I am not here to say that the DIY labs are useless, but I can tell you from my experience practicing medicine, that labs always require context.
If you own a wearable, you’ve almost certainly been offered DIY lab testing from Whoop, Oura, Or Function. (SEE COMPARISON BELOW)
The model is simple for the companies: target the health conscious (who likely has a wearable), run bloodwork through Quest Diagnostics Technology or Labcorp; collect cash (no insurance).
The issue here is very similar to the issue of using a single metric such as Heart Rate Variability (HRV). For example, a higher than normal HRV reading may either suggest Atrial Fibrillation (a serious medical problem) or simply that the person is in superior physical condition. Thus, whether or not a particular result is “good” or “bad” cannot be determined without additional information about the patient.
The same can be said for labs. An elevated PSA could mean: an early cancer signal, benign prostatic hypertrophy, or prostatitis. Similarly, a high bilirubin reading in someone of Mediterranean descent may be indicative of Gilbert’s Syndrome, which does not indicate liver damage, but simply a genetic disorder that results in slightly elevated levels of bilirubin.
Big Tech believes that artificial intelligence will be able to provide the necessary interpretation of raw biomarker data to prevent confusion. It will not. The use of uncontextualized biomarkers creates uncertainty and anxiety, not clarity.
A lot of individuals do not want to see a doctor, and therefore would prefer to spend their money and schedule a time to receive lab testing at their local lab. According to a recent survey, 72% of men would rather complete household chores than see a doctor.
Therefore, I believe that the growth of DIY labs will cause many primary care physicians to become little more than a help desk for wearable platforms, a place that patients call on because no one knows what to do with labs out of context.
This prediction is both a warning and an invitation to the PCPs. Ignore it, and we’ll lose patients to the same TikTok commentators who tell us to eat more protein, cold plunge, and buy a weighted vest. They will be advising us on how to treat an elevated ApoB, usually pushing an untested $400 supplement stack with a vitamin industry that’s just as profit-driven as Pharma.
The Solution: Build a modern connected clinic
Interpretation is still medicine’s advantage. We just need to meet patients where they are as engaged, proactive and connected patients.
Lean in and accept that today’s patient expects more than a once-a-year office visit. They want care that continues between appointments, not just during appointments.
More data doesn’t equate to progress; greater understanding does.
Let me know your thoughts on whether or not DIY labs have a place in medicine? If you’re a physician, are you going to encourage your patient to get DIY labs?
If you’re interested in my comparison chart of Whoop, Oura and Function.(see below)
Below I compare two wearable lab companies ŌURA and WHOOP, and Function Health (which connects with your wearable data). Their offerings aren’t the same. Oura Health Panels comes in at the cheapest, but honestly, most of their labs are pretty garden variety and no different than what you would get at a very basic doctor’s visit. Whoop Advanced Lab stepped it up both in the number of Labs and the price. Function Health, still based on my opinion, has the best offering. I also like the fact that they repeat 60 of the labs after a few months to see if you can move the needle and make things better.
