Why would anyone want to do this to themselves at home? Isn't the world painful enough already?
Just kidding. This picture actually shows how little you have to do to gain a huge amount of information on a wide variety of health concerns...without ever leaving your home.
Using home test kits and conducting home testing is a great way to gain insightful information you can then use as conditions warrant. If you are a curious person as I am or you have specific health worries and you are unaware of these kits, this home testing availability will be good news for you as it was for me.
Caveat (Warning)
I remind you that I am NOT a doctor and I'm also not your mother so we'll assume that anyone reading this page has a health worry or is concerned about their drinking water OR, is concerned that someone they know and love is using drugs. You may just want to arm yourself with some details prior to seeing a doctor. Hypochondriacs should probably not take these tests. You will see problems everywhere and will need crisis management from a professional - in person. I'm afraid for you that knowledge, misused, may create nothing more than fear. For the rest of us, knowing certain things about our bodies is a tool we can use to guard and improve our own health - our own way.
Test By Type
Quick Drug Test Selector
I was amazed at how far home testing has come since I did my first home self-test about 4 years ago. My first test was for hormone levels and the second was for a suspected thyroid imbalance. I didn't have health insurance but that didn't mean I didn't need or couldn't use the information wisely so testing at home seemed to make perfect sense. I took the tests, received the results, and was able to make some changes - mainly to diet and supplements - that got things back on track.
Three Main Testing Categories - Test for drug use, Test your health, Test your water and environment
Now, the variety of tests have quadrupled and go from home water tests for four to 15 levels and types of bacteria to drug tests - either for parents info or for those drug users who wish to make sure they are "clear" before taking a drug test for employment, etc. There is also a much increased number of test available for specific ailments and diseases.
Parents Drug Test Kits
Tests for drug use are either for parents wishing to monitor their kids and hopefully keep them out of drug trouble or, for people using drugs. If you are a user, I am sorry for you. If you are a parent with a known or suspected drug problem in your family, I hope you find something here to help.
For specific information regarding pH balance and testing, please have a look here.
How do these tests work?
At lot depends on what type of test you've chosen.
Blood Tests
Some tests are "blood tests" - meaning you will be doing as in the picture above, pricking your finger with a little needle or "lancet", which sounds a lot better to me than "needle", and dropping blood on a test strip which is then sent to a lab for processing. It's easy really - you can do it on your own if you need to. Just do what I do and look away when you poke your finger. It is over in a second!
Keeping all areas clean and uncontaminated is CRUCIAL to getting precise and correct results back from the lab. Make sure the surface area you use to place your test materials is clean and dry. Make sure your hands have been thoroughly washed and dried (with a clean towel), prior to the test. Make sure to follow the instructions to the letter - no mistakes, or you will waste your time and money and probably really annoy the lab folks.
Saliva Tests
Other tests use your saliva instead of your blood.
These tests are tricky for anyone who tends to have a dry mouth. You usually have to gather saliva two mornings in a row, keeping the first day's tube in the freezer or refrigerator overnight, and then sending both off to the lab. Most saliva tests have some form of fasting requirement - normally managed without inconvenience by conducting the test first thing in the morning. Don't start these tests unless you have the time to make your "collections" and then get them mailed out promptly.
As with the blood tests, follow the directions - exactly.
Hormone testing and some thyroid testing kits tend to use saliva more than blood. Some comprehensive tests will require both from you but be sure...this increases the accuracy of the tests and the level of information you will receive from them. Well worth your effort.
Environmental Testing
Tests for water quality, air quality, bacteria, fungus, asbestos, mold, etc., should be carried out following the test's directions, and based on what you are testing and where. These tests are simple to conduct. As with the others, simply follow the directions for collection.
Test Country
Test Country has a huge variety of tests of all the types mentioned thusfar. From home air quality to health and drug tests to pre-screening tests for disease and disease probablity, these tests are an important element in your task and responsibility of guarding and improving your health and your environment.
TestCountry offers a wide variety of home and workplace test kits like urine, hair and saliva drug testing kits, HIV testing kits, home testing kits for thyroid (TSH Tests) and prostate cancer (PSA Tests), home fertility tests (male sperm count tests or ovulation tests), test kits for nicotine (tobacco), alcohol testing kits, even alcohol digital detectors and more.
Here are a few more test ideas available from Test Country:
More on your health and things you can do to improve it: Read about pH balance and how almond benefits your body pH and how simple additions of almonds and almond-based products can do great things for your health.
| © 2006-2012 Rose Cottage, Ltd. |
