Readit News logoReadit News
mdrew commented on Show HN: PFAS.report – Measure the forever chemicals in your blood via Quest   pfas.report/... · Posted by u/mdrew
codingdave · 2 years ago
Yep, search for "direct lab testing" and you'll find some vendors, and possibly some local clinics.

But the thing with ordering your own tests is that it is not the only way to get these results. You can simply ask a doctor. They'll order it and help you understand the results and insurance can cover it. Depending on your insurance, that might be cheaper or it might not. There are pros and cons to both approaches mostly centered around how self-driven you want your care to be and whether or not you have a cooperative doctor.

But I would add a general word of warning - raw lab results do need some broader understanding of what the expected results are. They'll typically tell you what numbers are too low/high, but will not tell you what it means if you are outside those limits. For some things, being a slight bit out of the norms is a big deal. For others, unless you are at a few multiples beyond the limits, there is northing to fret over. Knowing which is which is critical to know how to react to test results.

I'm not saying you've gotta work with doctors - I'm saying that they do have a point that self-educated and self-diagnosed patients who learn the info off the internet are not always well-informed. If you are going to go the self-directed route for your health care, take the time to learn deeply and do it well.

mdrew · 2 years ago
Well said. If you're not well informed, this isn't for you.
mdrew commented on Show HN: PFAS.report – Measure the forever chemicals in your blood via Quest   pfas.report/... · Posted by u/mdrew
xracy · 2 years ago
Uhh, you haven't answered this person's question in the rest of the discussion. What is the value of this test over assuming that I have this? What treatment exists that I can get if I know my blood contains PFAs?
mdrew · 2 years ago
Depending on your Total PFAS blood level, you are at increased risk for certain medical conditions which require ongoing monitoring by a physician. Knowing this may prevent the development of future diseases or allow you to catch it early in its progression. NIH graphic: https://res.cloudinary.com/mpsh87/image/upload/v1687923551/N...

If your level is significantly elevated (>20 ng/mL), you can audit your environment by testing your tap water and installing a reverse osmosis whole house filter (expensive). If your level is low, you don't need to do any of this. By eliminating point source exposure, your PFAS levels would naturally decline in time.

Lastly, I bring up therapeutic phlebotomy as interesting emerging research because it points in a concrete direction to something that is very actionable (pending more study).

Edit: grammer

mdrew commented on Show HN: PFAS.report – Measure the forever chemicals in your blood via Quest   pfas.report/... · Posted by u/mdrew
leksak · 2 years ago
You sound defensive
mdrew · 2 years ago
Just pushing back mildly on the whole "fleecing people" language and implication that NMS labs is somehow "corrupt" with no evidence.
mdrew commented on Show HN: PFAS.report – Measure the forever chemicals in your blood via Quest   pfas.report/... · Posted by u/mdrew
vkou · 2 years ago
> I think it's right there in the post itself. If you have certain occupations, live in certain zip codes, or have medical problems, a test like this can prove invaluable.

Invaluable, as in, worthless?

Invaluable for what? What are you going to do if you test positive?

mdrew · 2 years ago
I encourage you to read the rest of the discussion.
mdrew commented on Show HN: PFAS.report – Measure the forever chemicals in your blood via Quest   pfas.report/... · Posted by u/mdrew
azinman2 · 2 years ago
But I cannot order this test myself from NMS, right?
mdrew · 2 years ago
NMS does not offer tests direct to consumers.
mdrew commented on Show HN: PFAS.report – Measure the forever chemicals in your blood via Quest   pfas.report/... · Posted by u/mdrew
karmicthreat · 2 years ago
Why isn't this available in Michigan? We are PFAS central. Especially on the western side where I am.
mdrew · 2 years ago
As I understand it, aside from the local manufacturing, Michigan has one of the best testing programs in the country.

In other states, testing has been laggard. Which is maybe why some states have "low" levels.

mdrew commented on Show HN: PFAS.report – Measure the forever chemicals in your blood via Quest   pfas.report/... · Posted by u/mdrew
xracy · 2 years ago
I don't think the previous commenter was saying "don't test people" but there are a few comments on here about how sketchy this website/company looks.

So instead, the question is, if I pay $400 what meaning/value am I getting from this. And what can I get above and beyond the given 98% certainty I have that I've already ingested one of these chemicals?

mdrew · 2 years ago
I get it.

I think it's right there in the post itself. If you have certain occupations, live in certain zip codes, or have medical problems, a test like this can prove invaluable.

If you're just curious, your mileage may very.

I do push back on the idea that not knowing is somehow better. Or people cannot handle learning new information about themselves. It's an old idea from medicine I hope we can move past as it just entrenches the power dynamic between caregivers and patients.

mdrew commented on Show HN: PFAS.report – Measure the forever chemicals in your blood via Quest   pfas.report/... · Posted by u/mdrew
autoexec · 2 years ago
Quest Diagnostics is pretty sketchy. They've been busted for fraud, illegal kickbacks, inaccurate tests, privacy violations, etc. They sell every scrap of data they can get away with to third parties including marketers and it's a lot of data (https://www.questdiagnostics.com/our-company/privacy/privacy...) which includes: Professional/employment-related information, products or services purchased/obtained/considered, consumer’s preferences, characteristics, psychological trends, predispositions, behavior, attitudes, intelligence, abilities, and aptitudes. driver’s license/national or state ID number, citizenship status, immigration status, race, national origin, religious or philosophical beliefs, sexual orientation, sex life, precise geolocation, information concerning your health, and genetic information.
mdrew · 2 years ago
The only information we use to generate your lab req in Quest is: name dob biological sex phone number
mdrew commented on Show HN: PFAS.report – Measure the forever chemicals in your blood via Quest   pfas.report/... · Posted by u/mdrew
rcme · 2 years ago
A recent study in New Zealand found that blood lead levels of 3.5 micrograms / dL, which is the lowest easily detectable level, were associated with a drop of 1 IQ. People during the times of lead paint and leaded gasoline often had levels of 80 micrograms / dL. It seriously messed them up.
mdrew · 2 years ago
Our first version of the site was PFAS.wtf but that didn't test well
mdrew commented on Show HN: PFAS.report – Measure the forever chemicals in your blood via Quest   pfas.report/... · Posted by u/mdrew
acumenical · 2 years ago
Maybe the heart was in the right place, but yet another test that consumers pay for is not really the solution to the PFAS problem. The solution is holding polluters accountable. Until that happens, the test is simply a luxury that allows you to put distance between you and this worldwide problem.
mdrew · 2 years ago
Even if 3M/Dow etc paid out a trillion dollars tomorrow, we'd still have the health problems to deal with.

And those are managed by quantifying your risk and taking steps, if necessary.

u/mdrew

KarmaCake day124March 25, 2022View Original