New York State is one of the only places in the country where residents are blocked from ordering direct-to-consumer (DTC) at-home lab tests. Under Public Health Law Section 579, individuals cannot access functional lab testing—like hormone panels, inflammation markers, and gut health assessments—unless they go through a New York-licensed physician. This outdated and restrictive law is harming thousands of people, especially those with complex chronic illnesses.

For individuals living with autoimmune conditions, hormonal imbalances, digestive disorders, or undiagnosed symptoms, access to functional lab testing can be a critical step toward healing. These tests are available and accessible to patients in nearly every other state—but not here in New York.

Many people turn to functional lab testing because the conventional medical system often cannot provide answers. Primary care doctors usually only run basic labs, and even specialists are limited in what they can order—especially if insurance won’t cover it. Functional labs dig deeper, helping uncover root causes of symptoms. Yet these important tools are often dismissed by mainstream providers, leaving patients to seek them out privately.

Under this law:

- At-home test kits are often blocked from being sold to New Yorkers
-  Labs must hold a rare and expensive CLEP certification, which disqualifies most national functional labs

This means patients are often forced to pay $500+ out of pocket just to consult with a practitioner who understands functional lab testing—if they can find one at all. Others must travel across state lines, sometimes repeatedly, just to get a basic blood test. For people who are severely ill, disabled, or managing flare-ups, this is simply not feasible.

Many of us have already spent years navigating New York’s conventional medical system, only to be dismissed, misdiagnosed, or left with no answers. When we turn to alternative or holistic approaches in search of healing, we run into this legal wall.

Public Health Law Section 579 was originally enacted to regulate safety and accuracy in laboratory testing. But today, it is a barrier to care. It limits autonomy, delays diagnosis, and exacerbates disparities for those living with complex, chronic, or invisible illnesses.

We are calling on Governor Kathy Hochul and New York State lawmakers to repeal or revise Section 579 to allow patients the same access to health data that others across the country already have.

No one should have to suffer or go into debt just to access basic information about their own body.

Let New Yorkers reclaim their health freedom. Repeal Section 579.

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Just one example of what happens when you try and order a DTC lab test online in New York:

Websites like DirectLabs offer access to hundreds of comprehensive lab tests that are essential for monitoring and maintaining health—many of which are not available through traditional medical providers. These types of functional lab tests can provide deeper insights into hormonal balance, nutrient status, gut health, and more. However, New York residents are not even listed as eligible participants, highlighting a significant limitation in access: