At-Home Tests: Positive or Negative?
June 11, 2008 by Becky Ramsey
Filed under Business
According to drugstore.com, there are now a number of at-home tests available in addition to the tried and true pregnancy test. These tests include devices, swabs, etc. to test for:
- allergies – test for 10 basic allergens, $66.29
- breast milk – test for alcohol and other substances, $20
- cholesterol – blood test strip, $12+
- colorectal disease – stool test strip, $25
- drugs/tobacco – saliva and urine tests for specific substances, $20 each
- Hepatitis B – take blood sample to send to lab, $60
- menopause – hormone level test, $13.99
- oral cancer – a non-invasive device, $35
- prostate cancer – prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test to send to lab, $35
- staph infection – nasal swab, $42
- urinary tract infections – urine test strips, $20
These at-home tests can be great preemptive measures, but they should not replace trips to a clinic, hospital, or physician’s office when needed. I’m all for patients being proactive about their health care and taking it in to their own hands. At-home tests can be an affordable way for people to get quick answers, particularly people who want to avoid what may end up being a costly trip to the doctor. I know that were I to personally use one of these at-home tests, though, I would be anxious about the results, take multiple tests to confirm, and end up at my doctor’s office anyway. These tests would not save me time or money.
What are your thoughts about at-home tests? Positive or negative?
