CLEARSTEM Acne Lab Test vs BreakoutLabs: Which Fits You?

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Short answer: As of September 28, 2026, CLEARSTEM's own Acne Lab Test page labels the test "(Discontinued)". When it was offered, it was a $525 blood panel ordered through Rupa Health, drawn at a lab near you, with a PDF analysis from CLEARSTEM's acne specialists and 3 free months of their membership community. BreakoutLabs is a $199 at-home acne blood test with 12 listed biomarkers and results 5 business days after the lab receives your sample. If you want an acne blood test you can order today, collect at home, and see every marker it measures, BreakoutLabs fits.

What the CLEARSTEM Acne Lab Test is

CLEARSTEM is a skincare brand. Its page describes the Acne Lab Test as "a customized blood test" that includes markers commonly out of range in acne, across categories such as stress, blood sugar, hydration, hormones, possible infections, immune function and inflammation. According to the page, you ordered through the Rupa Health website, got an email to schedule your blood test at a lab near you, and Rupa Health processed the labs within 7 to 10 days. CLEARSTEM's acne specialists then emailed a custom analysis within 3 to 4 weeks. The page states that lab work is ordered and processed through Rupa Health by its designated providers, and that CLEARSTEM is not a medical provider.

As of September 28, 2026, the page heading reads "The Acne Lab Test (Discontinued)". The same page also says existing members can reorder labs within the membership platform. If you're considering it, check with CLEARSTEM directly for current availability.

What BreakoutLabs is

BreakoutLabs makes the Acne Root Cause Test, a blood test built around acne. It measures 12 biomarkers across hormones, stress and inflammation, nutrients and blood sugar. You collect a small blood sample at home with a painless device on the back of your upper arm, the sample is processed in a CLIA-certified lab, and results are ready 5 business days after the lab receives it. Results come with a personalized Clear Skin Blueprint. It's $199 for the test kit, and membership options with retesting are also available.

CLEARSTEM Acne Lab Test vs BreakoutLabs at a glance

	CLEARSTEM Acne Lab Test	BreakoutLabs
Main focus	Acne, analyzed by CLEARSTEM's acne specialists	Acne: internal factors linked to breakouts
Biomarkers (count)	Not listed on their site	12
Acne-related markers included	Exact markers not listed on their site. Categories named: stress, blood sugar, hydration, hormones, possible infections, immune function, inflammation	Free Testosterone, Total Testosterone, SHBG, DHEA-S, Cortisol, hsCRP, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Ferritin, HbA1c, plus Albumin and Creatinine
Who orders the test	Rupa Health, through its designated providers	A licensed physician orders each test; you buy the kit directly from BreakoutLabs
Sample collection	Blood test scheduled at a lab	Small sample with a painless device on the back of the upper arm
Where you collect	A lab near you	At home
Results turnaround	Labs processed within 7 to 10 days; specialist analysis emailed within 3 to 4 weeks	5 business days after the lab receives your sample
Price (as of Sept 28, 2026)	$525 for the lab test	$199 for the test kit (one-time)
Membership	3 free months for first-time customers, then $33/month; can be paused or cancelled any time	Optional; membership options with retesting are available
What comes with results	Personalized PDF; access to monthly specialist calls, quarterly Q&A sessions, masterclasses, meal plans and product recommendations. Individual consultations are not provided	Personalized Clear Skin Blueprint
Age / eligibility	Not listed on their site	14 or older (ages 14 to 17 with a parent or guardian)
Guarantee	Not listed on their site	30-day money-back guarantee (terms)

Prices, panels and availability change. Check each company's site for the latest details.

What does the CLEARSTEM Acne Lab Test measure?

CLEARSTEM's page names categories rather than individual markers, so we can't say whether specific markers like SHBG, DHEA-S or HbA1c were included. The exact list is not listed on their site. The page says a masterclass explains more about what is tested; we did not rely on it here.

Why do individual markers matter? Different hormones point in different directions. In a study of 129 adult women with acne, acne severity was linked to lower SHBG, and most had at least one raised androgen (Borgia et al., 2004). In a smaller study of women with adult-onset acne, the only hormonal difference from controls in women without excess hair growth was higher DHEA-S (Seirafi et al., 2007). These are observational studies, mostly in women, so they show links, not proof of cause. Knowing exactly which markers you're getting lets you and your doctor see these patterns. More in low SHBG and acne and blood tests for acne.

Why BreakoutLabs is a better fit

You want a test you can order today with a published list of all 12 markers.
You'd rather collect at home. No lab visit: a painless device on the back of your upper arm, in the morning after an 8 to 10 hour fast, Monday to Thursday. If you menstruate, you collect on days 3 to 7 of your cycle.
You want results in 5 business days. Results are ready 5 business days after the lab receives your sample, with your Clear Skin Blueprint.
You're a teen. BreakoutLabs is available from age 14, with a parent or guardian for ages 14 to 17.
You want a guarantee. The 30-day money-back guarantee applies if we can't deliver results, or if all markers are normal and your acne is unlikely driven by what we measure.

Can you use both?

If you already have CLEARSTEM results, keep them. Earlier values are useful when you compare against new ones, as long as you know which markers were measured and under what conditions (time of day, fasting, cycle day). Our guide to normal bloodwork and ongoing acne explains why the same number can mean different things in context.

Whichever route you take, share results with your doctor. Acne treatment options range from topical therapies to oral and hormonal treatments, and your doctor decides what fits you (Reynolds et al., 2024). Lab results add context to that conversation. They don't replace it.

How BreakoutLabs fits in

The Acne Root Cause Test measures Free Testosterone, Total Testosterone, SHBG, DHEA-S and Albumin (hormones); Cortisol and hsCRP (stress and inflammation); Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Ferritin and Creatinine (nutrients and recovery); and HbA1c (blood sugar). It does not measure estrogen, progesterone, insulin, glucose, thyroid hormones, zinc or serum iron. The test gives you information to understand your skin and bring to your doctor. It doesn't treat acne. For a checklist of signs worth testing, see signs of hormonal acne.

Frequently asked questions

Is the CLEARSTEM Acne Lab Test still available?

As of September 28, 2026, CLEARSTEM's Acne Lab Test page is labeled "(Discontinued)". The same page says existing members can reorder labs within the membership platform, so contact CLEARSTEM for current availability.

How much was the CLEARSTEM Acne Lab Test?

Their page lists $525 for the lab test (as of September 28, 2026). First-time customers got 3 free months of membership, which then costs $33 a month and can be paused or cancelled any time.

Is the CLEARSTEM Acne Lab Test done at home?

No. According to their page, Rupa Health emails you to schedule a blood test at a lab near you. BreakoutLabs is collected at home with a device on the back of your upper arm.

What is a CLEARSTEM Acne Lab Test alternative?

An acne-focused blood test like BreakoutLabs measures hormones, inflammation, nutrients and blood sugar, collected at home, with results read for your skin. You can also ask your doctor or dermatologist about hormone testing; see do dermatologists do blood tests for acne?