Dr Clare Davenport, co-author of the study, said the benefit of many of these tests “is lacking”.<\/p>\n
“This is in contrast to well-established self-tests, such as pregnancy tests,” she said.<\/p>\n
“We are worried that consumers concerned about their health and tempted by the convenience of buying a test over the counter may be harmed if they use these tests in the wrong way.”<\/p>\n
A false positive on such a test may lead to anxiety, unnecessary investigations and even overtreatment, while a false negative could lead to delays in treatment.<\/p>\n
Read more: Image: Researchers are now calling for better regulation and guidance from manufacturers, retailers and healthcare professionals to protect consumers of off-the-shelf health self-tests.<\/p>\n There were some limitations to the test – namely that they were bought two years ago and were not intended to be a sample of what is available across the country.<\/p>\n “But given what they do say about where they got the tests, I’d be surprised if they aren’t pretty much the same anywhere nowadays,” said Professor Kevin McConway, emeritus professor of applied statistics at The Open University.<\/p>\n He said the results were “scary and concerning”.<\/p>\n “I don’t doubt the findings of the researchers, that many of the available tests don’t make it clear who could make good use of them, how accurate the results might be, or what someone should do in the light of their results.”<\/p>\n ‘History offers cautionary tales’<\/strong><\/p>\n “Self-tests should not be dismissed outright though,” wrote Jessica Watson from the Centre for Academic Primary Care, and Margaret McCartney, from the University of St Andrews, in an editorial for the BMJ.<\/p>\n “History offers cautionary tales: when home pregnancy tests were first introduced, some doctors argued that women could not be trusted to use them.<\/p>\n “Clearly that is not the case.<\/p>\n “The use of HIV self-tests has been extensively and carefully evaluated, with decades of research, including large randomised controlled trials.”<\/p>\n
Trump diagnosed with <\/a><\/strong>chronic venous insufficiency<\/strong><\/a>
Should kids under 7 drink slushies?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n![\"Pic:](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/skynews-testing-test-kits_6971733.jpg\")
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\n Pic: University of Birmingham<\/p>\n