Testing made easy
Direct-from-lab medical results can give patients more power, but they might also harm the unwary
More straightforward are arguments against getting a cancer test called CA-125. Direct Laboratory Services markets it to forewarn of ovarian cancer. But doctors don't think that it can reliably detect cancer--despite the ads, it's used only to monitor treatment after cancer has been diagnosed.
To check whether a test is appropriate, one useful resource is the Web site at www.labtestsonline.org. It offers reliable information on an exhaustive array of lab tests in plain English, telling you what the tests are used for.
Understanding your specific results is another headache. That HGB result, by the way, is a measure of hemoglobin in your blood, and 15.5 means nothing unless you know that normal HGB, or what's called the "reference range," is between 12 and 18. So make sure your direct testing company provides a clear explanation. QuesTest is good about this, providing a custom printout of results. Any value outside the reference range is highlighted, and further details about what the value might mean are printed right alongside it.
QuesTest is limited, however, offering 24 tests compared with the dozens and hundreds that other companies provide. And while you get complete service, it costs you. Its cholesterol test costs $40, for example, while HealthcheckUSA is $10 less. Repeat that several times a year, and it adds up. The cost-versus-benefit calculation is one that all healthcare consumers must make for themselves--without a doctor's help.
Test cases
Here are some of the most popular health tests you can get without visiting the doctor's office. The best advice is to use these tests in consultation with a physician.
ANEMIA: iron status and complete blood count
DIABETES: glucose levels and hemoglobin A1C test
HEART: HDL, LDL, and total cholesterol; triglycerides
THYROID: thyroid stimulating hormone; free T4 hormone (if needed)
PSA: prostate specific antigen to indicate prostate cancer
LIVER: series of liver enzymes, bilirubin, and total protein
NUTRITION AND VITAMINS: B12, folate, calcium, and iron, as well as cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose
STD: sexually transmitted disease tests for chlamydia and gonorrhea
FOOD ALLERGY: the 10 most common food allergies
HORMONES: estradiol, progesterone, and estrogen
CA-125: ovarian cancer monitoring
HEMOCHROMATOSIS: hereditary iron-overload disease screening
advertisement
