Local Company Develops New At-Home Test for Common Illnesses | Business

A west metro company has developed a way to hopefully cut down on trips to the doctors office with a device to test for common illnesses at home and get the results online. Strep, flu and pink eye are some of the 17-conditions it wants to treat online.

Nancy and Tom Henke from Excelsior plan to put the $10 test kits into stores.   

It works by answering a series of health history question online and punching in the code result of your at home test.

Dr. Matt Mesnick is on the other side of the computer. He'll oversee staff reading results and writing prescriptions, for people testing positive who want a $35-dollar online visit.

"We don't have enough doctors, particularly in rural areas. Health care is expensive and consumers are dropping coverage and more and more they are avoiding care," says Tom Henke.

The Minnesota Medical Association represents doctors and tracks health care issues. Association President Dr. Lyle Swenson says such testing can work with good guidance and regulation, but says it'll never beat a doctor's visit.

"That is always going to be the gold standard...  going over health issues with your physician," says Dr. Swenson.
   
Quick check health still needs FDA approval.