At-home lab tests

Although patients typically rely on doctors to order lab tests, some companies like Labcorp and Quest Diagnostics are expanding the range of tests available directly to consumers.

For example, Quest currently offers over 150 tests, including for complete blood count, micronutrient deficiencies, and sexually transmitted infections. One of the company's most popular tests is a comprehensive health profile that analyzes over 75 markers, including those related to kidney, heart, and liver health. The profile also includes an evaluation that considers family history, lifestyle, and wellness behaviors to create a health risk score that ranges from one to 100.  

The costs of these tests can vary significantly. While a complete blood test only costs $29, the comprehensive health profile costs $385. Currently, these tests are not covered by insurance, but patients may be able to pay for some of them with HSA or FSA accounts.

According to Quest CMO Yuri Fesko, consumer-ordered tests can help identify patients most in need of follow-up and identify potential health issues early on. Quest also contracts physicians to consult with patients about their results. Both Quest and Labcorp also recommend patients meet with their own physicians to review their results and decide on any next steps.

However, a 2023 study of 21 companies offering direct-to-consumer lab tests found potential ethical issues related to the growing use of these tests, including the use of personal data and a lack of follow-up for abnormal results. 

Wearables and devices

According to a recent survey of 1,653 adults by the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg Public Policy Center, around two-thirds of respondents said they used smartphone or smartwatch apps to track their health information, including steps per day, sleep quality, or heart health.

Some new devices that can help patients track their health include an electrocardiogram that interfaces with a smartphone app, a wearable patch with a seismometer microchip that can detect tiny vibrations or wheezing sounds in patients with respiratory diseases, and tools that can screen for sleep apnea, measure blood pressure, and identify early signs of illness. 

AI chatbots

According to Landro, both patients and caregivers are using ChatGPT and other AI chatbots to help them diagnose symptoms, manage chronic diseases, get advice on diet and exercise, and research treatments for rare or serious diseases.

"AI doesn't care how many questions you ask it, it can provide expertise and translate the medical jargon, and your time is not up after 15 or 20 minutes," said Laura Adams, a senior advisor to the National Academy of Medicine and coauthor of a recent report on the use of AI health tools.

Hugo Campos, who has an implanted cardiac device and has served on health-related federal advisory boards as a patient advocate, says he uses AI to extensively research health issues. To help people get the most use of AI, he recommends asking clear questions, providing all relevant context about their health conditions, and requesting several possible diagnoses instead of one single answer.

"[AI] is not a one-and-done answer machine," Campos said. "It's a partner and a tool for helping advance your ability to comprehend things and think critically through a complex problem."

Some healthcare providers are also creating their own AI tools to help provide patients with more reliable AI health information.

However, in a December 2024 report published in NEJM AI, researchers warned of "an urgent need to assist patients with using these new technologies as safely and effectively as possible," citing concerns about misinformation, a lack of regulation, data privacy risks, and insufficient research on the benefits and harms of using AI.

Still, Adams noted that "[p]atients are saying, 'Look, if I have to wait six weeks to see a specialist to get answers about this, that is a safety risk for me as well.'"

While there are potential risks associated with patients relying on DIY health tools, such as using diagnostic and treatment information that hasn't been reviewed by a clinician, health experts say that there are significant benefits as well.

"The evidence shows that the more a patient gets involved in their own care, the better the outcomes," said Tom Delbanco, a professor at Harvard Medical School who focuses on primary care. "In the future, primary-care doctors could act more as expert consultants rather than paternalistic bosses to patients."