Six Reasons to Order Your Own Lab Tests Online

If you've ever wanted a lab test that your doctor didn't think you needed, you may be in luck. With some restrictions, you may be able to order the test yourself. There are several reasons to take advantage of this opportunity to order your own lab tests.

Consumers have many options now that weren't possible in the past. One such option is direct-to-consumer (DTC) lab testing, in which companies allow you to choose your own lab tests and order them online without authorization from your regular doctor. Although this isn't for everyone, there are several advantages to ordering your own lab tests.

1. Doctors sometimes brush off patients' concerns regardless of how strong their case happens to be. Changing doctors can be difficult, and if you find a new doctor who agrees to order the tests you want and then learn that your former doctor was right, you've gone through all this for nothing. Unless you have other strong reasons to switch doctors, consider taking matters into your own hands and ordering the tests yourself so that you'll know whether your concerns are valid.

2. You can save yourself some embarrassment by bypassing your doctor in case your concerns are unfounded. If you have to fight to get your personal physician to order the lab tests and it turns out that you were wrong, it can be embarrassing. If you're making the decision, you can also decide whether or not to let your doctor know.

3. You get a personal copy of the results, usually much faster than you could get a copy from your doctor's office. Once you have the results, you can look them over, do your research, and be prepared with questions and concerns to take to your doctor.

4. You won't need to wait for an appointment if your doctor insists on seeing you before ordering any tests. Likewise, with no need for an appointment, you'll save the time and money you would have spent at the doctor's office.

5. If the tests aren't covered by insurance, ordering them online can be less expensive than getting them from your usual lab. DTC providers boast discount rates that beat what you would pay at your hospital lab.

6. Getting your own lab tests allows you to maintain your privacy. If there's nothing wrong, you haven't alerted your insurance provider to the possibility.

Not every state allows its residents to order their own lab tests; New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island currently prohibit this practice. In addition, not all tests can be ordered this way.

Although many would argue that anyone who tries to diagnose himself has a fool for a patient, they would be missing the point. Self-diagnosis isn't the goal; taking charge of your health is. Sometimes you just want more information than your doctor believes is necessary, and that isn't an unreasonable request.

Sources:

DirectLabs http://www.directlabs.com/