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Expand Laboratory Services to the Home and Improve Patient Engagement with New Direct-to-Consumer Lab Testing Business Models
March 20, 2026
The rapid adoption of digital technologies and the growth of patient consumerism, including the surge in direct-to-consumer lab testing, are two trends in healthcare that are here to stay. Experts believe the coronavirus pandemic accelerated them by 3 to 5 years.
It is welcome news for medical laboratories seeking to transition away from traditional business models with advanced diagnostic lab software. By embracing fresh ideas and new revenue streams and aligning with like-minded laboratory information system (LIS) software vendors, these progressive labs can become direct-to-consumer labs, offering expanded services and enhanced patient care, all while increasing medical laboratory profit.
Patients are increasingly active participants in their healthcare, so labs must adapt by becoming direct-to-consumer labs and offering testing that’s easy for patients to access.
Discover More: The Best Laboratory Information System Companies and the Advantages They Offer to Their Laboratory Clients
What Is Direct-to-Consumer Lab Testing and Why Does It Matter?
TestDirectly (TestDirectly.com), one of several LIS pathology solutions developed by LigoLab, does just that. The direct-to-consumer lab testing web portal integrates with all laboratory information system software (it’s LIS-agnostic) and simplifies testing and reporting for collected specimens. It does this by replacing paper forms and mostly manual processes with an electronic clinical lab workflow that eliminates the potential for human error, order-entry bottlenecks, and reporting delays.
Case Study: How Atlas Genomics Supported the Tahoma School District’s COVID-19 Testing Program
Empowering Direct-to-Consumer Lab Testing with Seamless Lab Information System Integration and Automated Workflows
TestDirectly empowers both patients and clinical laboratories. The flexible portal features several laboratory information system functions that support patient and family self-registration and scheduling, capacity management, specimen collection, and sample tracking and processing.
It also covers laboratory billing (lab revenue cycle management), compliance, and automated deliveries (TestDirectly results time) via email, SMS text, web portal, or interface. The TestDirectly solution even automates reporting to public health departments and state agencies.
"TestDirectly" is more than just a name for LigoLab's direct-to-consumer lab testing solution; it also represents a transformative moment for laboratory information system companies and medical lab customers.
Discover More: A Scalable Solution for Molecular LIS Testing Labs
How the Best Laboratory Information System Vendors Pivot When Called Upon
TestDirectly was already in development before the COVID pandemic, and the easy-to-use direct-to-consumer lab testing platform saw rapid adoption in May 2020 when Northwest Laboratory (now Avero Diagnostics) implemented its medical laboratory solutions, becoming a direct-to-consumer lab to expand testing capacity and accelerate turnaround times.
Like most labs at the time, Avero required a streamlined molecular lab software solution to address order-entry and follow-up bottlenecks resulting from a rapid increase in SARS-CoV-2 testing.
Discover More: Remembering COVID - Bellingham Lab Reaches COVID-19 Testing Milestone
The Avero Diagnostics Story
Adding capacity and improving turnaround time (TAT) were critical elements that enabled Avero Diagnostics to secure a contract with the Florida Department of Health. The contract called for COVID-19 baseline testing of the state’s 4,000 long-term care facilities, and direct-to-consumer lab testing included both senior residents and staff.
With strong leadership and the combined power of TestDirectly and LigoLab’s advanced laboratory information system software, Avero successfully implemented the platform and completed 190,000 direct-to-consumer lab reports, all within just four weeks (learn more in the case study linked below).
Case Study: How Avero Diagnostics Embraced Laboratory Information System Innovation and Won a Statewide Testing Contract
Expanding Direct-to-Consumer Lab Testing Beyond COVID-19
Since the early days of the pandemic, TestDirectly and its network of medical laboratories and collection centers throughout the U.S. have enabled patients to take greater control of their healthcare in a streamlined, unified way. Just as impressive, those providers have collected, processed, and reported millions of COVID-19 cases.
The original idea behind TestDirectly and TestDirectly.com was to develop a pathology lab reporting software solution for direct-to-consumer lab testing and consumer lab reports. Ideally, the pathology software would provide labs with more visibility into patients and open up new revenue opportunities by supporting all forms of diagnostic testing and preventive screening.
Discover More: Highlighting the Versatility of the TestDirectly Direct-to-Consumer Lab Testing Portal
New Services Direct-to-Consumer Labs Can Offer Today
Now that effective vaccines have significantly reduced the demand for COVID-19 testing, forward-thinking labs like Avero are refocusing on other direct-to-consumer lab testing services, including screenings for STIs, UTIs, allergies, and genetic conditions.
