Many DIY health tests could give false results, studies find
Many DIY health tests available on the high street are unfit for purpose and need better regulation, according to two new studies.
Self-tests for high cholesterol, vitamin deficiency, fertility and prostate problems are widely available in supermarkets and pharmacies, with the industry predicted to be worth £655m by 2030.
But researchers at the University of Birmingham have found that many tests could give users false results and were not always appropriate or safe.
The scientists reviewed 30 DIY health tests costing £1.89-£39.99, covering 19 different health conditions. These included vitamin D deficiency, blood sugar levels, thyroid function, prostate health, HIV, menopause and bowel cancer.
The two linked studies, published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), rated 60% of the tests as “high risk” over concerns about the testing equipment, sampling process, or instructions and interpretation of the results. Only eight stated who the tests were suitable for, while fewer than half provided any information about accuracy. And of these, much of the evidence to back these claims was not publicly available or was of low quality.
Dr Clare Davenport, an associate clinical professor at the University of Birmingham and co-lead author of the studies said: “The wide range of off-the-shelf tests now available to the public are not endorsed by the NHS and evidence for their benefit is lacking.
"This is in contrast to well-established self-tests, such as pregnancy tests.
“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.”
Source: The Guardian, 23 July 2025