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At-home testing is giving patients an increasingly active role in managing their health—but what does this trend mean for labs?

The healthcare landscape has shifted significantly in recent years. With increasing pressures and declining workforces, many patients are taking on more responsibility in managing and advocating for their care. At-home diagnostic tests—whether direct-to-consumer or provider-prescribed—can support this proactive approach, helping patients obtain healthcare information they need and potentially alleviating pressures on overstretched clinical lab professionals. To learn more about home testing from the patient perspective, we spoke to Michele Mitchell, a patient expert who works with multiple pathology and laboratory medicine groups.

Q: What are the benefits of patients’ active participation in their health care?

A: I’ve always believed that nobody cares more about my health than I do. Taking an active role ensures that I and other patients stay vigilant and don’t fall through the cracks. At-home diagnostic testing is a prime example of this shift. Enabling patients to proactively and independently address some of their health concerns allows them to better navigate the system and maintain continuity of care despite the evolving challenges in healthcare delivery.

The benefits of at-home testing include:

  • Awareness and empowerment: Patients who guide their own health care become more informed and engaged, leading to better decision-making and outcomes.
  • Convenience and accessibility: Home testing saves time and reduces reliance on providers for routine diagnostics.
  • Filling gaps in care: With health care becoming less personalized and staffing pressures increasing, patients can avoid being overlooked or dismissed.

Of course, there are also downsides:

  • Risk of error: Incorrect test usage, misinterpretation of results, or over-reliance on a single test can lead to false positives, missed diagnoses, or misguided treatments.
  • Cost implications: Confirmatory testing from providers can be financially burdensome.
  • Lack of context: Patients may focus on individual symptoms or test results without understanding the broader picture healthcare providers are trained to consider.

Q: What’s your personal experience with at-home tests?

A: In early 2024, I contracted COVID-19 and confirmed my diagnosis using an at-home test. The convenience was invaluable; home testing allowed me to quickly identify the issue without needing to visit a provider. However, because I wanted to ensure I wasn’t also dealing with influenza or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), I sought further testing from my provider—and, though I was fortunately negative for both, the follow-up test cost me $800.

This experience highlighted both the benefits and challenges of at-home testing. Home tests are accessible and let patients take charge of their health, but can also leave gaps in diagnosis or raise concerns that lead to costly and sometimes unnecessary follow-ups. The experience also emphasized the importance of balancing home testing with professional medical guidance.

Q: As a patient, do you prefer at-home or on-site testing?

A: I prefer at-home tests for straightforward conditions like the flu, RSV, COVID-19, or urinary tract infections. They let me quickly confirm issues with which I’m already familiar and contact my provider with specific information—for example, “I tested positive for flu”—which expedites getting the necessary prescriptions to feel better faster.

However, there are limits to what home testing can achieve. For more complex issues, on-site testing remains essential. For instance, if a home urinalysis detects trace blood, further testing at a lab might be needed to culture the sample and determine the appropriate antibiotic. Similarly, for more nuanced health concerns, we rely on providers and lab professionals who bring their expertise to interpret results and uncover underlying issues accurately. Balancing at-home and on-site testing ensures both convenience and precision.

Q: What role does the clinical lab play in at-home testing?

A: Labs play a significant role in at-home testing by providing kits and processing patient-collected samples. Recently, I participated in a 24-hour urine study. I collected the sample at home using a convenient lab-provided kit, mixed the solution as instructed, and mailed the sample back to the lab. The lab handled the analysis and uploaded my results to their website within days. I didn’t need to refrigerate the sample or travel to the lab to drop it off or receive my results. This saved me significant time and effort while still ensuring the accuracy and reliability of analysis and interpretation by the clinical lab.

Lab professionals can enhance patient support by prioritizing simplicity, clarity, and accessibility in at-home testing. Clear instructions with limited steps are essential, pictures or diagrams can aid visual learners, and video tutorials accessible via a website or QR code can educate patients about the test and demonstrate proper procedures. Including a control marker or indicator to confirm the test was performed correctly is vital to help patients ensure accuracy (and supplying extra kits or supplies offers a backup in case of user error or invalid results). Finally, a dedicated phone number for patient questions or concerns adds an extra layer of support, helps patients troubleshoot issues, and boosts their confidence in completing the test accurately.

Q: What information does the public need about at-home testing?

A: The public needs clear, easily accessible information and education from lab professionals. This should include multiple formats: instructional videos, dedicated phone or chat helplines, step-by-step written instructions with diagrams and pictures, and frequently asked questions to help troubleshoot common issues.

There are definitely opportunities for improvement, particularly in increasing awareness and access. More needs to be done to educate both healthcare providers and the public about the wide range of tests available for at-home use. Raising awareness of how these tests can complement and improve the healthcare experience for patients could lead to better adoption and more informed decision-making.

As a patient, I want to know more about specific at-home tests and what value they offer me. I hear about some at-home tests in the news, but I’m not aware of everything that might be available. It would be helpful to have more comprehensive—and trustworthy—information on what tests are out there and how they can benefit my health and healthcare experience.

Q: Do you think the popularity of at-home testing will continue to increase?

A: Yes; as patients become more engaged in their health care, they value convenient, cost-effective ways to manage their health. Additionally, advancements in AI and automation will drive this trend by improving test processing efficiency and reducing reliance on manual labor—an important factor given ongoing laboratory staffing shortages.

I anticipate that, as at-home testing becomes more widespread, the lab’s role will shift. Labs may focus more on processing complex tests that require specialized expertise while simpler, routine tests are handled through automation and at-home kits. This evolution will allow labs to optimize their resources without compromising on high-quality testing and accurate results for patients.

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