Direct-To-Consumer Clinical Lab Testing

[Michael Scally MD]

Direct-To-Consumer Clinical Lab Testing Won't Kill Us -- It Will Make Us Stronger
Direct-To-Consumer Clinical Lab Testing Won't Kill Us -- It Will Make Us Stronger

Do direct-to-consumer blood tests pose a threat to consumers, patients and physicians? Or are they a boon akin to the diagnostics and self-tests that help keep automobiles and refrigerators running smoothly? It could go either way if you believe “Direct-to-Consumer Lab Tests, No Doctor Required,” a recent, provocatively titled New York Times article published on June 6, 2016. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/06/06/direct-to-consumer-lab-tests-no-doctor-visit-required/

Given my early involvement with InsideTracker, one of the direct-to-consumer (DTC) lab testing companies mentioned, and given my periodic commentaries on the state of data-driven medicine (here, here, here and here), I ought to have an opinion about this.

And I do: I consider DTC lab testing a bold experiment that will ultimately provide many solid use cases for these tests, including improvements in nutrition, exercise and general health.

...

 

[MindlessWork]

I venture to say that this is a great idea, if done right. We do need to make sure that there needs to be careful vetting of labs that offer services like this to make sure consumers are protected from scams and fraud.

 

[Dr JIM]

Direct-To-Consumer Clinical Lab Testing Won't Kill Us -- It Will Make Us Stronger
Direct-To-Consumer Clinical Lab Testing Won't Kill Us -- It Will Make Us Stronger

Do direct-to-consumer blood tests pose a threat to consumers, patients and physicians? Or are they a boon akin to the diagnostics and self-tests that help keep automobiles and refrigerators running smoothly? It could go either way if you believe “Direct-to-Consumer Lab Tests, No Doctor Required,” a recent, provocatively titled New York Times article published on June 6, 2016. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/06/06/direct-to-consumer-lab-tests-no-doctor-visit-required/

Given my early involvement with InsideTracker, one of the direct-to-consumer (DTC) lab testing companies mentioned, and given my periodic commentaries on the state of data-driven medicine (here, here, here and here), I ought to have an opinion about this.

And I do: I consider DTC lab testing a bold experiment that will ultimately provide many solid use cases for these tests, including improvements in nutrition, exercise and general health.

...

Spoken by one who clearly has a vested interest in TESTING without purpose!

Oh but if was only THAT SIMPLE bc WHO will provide the needed follow up and interpret the lab data for those who are "worried" about all that which is sub-par yet WNL results!

Shotgun testing often leads to more needless testing bc those who are ordering such assays, more often than not, lack the judgement, clinical expertise or fund of knowledge required to use the information as means to an ends, "improved health".

Just bc you can doesn't mean you should!

 

[Dr JIM]

I venture to say that this is a great idea, if done right. We do need to make sure that there needs to be careful vetting of labs that offer services like this to make sure consumers are protected from scams and fraud.

Oh rest assured these en-mass lab vendors have only ONE objective in mind, and it's no "experiment" toward "improved patient health", but to line their own pockets!

But you also raise a very legitimate concern with respect to the involved labs certification, credentialing, and/or FDA oversight.

Tread carefully here fellas