There are two types self-test : those intended to help the patient to manage his disease, for example a glucose meter for diabetics, and those used without prescription as a pregnancy test. For the first case, the National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM) explains that “patients are medically supervised and undergo prior training in the use of self-tests”. In the second case, it is important to keep in mind that the results provided by these self-tests (pathology, pregnancy, etc.) must be confirmed by additional examinations carried out by a laboratory and which will then be analyzed by a doctor.
Read the self-test instructions carefully
The great advantage of self-tests is that they allow you to quickly obtain a result. They most often work on the principle of immunochromatography. This involves placing a sample of saliva, blood or urine on a strip. The presence of the desired biological marker will then be revealed by coloring the strip. The ANSM insists on the fact that it is important to read the instructions in the package leaflet in order to understand precisely how to perform the test and read the results. It also emphasizes that these tests have limits and “may lead to false positive or false negative results”, hence the importance of further testing.
If questions persist about the device, the ANSM indicates that “the contact details of the manufacturer and the distributor appear on the instructions for use for any additional questions”. She ends by explaining that only self-tests marked “CE”, purchased in pharmacies or on their websites, should be used.
Read also :
Self-test for AIDS: the results after two years
Male fertility self-test: should you trust it?
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