They can also leverage TestDirectly results time via a new home test kit collection workflow to create the strongest bond with patients to date.
TestDirectly and TestDirectly.com now support test kit ordering and shipping to patients, the laboratory’s receipt of patient samples after specimen collection, and the automated delivery of consumer lab reports back to the patients.
Discover More: LigoLab’s Direct-to-Consumer Lab Testing Portal - An Innovative Solution for an Industry-Wide Problem
The TestDirectly Home Testing Kit Solution
For clinical laboratory management seeking to offer patients a convenient and cost-effective way to monitor their health and complete routine disease screening in the privacy of their homes, TestDirectly offers its home testing kit solution.
Home Testing Kit Features and Functionality
Below is a list of features and direct-to-consumer lab-testing functionality supported by the web portal for the home testing kit workflow.
- Site branding with customized images and verbiage
- The mapping of symptoms to ICD-10 codes
- The customization of “ask on order entry” questions
- The upload of patient documentation (insurance card, photo ID)
- All forms of payment, including credit cards
- Email order confirmation
- Order and courier tracking at every stage
- The printing of courier shipping and return labels
- The printing of specimen labels
- Email and SMS text notification of test results
- Downloadable and printable result reports
White Paper: How Automated Labs Can Achieve Financial Stability During Turbulent Times
LigoLab's Complete Pathology Lab Software Solutions Cover All Laboratory Informatics
With the LigoLab Informatics Platform and the TestDirectly direct-to-consumer lab testing web portal, labs gain pathology reporting software that aligns with their business goals and targets their pain points.
White Paper: How LigoLab Delivers CIO-Level Insight Through Real-World Lab Experience
Empowering Direct-to-Consumer Lab Testing with Seamless LIS System Integration and Automated Workflows
Ready for innovative LIS software solutions that improve operational lab workflow management, reduce labor costs, remove barriers to growth, and now efficiently enable direct-to-consumer lab testing?
If yes, contact LigoLab and schedule a brief call with a LigoLab product expert.
Don’t Wait: Connect Me with a LigoLab Product Specialist!
Frequently Asked Questions About Direct-to-Consumer Lab Testing and Direct-to-Consumer Labs
What is direct-to-consumer lab testing?
Direct-to-consumer lab testing enables patients to order, schedule, and receive diagnostic lab tests without requiring a physician referral. Labs offering this model give patients greater control over their healthcare while opening up new revenue streams outside traditional hospital and clinic referral channels.
What is TestDirectly, and how does it work?
TestDirectly is a direct-to-consumer lab testing web portal developed by LigoLab. It integrates with all laboratory information system software (it's LIS-agnostic) and replaces paper-based, manual processes with a fully electronic clinical lab workflow. It supports patient self-registration, specimen tracking, lab billing, automated result delivery, and public health reporting, all on a single platform.
Does TestDirectly work with my existing LIS system?
Yes. TestDirectly is LIS-agnostic, meaning it integrates with any laboratory information system. Labs do not need to replace their existing LIS system to take advantage of the direct-to-consumer lab testing workflow.
Which types of tests do labs offer through direct-to-consumer lab testing?
Labs can offer a wide range of tests through the direct-to-consumer model, including screenings for STIs, UTIs, allergies, and genetic conditions, as well as routine preventive health screenings and, when applicable, infectious disease testing such as COVID-19.
How does the TestDirectly home testing kit workflow work?
Patients order a test kit online, receive it by courier, collect their specimen at home, and return it to the lab. TestDirectly manages every stage, from order placement and shipping label generation to specimen receipt, processing, and automated delivery of results via email, SMS, or web portal.
How does direct-to-consumer lab testing support laboratory billing and lab revenue cycle management?
TestDirectly includes integrated laboratory billing and lab revenue cycle management (lab RCM) functionality. It supports all payment methods, including credit cards, automates insurance verification, and handles compliance and reporting requirements, reducing administrative burden and accelerating reimbursement.
What results did Avero Diagnostics achieve using TestDirectly?
After implementing TestDirectly and LigoLab's LIS system module, Avero Diagnostics completed 190,000 direct-to-consumer lab reports in just four weeks. This performance was strong enough to secure a statewide contract with the Florida Department of Health for COVID-19 testing across 4,000 long-term care facilities.
How can my lab get started with direct-to-consumer lab testing?
The fastest way to get started is to schedule a demo with a LigoLab product specialist. They can walk you through the TestDirectly platform, assess your lab's current workflow, and outline a tailored implementation for you.
