Medical self-testing kits are easy to use, relatively inexpensive, and readily available. They can be used without a visit to the doctor. It's no wonder that Americans are buying them more and more, spending over $500 million annually. Home tests can offer you a sense of self-reliance that can assist, though not take the place of, the service of your doctor.
Self-testing kits can be grouped into two categories:
Those that diagnose when
conditions are or are not present. These include the popular self-testing kits for
pregnancy, 
cholesterol,
and kits that test for blood in the stool.
Those that monitor an ongoing condition.
These include blood sugar testing for diabetes and blood pressure kits for high blood
pressure.
The U.S. Public Health Service and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) offer
some suggestions for safe and proper use of self-testing kits. (Each of these does not
necessarily apply to all tests.)
For test kits that contain chemicals, note
the expiration date. Beyond that date, chemicals may lose potency and affect results.
Don't buy or use a test kit after the expiration date.
Check whether the product needs protection
from heat or cold. If so, don't leave it in the car trunk or by a sunny window on the trip
home. At home, follow storage directions.
Study the package insert. First, read it
through to get a general idea of how to perform the test. Then, go back and review the
instructions and diagrams until you fully understand each step.
Be sure you understand what the test is
intended to do and what its limitations may be. Remember, the tests are not 100 percent
accurate.
If the test results rely on color
comparison and you're color-blind, ask someone who is not color-blind to help you
interpret the results
Note special precautions, such as avoiding
physical activity or certain foods and medications before testing.
Follow instructions exactly, including the
specimen collection process, if that is a part of the test. Sequence is important.
Don't skip a step.
When collecting a urine specimen (unless
you use a container from a kit), wash the container thoroughly and rinse out all soap
traces, preferably with distilled water.
When a step is timed, be precise. Use a
stopwatch, or at least a watch with a second hand.
Note what you should do if the results are
positive, negative, or unclear.
If something isn't clear, don't guess. Call
the "800" number on the package or call a pharmacist for information.
Keep accurate records of results.
As with medications, keep test kits that
contain chemicals out of the reach of children. Throw away used test materials as
directed.
Report any malfunction of a self-test to the manufacturer or to the FDA through the
agency's reporting system:
U.S. Pharmacopeia, Practitioner's Reporting Network, 12601 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville,
MD 20852. Phone: 1-800-638-6725.
HEALTH AT HOME - Your Complete Guide to Symptoms, Solutions, and Self-Care © 1999 by Don R. Powell. American Institute for Preventive Medicine.
Date updated 02/01/99