One benefit of the reproducibility and ease of use of modern diagnostic kits is the development of home versions of these tests. However, significant dangers and dilemmas are associated with the development and use of home tests. But more frequently, especially in cases of the diagnosis of life-threatening conditions, the biggest concern is the risk of psychological trauma that a positive diagnosis can have on what are essentially unprepared, and quite frequently, solitary patients without a doctor or support group. When the list of home test kits includes those for HIV and prostate cancer, problematic outcomes can easily be imagined. Even home pregnancy tests can have a significant negative psychological impact, especially for minors and rape victims.
Suicide is only the most obvious of the possible responses.
For this reason, most home kits for significant diseases include information on obtaining counseling, often including hotline numbers provided at company expense. Doctor, you can tell me . . . Historically, diagnostic assays have usually been done by specially designed clinical laboratories, either on-site or, more typically, outsourced. This procedure can be as simple as a nurse or doctor taking a sample and then testing it with a home diagnostic kit such as those described above. In either case, the results can be immediately interpreted and quickly related to the patient for the establishment of an appropriate care or drug regimen.