If the Internet empowers consumers to take charge of their health and their environment, the burden of knowledge and responsibility also shifted from doctors and legislators for the individual. There is a huge variety of diagnostic tests that can be bought online and used in the privacy of your own home. This brings very powerful tool in the hands of the consumer. But, if they're saying goes, "with great power comes great responsibility."
There are many different types of home test kits on the market, but they fall broadly into two categories: medical and non-medical.
In the medical category there are standard diagnostic tests for diabetes, high cholesterol, pregnancy, hormone levels, fertility and fatherhood. There are also tests for specific diseases such as STIS (sexually transmitted diseases), including HIV test kits.
Non-medical tests are usually for environmental factors such as water testing, mold, radon, pesticides and other contaminants.
Before you buy one of these tests, you should provide some important questions.
1. why should I test? In the case of medical tests privacy is often a major concern. Many of these tests are conditions that socially sensitive data. STD and paternity tests fall into this category. In other cases, you do not have the medical insurance to cover the nature of the test that you want to keep track of your medical condition. Cholesterol and blood sugar levels, for example, testing. So if privacy or lack of access your primary concerns, online home testing kits a good solution for you. However, are you just curious, or concerned that you may have a serious health condition, I urge you to consult your doctor first.
2. do I need the skills to follow instructions the test correctly? This is a tricky one to answer, unless you test kit for you, but here are some guidelines. I call it the Ikea test. Are you the kind of person that detailed instructions? If this is not the case, home test may not be for you if you don't do the tests just right, you would contaminate the sample and get a false positive or false negative result. Either way, you will have wasted your money, leaving you wrongly reassured or delivered for no reason. Please join us? If all your Ikea projects all parts left over, don't forget about testing House. Leave it to the professionals.
3. What are the ethical implications of this test? Another potential minefield here, but you need to think about. Some of the most popular home test kits on the market for any illegal or illicit drug testing. You can now buy home drug tests for marijuana, cocaine, meth, heroin and other opiates. There are even tests for legal substances such as alcohol, nicotine and caffeine (tobacco).
The ethical concern arises because if you have any of these drugs, you don't need a test to confirm it. That leaves two possibilities. A: you want to test someone else such as a son, daughter or spouse. Or two: you want to test yourself so that you have a drug screen by your employer, school or other body may proceed.
With the first, of course, you have the right to protect your children against the damage of illicit drugs. However, many of these tests have an invasive quality that can make it difficult to collect the sample of an unwilling participant. The most accurate form of drug testing is its analysis, but you must provide a sample of her taken from near the skin. Other tests use urine or saliva sample. There are mist tests for the presence of a drug can indicate, but the link to the actual use is obviously weaker.
In the second case, have to ask yourself if maybe it's time to extra guidance for substance abuse. If you're your employment or the academic future to high risk, which is a pretty steep price to pay-at the top of the costs of the tests themselves. But if you're concerned that secondhand smoke can be displayed on the screen of the drug, this inexpensive tests can be worth the price for peace of mind. Just don't breathe!
4. some tests have legal consequences? Good question. In our litigious society, where lawyers line up if scalpers on a U2 concert to prosecute someone for something, some diagnostic tests to be considered as a violation of rights. Some of the drug testing kits come to mind. Paternity tests must, however, in particular of the legally recognised variety be admitted in evidence. You need to make sure that you choose the right paternity test or things go wrong. Going cheap cost you more than just your day in court.
5. how accurate are these tests? Accuracy depends on two factors: the accuracy of the test itself, and the care of the person taking the test (see question # 2). Many of the home test kits on the market have inherent accuracy levels of more than 99% if done properly. This is as good as most lab results. With human error is the most common reason for inaccuracy, be sure to choose FDA approved tests that have been rated as easy to use for most consumers.
Short description: Home testing kits for medical or non-medical tests can be a viable and cheap alternative to no testing at all. However, you have the option of getting a professional to do the testing for you, particularly for medical care, do that first. In cases where the privacy is a major concern, offers home testing is an excellent choice for the empowered consumer. Used carefully, with care for the proper procedure, these tests offer peace of mind, or serve as a basis for further testing. However, keep in mind that no test is completely right. Multiple tests may be necessary to confirm a result.
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