by High Street Health tests create false results, according to research.
A study by the University of Birmingham came to the conclusion that DIY tests for high cholesterol, lack of vitamins, menopause and prostate problems are not always reliable.
Researchers said the tests that are available in supermarkets and pharmacies risked to give the wrong result and to delay the diagnosis. And most of them recommend tracking with a doctor regardless of the result.
The study team added that the self -tests among consumers would probably make unnecessary fear and increase additional pressure on GPS.
Medicines Watchdog to examine the results
The regulatory authority for Medicines and Healthcare Products (MHRA) that regulates medical products will examine the results.
Prof. Jon Deeks, who headed the study, said that research has to test, test, test and interpret the results in which users have to test, test and interpret the results of many of the available self -test products.
In some cases there was no evidence of the accuracy of the results, he said.
In an example, he said, the self-tests for prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a marker for the health of the prostate, are fixed in a certain level of concentration.
However, he said that a man of 70 years of age had to do his PSA at a different level of a 20-year-old at a different level.
Self -test is becoming increasingly popular, and the British market for self -tests is expected to reach GBP by 2030.
Thirty self -tests, which cost £ 1.89 to 39.99 GBP and covered 19 conditions, were included in the study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ).
Less than half of the test boxes contained an explanation of test accuracy.
Accuracy claims were raised for 24 of the tests, with most of most claiming an output of at least 98 percent accuracy, sensitivity or specificity.
However, the researchers said that evidence of the accuracy claims were largely not available or did not provide sufficient information.
The manufacturers refused to do studies’
Prof. Deeks said: “The current regulations for the use of self -test kits in a commercial environment do not adequately protect consumers.
“Some of the manufacturers of self -tests refused to provide us with reports on studies that support their claims and explained that they were” commercially confidential “.
“You do not have to pass this information legally. For all questions of our health, however, it is really important that the evidence of which health decisions are made and can be checked.”
In a linked BMJ article, Bernie Croal, President of the Royal College of Pathologists, said: “There is considerable risks for patients if bad quality tests are carried out inappropriately, with both the wrong calming and unnecessary consequences for the NHS to repeat or take additional measures.”
While clinical studies and medication have to go through the MHRA, self -test devices are subject to notification bodies.
A spokesman for SureSign who delivers self -testing said: “We find this flat -rate conviction of a small selection of hometowns that are inappropriate and unprofessional because they admit that they are satisfied with many of the examined.
“This is not a clinical approach to a very scientific topic.
“You have also not confirmed that the clinical studies related to our tests were delivered to them, as we confirmed by the BMJ.
“Our detailed answers to your questions were not completely reflected in your article.
“You implicitly criticized the professionalism of the reported bodies defined by the MHRA when we find it very demanding in your audits.
“We are satisfied with our tests that are accessible to public access to screening in healthcare, which is currently not easily available in the NHS.”
“Find medical advice when unsure”
Joseph Burt, the head of the MHRA director of diagnostics and general medical devices, said that she would check the evidence and “consider all allegations about device defects”.
He added: “We have increasingly increased the surveillance powers after the monitoring and combating of concerns.
“We overtake the regulations for medical devices to further strengthen the standards for security, user -friendliness and clinical performance, and we examine new transparency measures such as the requirement of published summaries.
“In the meantime, we all encourage everyone to use a self-test to search for a CE or UKCA brand, to carefully read the instructions and to receive medical advice if they are not sure whether they are not sure of their result.”
