Are Home Diagnostic Kits Reliable As A Substitute For Professional Medical Opinions?
Lets face it. A trip to the drugstore is a whole lot easier than a costly and time-consuming trip to the doctors office. No time wasted waiting for the physician; no embarrassing questions to answer; and no sticker shock when the bill comes. Just head for the section of your pharmacy with all of the gadgets and home test kits and you are ready to play doctor.
With skyrocketing medical costs and increased concerns about privacy, more and more Americans are taking advantage of products designed to help monitor existing conditions or to help diagnose new ones. Blood glucose monitors help diabetics manage their condition, blood pressure kits help monitor hypertension while those with cardiovascular concerns can track cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Of course, home pregnancy kits have been available for years. But now it is possible to go well beyond health management with these off-the-shelf products and individuals can now perform diagnostic tests in the comfort and safety of their homes.
But is this trend really safe?
Health care professionals have expressed...