8 months ago
(CBS) -- There are a lot of them on the market, claiming that some of the same screenings typically done at the doctor's office can now be performed at home.
You can test yourself at home for everything from allergies and thyroid to menopause.
Vanessa Migone says she would give it try. "If it did diagnose me with something then I would go get an appointment with doctor, it's kind of a first step. "
Home menopause kits claim that a simple urine test can help determine whether a woman's period changes are caused by menopause. But doctors are concerned about the product's accuracy.
Dr. Michele Warren with Columbia University Medical Center explains, "The problem with these tests is that the levels of which are measured vary tremendously in normal cycle. So if you don't measure them exactly at the right time, it may give you an answer which suggests that you're in menopause when you are not."
What about home testing for allergies? Dr. Clifford Bassett, Vice Chair of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology says,"Sometimes these home allergy tests kits may test for a variety of common allergens. Cow milk, egg and wheat. That's all they test for. In the office we want to focus on the most important allergens that affect an individual. The type of pollen, the type of food that may be causing an allergic reaction."
At the Good Housekeeping Institute volunteers tested their cholesterol using home kits, then compared results from a professional lab.
Toni Hope with Good Housekeeping says,"We found that the scores from Cholestrak came closest to the ones from the professional lab, but that test just gives you total cholesterol, not the breakdown of other kinds that you would need to really assess your risk of heart disease."
The bottom line, discuss the test results with your physician. Also, compare costs, you may end up spending more on an at home test kit than by going to the doctor, especially if you have health insurance.
Comments 
