The Truth About At-Home Medical Tests
By Linda DiProperzio
There are many at-home tests on the market, all promising consumers a fast, convenient and-for the most part-cheap way to monitor a preexisting condition or provide a diagnosis for a new one. But not all of these tests are created equal, and many MDs caution against playing doctor at home. "Many times the results are straightforward, but more often than not there are hidden clues that doctors rely on to make a diagnosis," says Victor Perkel, MD, an endocrinologist at Redlands Community Hospital in Southern California. "Evaluation involves a good history and an examination with labs providing confirmation of the suspected diagnosis." Below are a few of the most common at-home tests, along with expert opinions on whether you should add them to your shopping cart or save your money.
The Condition: High Blood Pressure
The Test: Omron Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor with Large Cuff ($49.99, at drugstores and OmronWebstore.com)
How It Works: You simply wrap the cuff around your upper arm, then sit back and let the monitor do the rest. Its IntelliSense system inflates the cuff to the ideal level, and a large digital panel displays your blood pressure and pulse readings.
The Verdict: Buy it
It's an easy way for people with high blood pressure to make sure their medication is working, and most physicians encourage at-home monitoring, says David Meyerson, MD, an American Heart Association spokesman and director of Cardiology Consultative Services at Johns Hopkins Bayview. "The best monitors cuff at the upper arm-the machines that test at the wrist or fingertip simply aren't as accurate," he explains. Dr. Meyerson also recommends bringing the monitor to your doctor so he can calibrate it and show you how to use it. "And you also want to record your readings several times a day and take that information to the doctor to see if the numbers match up."
The Condition: Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
The Test: Consumers Choice Systems UTI Home Screening Test ($12, at drugstores and Drugstore.com)
How It Works: It is similar to a home pregnancy test: You hold the stick in your urine stream for 10 seconds, then wait as it checks for nitrites and proteins in your urine. The test results take as little as one minute.
The Verdict: Buy it
Recent studies have shown that 1 in 5 women will develop a UTI during their lifetime, and getting treatment as soon as possible is essential to relieve pain and prevent further complications. This test can be helpful if a woman has had a UTI or bladder infection in the past and can recognize the symptoms, says Mitchell Lew, MD, ob-gyn and medical director of Prospect Medical Group in Santa Ana, California. "We treat UTIs based on symptoms and use a traditional urine culture that checks for white blood cells and nitrites to confirm the diagnosis," he says. "The test strips are a good screening tool to use." However, ultimately, you will need to be prescribed a treatment, so if you've had a UTI in the past and the test came back positive, be sure to contact your doctor. If you've never had a UTI and therefore aren't familiar with the symptoms, it's best to contact your doctor immediately.
The Condition: Yeast Infection
The Test: Vagisil Screening Kit ($15, at drugstores and Drugstore.com)
How It Works: The kit contains two individually wrapped vaginal wands with pH paper at one end as well as a pH guide. You insert one of the wands into the vagina and press it against the vaginal wall. Remove the wand and compare the color of the pH swab to the colors on the guide. The number that corresponds with the color match is the vaginal pH. If your pH reading is 4.5, symptoms might be due to a yeast infection; if it is 5.0 or higher, it might be a bacterial infection.
The Verdict: Skip it
More than 50 percent of women with symptoms of a yeast infection (itching, burning, unusual odor or discharge) actually have a bacterial infection, which requires antibiotics. But you can't rely simply on the pH level to confirm either, says Dr. Lew. "There is no real advantage to using such a kit. When accompanied by certain symptoms, a pH in a given range is suggestive of but not specific for a given vaginal infection. A doctor needs to be consulted for a definitive diagnosis and treatment."
The Condition: Infertility
The Test: First Response Fertility Test ($25, drugstores and Drugstore.com)
How It Works: You'd use this much like a pregnancy test: On day three of your menstrual cycle, hold the tip of the stick in your urine stream for five seconds. It then tests your follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels in order to assess your ovarian reserve, an indicator of fertility.
The Verdict: Skip it
Research shows that 1 out of 3 couples experience infertility, so an at-home test might seem like an easy and fast option. But "evaluating a woman's fertility is very complex-FSH is just one part of the process," says Desireé McCarthy-Keith, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist at Georgia Reproductive Specialists in Atlanta. "We evaluate so many different factors, including the man's fertility. And when it comes to FSH, it's really important to know the exact number so we know the course of treatment that is needed. What does this test consider normal? Infertility is simply not a condition to self-diagnose."
Trying to get pregnant? Learn about four foods that increase your fertility.
The Condition: Allergies
The Test: My Allergy Test ($50 at ImmuneTech.com)
How It Works: You collect a few drops of blood with a simple finger stick, and then return the blood sample to ImmuneTech's lab using the preaddressed, prepaid mailing envelope provided. When your results are in, you'll be notified via email, and then can log in to the confidential site to see the outcome. The test checks for 10 potential allergies, including milk, wheat, egg, ragweed, cats, mold, dust mites and more.
The Verdict: Proceed with caution
One out of 4 people are affected by some type of allergy, and while this test checks for the most common causes, a doctor will actually test for about 70 substances total. "This is a limited test," says Stanley M. Fineman, MD, president-elect of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. "And even if the test was accurate, you need a doctor to tell you what those results mean and what kind of treatment you need." So the bottom line is, you can take the test if you suspect one of these 10 allergies, but regardless of the outcome you will eventually need to see a doctor.
The Condition: Thyroid Problem
The Test: Landmark Thyroid (TSH) Test ($40 at HealthHomeTest.com)
How It Works: The test is designed to read your thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, which can determine if you have an overactive or underactive thyroid. You put a few drops of blood on the collection card and, after it dries, place the card along with your order form into a prepaid envelope. After your sample is analyzed at the company's lab, you'll receive a report by return mail.
The Verdict: Proceed with caution
Studies show that women are five to eight times more likely to suffer from thyroid disease than men. Depending on whether you have an overactive or underactive thyroid, the condition can cause everything from weight loss or gain and muscle weakness to depression and hair loss. And while testing TSH levels is "the gold standard" in diagnosing a thyroid problem, says Dr. Perkel, it's also important to get checked out by your doctor for a full health evaluation. Even the company website states that the report should be given to a physician so he can analyze your overall thyroid health.
Original article appeared on WomansDay.com
Related articles on WomansDay.com:
Strange Health Symptoms Explained
