My head hurts. My side aches. Is my liver functioning properly? Do I have kidney problems? Sound familiar? If it does you aren’t alone. There are many people (myself included) who may feel under the weather, but would rather skip the expensive trip to the doctor.
Now there is a new way you can skip the trip to the doctor’s office, yet still get tested for an illness. New diagnostic tests let you order your own blood work, without ever seeing a doctor. You can check everything from your red blood cell count to your cholesterol levels through a medical testing company that allows you to order your blood tests without a doctor’s prescription… all you need is a computer.
You simply go online to a service such as Health Check USA and choose the test you want. Then, the company sends you to a nearby, accredited lab. The lab does the blood work and mails you the results. You can access the results online a few days after you have your specimen drawn.
The tests may be convenient, but insurance doesn’t cover many of the services. However, some offer a discounted rate. Managers at Health Check USA say because they do such a large volume with laboratories they receive a discount, which is then be passed on to customers. An average test currently runs around $85.
So, what kind of patient typically makes use of these types of services? Managers at Health Check USA say people who need to have their blood checked on a monthly basis to regulate their medications make up the bulk of their customers. By choosing the online option these patients are able to avoid having to constantly make appointments with their doctor.
While some may find the option affordable, some specialists say it’s just a prescription for trouble. Doctors with the American Medical Association say companies such as Health Check USA simplify a fairly complicated process. Doctors say test results need medical oversight. What’s more, doctors say if they are not properly read a person may assume that they are healthy when in actuality they may have a thyroid condition or diabetes, which can lead to a host of other problems including heart disease, cardiovascular disease or stroke.
Some leading pathologists have weighed in on the tests as well. While some say the self-tests are not a substitute for seeing a doctor, they do see them as a tool for health-conscious people in that the tests allow a patient to “take more ownership over their healthcare status.”
In researching the self-ordered tests I found two other noteworthy facts. First, results from the tests are private, which means insurance companies don’t have access to the information. And, finally, it is imperative to do your own research prior to taking one of these tests. While the FDA has approved at-home blood tests, there are some that have been pulled from the market, so make sure you choose a test that has been tested and approved.
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