Home tests allow you to monitor a wide range of health markers, including blood glucose, cholesterol, hormones and nutrient levels, using samples such as fingerprick blood, swabs, urine or faeces. Before such tests are approved for home use, they must undergo laboratory validation studies to ensure their accuracy. These studies compare results from fingerprick or other self-collected samples with those obtained in a clinical setting, such as venous blood samples taken by healthcare professionals. Validation ensures that home tests meet clinical standards and provide reliable and comparable results for users, while maintaining the convenience of an at-home test.
Home tests can measure different markers depending on the test kit. Homed-IQ offers the following markers in its kits:
General Health Markers
- Cholesterol (Total, HDL, LDL, Triglycerides)
- HbA1c
- Vitamin D
- Liver enzymes (ALT, GGT, ALP, Bilirubin)
- Kidney function (Albumin-Creatinine Ratio, Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR), Creatinine)
- Thyroid hormones (TSH, Free T3, Free T4)
- Gut and Bowel Health (Occult blood (Bowel Cancer Screening), Calprotectin (Gut Inflammation), Gut microbiome composition and diversity)
- Prostate Health (Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA))
Hormones
- Testosterone
- Estradiol (Estrogen)
- Cortisol
- Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
- Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
- Prolactin
- Progesterone
- Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH)
Nutritional Levels
- Iron (Ferritin, Total Iron Binding Capacity)
- Vitamin B12
- Folate (Vitamin B9)
- Magnesium
Infections – Sexually Transmitted Infections
- HIV, Syphilis, Hepatitis B, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Trichomoniasis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Herpes Simplex Virus I & II, HPV
Allergies
- Immunoglobulin E (IgE) reactivity to inhalation and food allergens
Home testing offers a convenient way to monitor a range of health markers, from general health and hormones to nutritional levels and infections. The markers listed above are currently available from Homed-IQ for home measurement. While many markers can be accurately measured at home, some require specialised equipment, larger samples or stability during transport, specific laboratory techniques and validation standards and need to be performed in a clinical setting to ensure reliability and feasibility.