Checks and balances

Comprehensive testing helps ensure good health and well-being, but it is key to strike a balance between thoroughness and clarity

Why so many tests? How many of us can understand the sheets of paper we receive after a simple blood test? Do we require so many tests, or is it just a moneymaking tactic? What is the minimum knowledge we must have of pathological methods and testing? How much is too much?

According to one report, profit margins in pathologies are 23 to 25 percent. The worrying fact is that the diagnostic industry is highly competitive, because of low entry barriers. Organised players cater to only 17 percent of the market.

For this column, we delve into the why and how of diagnostic testing.

Dr Nilesh Shah's qualifications include a BSc and PhD in microbiology and a DMLT (diploma in medical laboratory technology). He has 37 years of experience in his field. At 57, he is the president and chief of science and innovaHealthcare tion at Metropolis Limited.

Why we need to be tested on so many parameters: Comprehensive testing helps ensure good health and well-being, besides providing the clinician a detailed picture for easy decision-making. But it is essential to avoid tests that are beyond the doctor's prescription and are irrelevant.

Renowned laboratories have well-designed test packages that align with best practices. For instance, opting for a lipid profile instead of separate cholesterol and triglyceride tests can provide better value without redundancy, saving both time and money.

What do we do with 40-page reports we cannot make any sense of: Receiving lengthy reports filled with potentially irrelevant data can be overwhelming.