The Allure of New Technology
Many doctors and patients believe that newer medical tests, which utilize cutting-edge technology, must be superior to older tests. After all, that’s why they were developed, right ? To improve on the older tests ? This perception drives the demand for these new tests, despite their often higher costs due to the alleged “ state-of-the-art technology “ they employ.
Clinical Validity: A Long Road
The reality, however, is that many new tests are less reliable from a clinical perspective. This is partly because manufacturers, eager to sell their products, may push these tests onto the market before their clinical validity is fully established. It typically takes 4 to 20 years for the clinical accuracy of a test to be confirmed, as other practitioners must use it and verify its results through replication.
Issues with False Positives and Negatives
New tests often suffer from high rates of false positives and false negatives. A false positive occurs when the test indicates an abnormality, but the patient is actually healthy. Conversely, a false negative happens when the test results appear normal, but the patient does have the illness. Determining the true accuracy and reliability of a test requires years of cumulative experience from doctors worldwide.
Conservative Approach to New Tests
Most reputable doctors are conservative and avoid prescribing newly released tests until their reliability is well-documented. These doctors understand that the long-term interests of their patients are best served by relying on proven, accurate diagnostics.
Financial Incentives and Patient Interests
However, some doctors may be quick to order these new tests because they are more expensive, and manufacturers may offer financial incentives, or kickbacks, for each test prescribed. This practice, unfortunately, does not align with the best interests of the patient. This is why expensive, unproven tests such as ERA, PGT and immune testing are so over-used and abused in India today. The help the clinics to make more money, but end up confusing the patient, because of all the arcane jargon they use to cloak their ignorance. Sadly, it’s easy to take patients for a ride, and many doctors do this, by prescribing these useless “add-on” tests.
The information above is for general knowledge purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Each case is unique, and personalized advice is essential. For a free second opinion from Dr. Malpani, fill out a form on [https://www.drmalpani.com/free-second-opinion]. You can also get answers from my AI Twin instantly at https://www.drmalpani.com/chat-w-chatbot/index.html .This expert guidance can help you save significant amounts in the long run by ensuring you’re on the right track towards achieving your reproductive goals.