The provision of pregnancy testing and urinalysis services by community pharmacists

Abstract

The area of diagnostic testing and provision of home test kits is one example where the pharmacist can fill a much needed role as a provider of information and patient education. Diagnostic testing monitors an existing condition and its treatment (e.g. diabetes) and detects or excludes the presence of symptoms of a condition (e.g. pregnancy). The provision of such services is consistent with the pharmacist's extended role since the communication of the test results to clients provides a focus for health education. As a result, pharmacists may promote both primary prevention through health education and secondary prevention by the early detection of health problems through screening.