At Home Self-Screening Test Kits: Benefits and Limitations

Stavroula Koulocheri, A.

Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, University of Athens, Greece

Dr. Stavroula Koulocheri, A., Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, University of Athens, Greece.

Keywords: Consumer Information; Home Testing; Self-test

Abstract

Millions of people are now taking their medical tests into their own hands, by using diagnostic testing kits and in the comfort of their own homes. Recent technological advances mean that a huge variety of selfscreening test kits now exists. Self-test diagnostic kits can be purchased over the counter or Internet and used at home, independently of health care specialists. There are many different types of tests which could be used at home for an array of conditions and illnesses including cancers, chronic conditions and sexually transmitted infections like HIV with the number of new tests continuing to increase. However these are helping to diagnose illnesses in developing countries where many people have little or no access to medical care. This technology-driven trend is not without limits and could result in serious problems for those who only rely on the self-testing instead of on the medical expertise of health-care professionals.

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