How the Canary Process Works (Patient to Inspector to Results)
Canary is a marketplace, not a clinic. Here is exactly how a booking flows — from the moment you describe your concern to the moment a lab report and any documentation land in your hands.
What Canary is
Canary is a marketplace that connects patients with certified environmental and home inspectors, and — when it is clinically appropriate — with licensed telehealth providers who can issue a Letter of Medical Necessity. We are not a healthcare provider, we do not diagnose, and we do not analyze samples ourselves. We coordinate independent professionals and hand you clear documentation.
Step 1 — Tell us your concern
You start by describing what is going on: the home, the symptoms' timing if any, the water history, and what you are worried about. This intake shapes which tests make sense and whether a provider review is relevant.
Step 2 — Optional clinical review
If you intend to use HSA/FSA funds, a licensed provider in our network can review your situation by telehealth and, if appropriate, issue a Letter of Medical Necessity. This step is about documentation and clinical judgment; it does not guarantee that your administrator will reimburse the expense.
Step 3 — Match with a certified inspector
We connect you with a certified inspector serving your area. You can review their credentials and book a visit. The inspector performs the on-site assessment and sampling and sends samples to an independent accredited lab.
Step 4 — Get your results
When the lab finishes, your results land in one place. Your report folder typically includes:
- The lab report, with the accredited lab's information.
- An itemized receipt of the services performed.
- The signed LMN, if a provider issued one.
That package is the kind of documentation a clinician can interpret and an HSA/FSA administrator may ask to see.
Step 5 — What you do with it
You bring the results to your treating clinician to discuss what, if anything, they mean for your health, and — if you are seeking reimbursement — you submit the LMN and receipt to your HSA/FSA administrator per their instructions. Canary does not submit on your behalf and cannot promise reimbursement.
Ready to start?
If you are weighing whether testing makes sense first, our guides on signs you may want an inspection and using HSA/FSA for environmental testing are good next reads.
Frequently asked questions
Is Canary a doctor's office?
No. Canary is a marketplace that coordinates independent certified inspectors and, when appropriate, licensed telehealth providers. We do not diagnose or treat.
Do I have to get a Letter of Medical Necessity?
No. The clinical review and LMN are optional and mainly relevant if you plan to use HSA/FSA funds. You can book an inspection on its own.
Will Canary file my HSA/FSA claim for me?
No. We provide the documentation administrators commonly request, but you submit it to your administrator, who decides on reimbursement.