Description
Benefits of At-Home Tests Include
- Convenience: At-home tests allow you to get tested on your own schedule and without having to schedule an appointment, go to a medical office, or even leave the comfort of your home.
- Expanded access to testing: The ability to order and take tests from home simplifies the testing process and makes many tests more available to the public.
- Patient knowledge and empowerment: Patients are becoming more informed and active in their health care, and at-home testing can be a source of new information about their health and wellness.
- Transparent cost: In most cases, at-home tests ordered online have a set price that is clearly displayed, and it is rare to encounter hidden fees.
Uses of At-Home Tests
At-home tests can have a variety of uses. The most common uses of at-home tests include:
- Screening is looking for signs of a health problem before any symptoms have occurred. For example, at-home testing can look for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) that may not cause symptoms, which can help avoid unknowingly spreading it to others.
- Diagnosis is the identifying the cause of a health problem after symptoms have started. For example, at-home tests may detect infectious diseases like COVID-19. It is important to note, though, that only a doctor can formally diagnose a health condition, and they will need to conduct additional tests to confirm the results of at-home testing.
- Monitoring is tracking how a person’s health changes over time or in response to treatment. At-home kits that allow people with diabetes to measure their blood sugar are an example of monitoring.
- Disease risk assessment: In some situations, testing can reveal when a person has a higher risk of developing a disease. For instance, some genetic tests can look for DNA mutations that are associated with certain types of cancer, such as BRCA gene mutations and an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
- Wellness optimization: Some tests don’t look for a specific problem; instead, they are designed to help you understand one or more aspects of your physical, mental, or emotional wellness. These tests may measure hormones, nutrient levels, or other substances to offer more information about your body.
What preparation instructions are needed before taking Blood Glucose test?
How many hours needed before taking Blood Glucose test
The timing of blood glucose tests depends on the specific test that is being performed and the reason for the test.
For the most common test, the Fasting Blood Glucose Test, it is typically recommended that the person fast (not eat or drink anything except water) for at least 8 hours before the test. This test is usually done in the morning, after an overnight fast, to check for diabetes or prediabetes.
For the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test, a person typically fasts overnight, and then drinks a sugary solution in the morning. Blood samples are taken at regular intervals over a period of 2 hours to check how well the body processes glucose.
Another test called Random Blood Glucose Test, It can be done at any time regardless if person is fasting or not, but it is important to make sure the person is not in post-prandial state (2 hours after eating) when taking the test because the glucose level will be affected.
It’s important to follow the instructions provided by your healthcare provider or the lab when preparing for a blood glucose test. If you have any questions or concerns, be sure to ask your healthcare provider.
