Get the Most From Home Health Tests
Determining Which Tests/Devices are Best for One's Needs
Jul 13, 2009
Not long ago, thermometers weren’t a home medical device; the doctor supplied it. Today there are a whole host of options--but which are really worth an investment of time and money?
The Revolution in Diabetes Monitoring
One of the greatest revolutions in home testing in the last 20 years has been in diabetes test strips and monitors. Before 1987, if someone could do a home test it wasn't particularly informative. One's blood was put on a test strip and the patient had to guess from the change in the strip's color whether his sugar was low, medium, or high.
But since the late 80s, when electronic glucose monitors were introduced, the story's been much different. Someone still adds a drop of blood to a strip, but now that strip goes into a monitor and the monitor offers an electronic reading of that person's sugar level. Anything over 126 is considered diabetes.
These devices have gotten more and more accurate in their readings. Some even let the patient store several days' worth of test scores, meaning they can give their doctor a more reliable overview of how well they've been doing in their sugar control.
What About Other Home Tests?
There are a number of other home tests that have developed. One of the newer ones lets women test for yeast infections. Urinary tract infections are another test that can be done at home.
Both of these, like diabetes tests, use a test strip known as a "dry reagant". Dry reagants react to some sort of liquid, like blood or urine. They are much more accurate than they used to be, but some can still be difficult for the average person to analyze. It can be hard to decide which color on the box or package insert the test strip (once it changes color) actually matches.
Another test that's been touted to some degree is called prothrombin testing. It helps determine how fast someone's blood is clotting. This test can be a real asset when a person's on one of the blood thinning drugs, like Coumadin, to fight high blood pressure.
While the FDA has approved some prothrombin tests for at-home use, most experts believe it's a test generally best left to the doctor. It can be a major help to a physician, since it means he doesn't have to wait for a lab test if he suspects clotting problems. That in turn means doctors can now make immediate, very fine adjustments to someone’s medication dosage. For the patient, though, it's expensive: about $1,000 per test. And like the tests above, prothrombin readings can be hard to evaluate objectively.
Another at-home test that most people really don't have to invest in is a cholesterol test. It's not something needed day in and day out. Instead, people (especially as they age) should make sure to get their cholesterol tested by their primary care doctor on a regular basis.
Consider Some Home Devices
There have been some interesting devices that people might want to consider investing in. Among them:
- Home blood pressure cuffs for people who have high or low blood pressure.
- Heart monitoring devices. People with abnormal heart rhythms are often sent home with a 24 hour heart monitor to wear. Unfortunately, many times the rhythm problem disappears while the monitor's being worn. Now some cardiologists provide cardiac “home event monitors” that the patient can wear for weeks. If symptoms appear, the patient hits a button on or near the phone and it transmits the rhythm over the phone line, allowing a technician to see an EKG strip.
- Foot bicycles. Many people, especially seniors in small apartments, don't have room for a home exercise bike. But there are now little foot cycles: some pedals that sit in front of a chair, one places one's feet on the pedals and starts pedaling. The pedaling helps burn calories, strengthens leg muscles, and improves circulation.
The Key to Home Testing
Even when a home test is recommended, the key is to know how to use it. For example, many people still assume that glucose monitors are infallible, but that's not true. If they haven't been cleaned properly that can affect the accuracy of the readings.
Also, different brands of monitors/tests vary in their accuracy. The government’s Office of In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD), which is part of the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) evaluates many devices, including glucose monitors. It's possible to see if a specific device has been approved through the the IVD's website. (See FDA.gov for additional info.)
Remember that home testing is never a substitute for a physician’s assessment and a treatment plan the doctor can develop. Test results can be misleading or even dangerous if they’re not connected to a doctor’s advice and a total wellness program.
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