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Home Test Kits for Self-diagnosing

Taking Control of Personal Health and Symptoms

Aug 23, 2009 Amy Andersen

Medical diagnostic self-testing is available and private. Medicare and insurance covers the expense of some. Many are worthwhile but some need professional follow-up.

Can adults improve their health by evaluating a myriad of health problems in their home? Monitoring health in the privacy of one's home seems attractive and accessible.

Home Test Kits Take Private Diagnosis to a New Level

Most home tests cost less than a doctor visit. Patients already can take their own blood pressure, and temperature. Home pregnancy tests have been around for years. Self testing of fasting blood sugar saves time sitting in a crowded lab. A finger stick can also be used on another test strip for cholesterol, triglicerides, HDL, and LDL.

The package insert describes normal values and how to perform the test. This is useful for a normal person with good values. It validates their wellness.

On the other hand, the patient may equivocate whether a perfect value is needed since he feels fine. Maybe his results are “good enough.” Without a healthcare visit follow up which might uncover additional markers this patient loses out on being put on a statin which could at some point save his life.

Conclusion for Worthiness of Home Glucose and Lipid Testing:

Home tests for blood sugar help monitor blood sugar and lipids. An elevated result needs a second professional opinion. Any abnormalities need a second opinion.

Fecal Occult Blood Test

This is a colon cancer-screening test with a stool sample. There can be color change when a solution is added. The color signifies blood in the stool. This result is step one. If there is blood in the stool, where is it coming from?

Red carrots, red meat, blueberries, beef, mushroom, chicken, aspirin, etc. eaten within 12 hours might affect the results. Fissures, hemorrhoids, menstrual spotting, colitis and constipation may cause blood to be seen in the stool.

A positive test simply means the source for the blood needs to be checked out. Most adults over 50 should have an office colonoscopy.

Conclusion: This is a good home test to monitor an initial situation. Thereafter, get a professional opinion.

Urine Home Test Kit

This tests primarily for protein, leukocytes, and nitrites.

Conclusion: This is a good test to see if there isn’t a UTI and to try antispasmodics. If positive, a clinic visit is mandatory for antibiotics.

Home HIV Testing

This is anonymous by code, phone, and mail. There is a wait time for the result to return.

Hepatitis C home testing works the same way.

Conclusion: The kit directs one to a national phone number. Patients are empowered to learn of a life- threatening diagnosis alone in privacy but need follow up and support for positive results.

Yeast Infections

There is a dipstick to check for vaginal yeast infection. Itching and burning may actually be a UTI (a different test).

Conclusion: Home yeast infection tests are a good idea particularly since diagnosing yeast infection allows the patient to purchase over the counter medication to resolve the problem

Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Home Test

A man with an elevated PSA must discuss this finding with a provider since interpretation weighs on several factors. This test is only a first step in evaluating prostate cancer or enlargement.

Conclusion: PSA is an annual test at a certain age depending on family and personal history. Checking at home may increase paranoia due to many factors that interfere with accuracy.

PT/INR testing for Coumadin, Blood Thinner Monitoring

Usually a prescription is needed for this device. It saves frequent clinic visits and wait times for a necessary blood level.

Conclusion: It is a good idea for those on daily anticoagulants to be able to check their levels as needed and communicate with their practitioner whether increasing or decreasing medication is needed.

A good rule would be a professional follow up for any test that has a positive result unnecessary testing should be avoided. Understanding the potential for not only a false positive result but also a false negative one is crucial to maintain health now and in the future.

The copyright of the article Home Test Kits for Self-diagnosing in General Medicine is owned by Amy Andersen. Permission to republish Home Test Kits for Self-diagnosing in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.