reliability.
| Aspect | Test from Physician | Home Test |
| Test Material and Collection Environment | Collected by a professional (e.g. venous blood) in a clinical setting | Self-collected (e.g. finger-prick) at home |
| Analysis Location and Analysis Standards: accredited Laboratory | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sample Quality and Potential Errors | High with minimal errors due to professional oversight | Can vary, depending on user adherence to instructions (collection or handling) |
| Turnaround Time | Varies (appointment + laboratory) | Often quicker, no clinic visit is needed |
| Convenience | Requires travel and appointment | Done at home at the user’s convenience |
Why choose a home test over a GP test?
- Same accuracy, more convenience: Homed-IQ only offers tests that have been scientifically validated to provide results comparable to clinical testing. The testing equipment used by our partner labs is often identical to that found in a doctor’s office.
- No appointments, no waiting rooms: You can collect your sample when it suits you – no need to book an appointment, travel to a clinic or take time off work.
- Faster, hassle-free results: Once you send your sample to the lab, you’ll typically get results within days, without having to wait for or go to a follow-up appointment.
- Privacy & discretion: Sensitive tests, such as STI screening, can be done in complete privacy. Our test kits are discreetly packaged and your results are securely delivered online.
- Affordable & transparent pricing: Homed-IQ tests include all costs – sample materials, pre-paid shipping, laboratory analysis and clear, easy-to-understand results. Single marker tests start at €40, while comprehensive tests analysing multiple markers range around €69. Some insurers will reimburse home tests, Homed-IQ will provide itemised receipts, check with your insurer for details.
Sample Stability
Homed-IQ test kits are designed to ensure that your sample remains stable during transport. The materials used protect against external factors such as temperature changes, so accuracy isn’t affected. However, if the temperature is below -3°C or above 25°C, it’s best to take the sample to a post office instead of using a letterbox to avoid possible exposure to extreme conditions. Once the sample reaches the laboratory, experts check its integrity before analysis, ensuring accurate and reliable results from collection to delivery.
Tests Sensitivity and Specificity
Home IQ tests are designed to give you reliable and accurate results. All our tests are designed with high sensitivity, which means that our test detects sick people who actually have a disease (true positive). At the same time, they have high specificity, so they avoid false alarms in healthy people (true negatives). This balance makes the results trustworthy and helps you make informed decisions about your health. As with any laboratory test, there’s always a small chance of false positives or negatives due to natural variation or technical factors. However, Homed-IQ and its partner laboratories follow strict quality standards to keep these risks as low as possible, so you can test with confidence.
Data Protection
Homed-IQ prioritises your privacy and ensures that your personal information remains secure. We strictly follow data protection regulations, including GDPR, to keep your test results confidential. STI samples are anonymised before analysis so they can’t be directly linked to you. Results are delivered securely online so you can view them privately and with confidence.
