The many possibilities the Internet offers also don’t shy away from laboratory medicine. The demand for biochemical or genetic tests continues to rise. Next to standard laboratory tests, a market developed in which the patient is the immediate recipient of clinical results. New distribution channels eliminate the physician as the responsible party. MEDICA.de spoke with adjunct professor Dr. Matthias Orth, MD, Head of Laboratory Medicine at the Marienhospital in Stuttgart, about the risks of direct-to-consumer testing.
Dr. Matthias Orth: Generally, laboratory tests are done within the scope of a medical examination. This also applies to point-of-care testing or measurements the patient can perform at home like blood sugar testing, for example. The patient remains a patient, regardless of where the exam takes place. This is different for exams that take place outside of medicine. This includes smartwatches with measuring function or laboratory tests offered on the Internet. In this case, the user is no longer a patient but a pure consumer. This is what so-called direct-to-consumer tests or DTC testing is all about. The tests, as well as the diagnosis, take place without the involvement of a physician. ...
Read the complete interview with Dr. Matthias Orth at MEDICA-tradefair.com!