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From midlife onwards, most of us are mildly concerned about our health – but with many GP surgeries still in chaos, is it time to ditch the 8am appointment lottery, and instead turn to affordable home health checks ? Tesco certainly thinks so.
This month, the supermarket giant has announced that it will be stocking home test kits for a wide range of conditions, from Vitamin D deficiency to bowel cancer.
As a result of widespread Covid testing, the home health check market is now growing rapidly. If you want a general health overview, and don’t want to wait for an appointment, here’s what you can – and can’t – test at home.
Bowel cancer
Is it worth doing a home test?
Maybe
How?
A colonic blood test kit, using a small stool sample which is then mixed with a tested solution (eg the One Step Bowel Cancer Occult Blood (FOB), £12.95, rapidflowflextest.co.uk)
These tests are now widely available – and for sale at Tesco. They work by assessing whether there is blood in your faeces which could indicate a problem, especially in conjunction with other symptoms such as loss of appetite or a change in toileting habits. The results are available within ten minutes, and if blood is indicated, it is important to make a follow-up GP appointment.
However, says GP Rachel Ward, “while there have been huge advances in patient testing equipment over the past decade, it’s important to understand that the result of any test only gives us part of the picture. The skill is to interpret the results in the context of other clinical factors. Home tests can encourage people to take more interest in their health, but my concern is that they could be falsely reassured by a result.”
Dr Ward also points out that ‘borderline’ test results will be brought to the GP, adding to their workload – so it’s wise to raise your concerns first. “It’s also a skill that needs testing,” says Dr Ward. Free bowel cancer home test kits are also available on the NHS for everyone aged 60 to 74.
Blood pressure
Is it worth doing a home test?
Yes
How?
Using a blood pressure monitor such as Omron, strap the cuff to your arm, start the machine and read the results on the screen (eg omron-healthcare.co.uk, from £54.99).
“I highly recommend monitoring your own blood pressure at home, as this is the best way to get accurate results,” says Birmingham-based GP Dr Thuva Amuthan. “When you’re in a healthcare setting you’re more at risk of ‘white coat syndrome’, and because of anxiety, your BP reads higher than it actually is.”
However, home tests require understanding, says Professor Denis Kinane, Founding Scientist at diagnostic test provider Cignpost.
“In a recent study, 64% of respondents expressed confidence in their understanding of blood pressure numbers – but only 39% knew what normal blood pressure should be (around 120/80). Conditions could be caught late from this,” he says. If you test at home, choose a machine that has been validated for accuracy by the British and Irish Hypertension Society (BIHS) or The British Heart Foundation.
Cholesterol
Is it worth doing a home test?
Maybe
How?
Finger prick test to collect a blood sample (eg Total Cholesterol Test, monitormyhealth.org.uk, £29).
Getting a fingerprint blood sample right can be tricky – one study published in the American Journal of Clinical Pathology found that there was almost 8 times more variation in fingertip test results than blood samples taken from veins.
Home tests can now check levels of ‘good’ cholesterol, or HDL (High Density Lipoproteins), and ‘bad’ cholesterol – low HDL and high levels of triglycerides. However, not getting enough blood could result in a false reading, says Professor Kinane. “If you have never taken a blood sample with a finger risk test, your first attempt will be challenging and this may affect your results.”
For a more definitive result, services such as Medichecks will send a nurse out or carry out the test in a clinic, then upload the results and doctor’s advice to a personal online platform – a cholesterol test starts at £39 and offers results within two days, with visit nurse £59 extra. The Human People doctor-led service provides an easy-to-use home blood collection service, including a cholesterol test.
Hormones
Is it worth doing a home test?
Maybe
How?
Bone marrow or urine test, which you send back to the lab, and then wait two days for results (eg hormone tests, fáilte.numan.com/ from £89).
A general overview can be obtained from the home test, says Professor Kinane, “Usually, a urine sample or a blood sample. Provided the company offering the service sends their samples to a UKAS certified laboratory, these are as accurate as those made by a doctor.”
But any female hormone level tests, says Dr. Amuthan, “can change depending on the time in your [menstrual] cycle and other factors. They can be difficult to interpret and will almost always require your doctor to repeat them using a more reliable vein sample.”
However, other private companies offer vein testing, such as optimale.co.uk, which will send a nurse or arrange a clinic visit.
Biomarkers
Is it worth doing a home test?
Maybe
How?
Finger prick test, post to lab, report online (eg Thriva app, from £30)
Biomarker tests assess electrolytes such as creatine and sodium and show how well your organs such as the liver and kidneys are functioning, as well as highlighting potential health conditions that may be “the -helpful in diagnosing medical conditions and picking them up early,” says Dr Amuthan. “Unfortunately, all the research is based on vein samples, so the at-home blood tests may not be as accurate and may need to be repeated before treatment is prescribed.”
Again, it can only be pricier to visit a home nurse to do the tests. However, if you’re health-conscious and want an overview of your general health, they won’t do any harm – as long as you don’t make major health decisions based on home results.
Blood sugar
Is it worth doing a home test?
Yes
How?
Fingertip risk test, test strips and monitor (eg Accu-check, from £29.99, Boots).
“Measuring blood sugars is one of the most reliable home tests,” says Professor Kinane, “You can buy monitors that are over 95% accurate. Of course, if you find that levels are worsening and dropping significantly, talk to a doctor.”
Dr Amuthan agrees: “The machine used is easy to operate at home,” he says. “There are criteria that will tell you if you’re fine, if you need more tests or if you’re likely to have diabetes.” If so, he continues, “your doctor may want another venous blood test to confirm this.”
allergies
Is it worth doing a home test?
No
Although kits are available for use at home, “allergy tests can often give false positives,” says Dr. Amuthan. “That’s why the NHS keeps them for specific challenging cases only, and they need to be interpreted by a specialist.” The NHS will not carry out general testing, but will test for suspected triggers such as food, pets or chemicals, “to avoid confusion with false positives.” If you suspect you have an allergy, keep a record of the possible causes and see your GP to discuss testing.
Vitamin D
Is it worth doing a home test?
Unless you use a doctor-led service
“For those who often feel tired and weak, we always recommend a test, but for this one, you need a professional to read the results,” explains Professor Kinane. You will then need maintenance supplements from the pharmacy.”
If you’re struggling to get a doctor’s appointment and need a home test, choose a doctor-run company, such as Humanpeople.co, who can discuss your results and prescribe a higher dose of vitamin D if necessary.
If in doubt, always talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
