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 Cholesterol test?
A cholesterol test, also known as a lipid panel, is typically done after a person has fasted for at least 9 to 12 hours before the test. This means that the person should not have anything to eat or drink (other than water) for this period of time before the test. The reason for fasting is that it ensures that the levels of triglycerides, a type of fat found in the blood, are as accurate as possible. If you have eaten before having a cholesterol test, the levels of triglycerides in your blood will be artificially high and may not give an accurate picture of your overall cholesterol levels.
It is also important to let your healthcare provider know if you are taking any medications or supplements that might affect the test results, such as, vitamins, mineral, herbal supplements, birth control pills, etc. Some medications can affect the level of cholesterol in your blood, and your healthcare provider may want to adjust the timing of your test or make other arrangements to ensure that the results are accurate.
Some other important points to know about cholesterol test :
You should avoid any physical activity for 12 hours before the test
you should avoid any alcohol for 24 hours before the test.
So in summary, you need at least 9-12 hours of fasting and other precautions before taking cholesterol test.
