4 medical tests you shouldn't self-administer

Back in the day, your doctor's office was the only place to have your cholesterol checked or find out your HIV status. Today you can walk into a drugstore or order a test online and play doctor at home. But if you plan to use a home medical test, choose it wisely. Experts suggest you don't go it alone.

Tests that promise results in minutes may be inaccurate (those that ask you to send a blood sample to a lab may be as accurate as a clinic test, however). The bigger issue: if you test positive, it's imperative to see a doctor immediately to begin treatment. Also, a negative result may not mean you're in the clear: it takes three weeks to six months after HIV exposure for antibodies to appear in your bloodstream.

Some home tests give only total cholesterol — not the details you need about "bad" low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, "good" high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and potentially dangerous triglycerides (another blood fat). While expensive versions do give you this important breakdown, it's still important to see your doctor so she can evaluate a range of other important factors that affect your heart's health, including your age, weight, activity level, and the presence or absence of other health problems, such as diabetes.

Home dipstick urine tests are considered accurate for revealing UTIs. But then what? You need fast-acting antibiotic treatment to end the pain and clear the infection, so you'll still end up going to the doctor.

Hot flashes? Missed periods? This urine check for rising levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) could reveal whether perimenopause — the years-long process leading to menopause — is under way. They're accurate 90 percent of the time, but test results can be skewed by drinking lots of water or by not using first morning urine for the sample. These tests are fine if you're in your mid to late 40s or older and are curious about your shifting hormones, but you should see a doctor if you're a younger woman who may be going through early menopause.

While a few home medical tests can give you fast, accurate, useful information, others are useless at best and dangerous at worst. If you think you have a medical problem, see a doctor for a careful screening and think twice about these home checks.