2026-03-25 – News – www.theguardian.com
Australian pharmacies now offer rapid tests for perimenopause, iron, vitamin D levels and more. Experts weigh in on whether they’re worth using
Convenient, discreet and offering results in minutes, rapid health and wellness tests are popping up on pharmacy shelves across Australia. There are pinprick blood tests for vitamin D and iron levels, urine tests for perimenopause and menopause, and multi-health kits covering urinary tract infections and a cocktail of metrics such as glucose, ketones and pH.
Most range from $5 to $30, which is cheaper than a private GP consultation fee. You don’t need to speak to a doctor or medical professional to buy one (or a whole basketful). So can a pee-on-a-stick test confirm if I’m perimenopausal? Will low ferritin (iron stores) solve the mystery of my eternal tiredness? And, if they do work, does a positive result simply mean more clinical tests down the track?
