[adevine]

To me, one of the sad things about the Theranos debacle is that even if they DON'T have super whiz-bang nanotainer technology, the general model of having affordable, transparently priced tests where you can just walk into a Walgreen's and order them is pretty awesome in my opinion.

There are other companies that offer something somewhat similar (e.g. AnyLabTestNow), but the experience still sucks - locations/times are nowhere near as convenient as your local drug store, and the tests are expensive. I don't know how much Theranos' price reduction is dependent on its nanotainer tech, but if someone came in and offered an affordable service like CVS's minute clinics, but for tests, I'd use it, even if they had to do normal draws.

[sandGorgon]

Is this something innovative? In india, i just paid 90$ and got 14 different tests including tumor markers tested for. The blood was collected at home (and then sent to a central testing facility).

Unless, it is radically new technology... I'm curious on the value proposition here.

[firasd]

Yes, the customer-friendly blood testing in India would be incredibly "disruptive" to American lab tests. Not only does the US have different costs and regulations but the medical industry is based on extracting money from insurance companies so every process is a bit occluded.

That said, Theranos is still on the hook because a business model innovation would probably not justify their valuation and PR compared to a tech innovation.

[adevine]

If it were just a business model innovation, Theranos would rightly be worth nothing, because they wouldn't bring anything to the table. CVS or Walgreen's have all the assets that would be worth anything in this situation.

[pavel_lishin]

I wonder if it would be feasible to collect blood in the United States and ship it to India for testing.

[TTPrograms]

The blood was collected at home? As in the patients draw vials of their own blood?

[sandGorgon]

no - there's a dude who comes with this very interesting sealed testtube (with a rubber seal on top) and a kind of gel inside. He takes the blood out (labor is cheap in India!)

You have to remember that Delhi easily exceeds 115 degrees fahrenheit in summer. this gel is supposed to stabilize the blood for upto 48 hours and it is shipped across the country to Mumbai where there is this massive test lab which does all the tests I have paid for.

[icelancer]

Is there ANYTHING like this? Been searching casually for it but no luck. Would love any leads on this.

[adevine]

https://www.anylabtestnow.com. Unfortunately, the tests are quite expensive. I believe they need to basically get a BS prescription for the tests, which adds to the expense. Theranos specifically lobbied Arizona to get the law changed so that consumers could order their own tests. I hope other states follow suit, and I hope the Theranos drama doesn't make other states think this is a bad idea.

[dpim]

In a previous Theranos thread, someone made the comment that there are dangers to allowing consumers to access tests and test data without interpretation or prescription by a doctor. Results can be misleading without context and could lead to rash and adverse health decisions. Not sure if I agree 100%, but it seems like a valid concern.

[beagle3]

There is no reason to speculate - just compare to countries that have these. in many countries, you can get almost any test you want without a doctor. There are very few tests that require a doctor or trained professional to give you the results (hiv, hep-c) - essentially those with prognosis (whether real or perceived) that has grim future. You CAN still do the tests on your own in these cases, but not directly get the results.

It is all about the money, no other concern. The same as it is illegal to pump your own gas in New Jersey "because safety". It would be a valid concern unless every other place in the world had already shown it isn't one.

For some reason, it is considered impolite in American politics to consider other places' experience.

[DanBC]

In countries that allow self requested testing we see more people taking thyroid.

Not a synthetic hormone, actual bits of ground up pig thyroid.

Here's one UK doctor who rejects the current science around thyroid function:

http://drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/Thyroid_-_the_correct_prescribing...

And she mentions another doctor: Dr Kenneth Blanchard

Neither of these doctors can work for the NHS. They have to work privately.

So, explain how "it's all about money" here? Who makes money by preventing her from taking NHS patients and mis-prescribing them thyroxine?

If you pooe around her site you see she'll happily point you toward providers of blood tests, and she'll interpret the results for you, and on the back of her interpretation she'll sell you some bullshit "miracle minerals mix" to cure anything.

[firasd]

It doesn't make sense to me to restrict access to common diagnostic information based on the risk of people attempting treatments not approved by the NHS. The potential list is endless: Weighing machines, because some people are anorexic. Glucose monitors, because some people might not understand how to manage their blood sugar. Mirrors, because someone might misinterpret the discoloration of their tongue.

I would suggest it is a basic civil liberty to be allowed to know about the nature of the blood pumping through your own veins.

[beagle3]

It's all about the money. I want to get CBC and blood chemistry. Why do I need to have a doctor take 75-200 USD to make the request for me? When everything is fine, he has zero input. When something is off, I may know how to interpret myself, or I might go to the doctor.

I don't understand your logic - it's equivalent, e.g. To making me convince a financial advisor about any transaction I want to make, and pay him for the privilege of sending the order to the broker instead of me. It will equally help some people who have no idea or business doing what they do - and is totally incompatible with western ideals and practices.

[sandGorgon]

I'm sorry you feel that way, but we have this in India. It breaks the Pope-like power that doctors have to talk to god.

BTW, It is a huge shock to me that I cannot buy contact lenses without a prescription in USA. Seriously ?

[icelancer]

I buy my lenses from Canada, but yeah, it's ridiculous. Annual eye exams are mandatory here if you want corrective lenses! Can't do anything on your own, you know.

[icelancer]

Yeah, these tests are way too expensive. Ugh.

[firasd]

No personal experience but I've seen some things online: wellnessfx.com and directlabs.com