[Self-testing using by OTC test kits and mail testing services--it's future prospect and problems]

Under the certification of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, OTC medicine (Over the counter medicine: medicine for general tests) such as test strips for urine protein and urine glucose as well as urinary pregnancy tests are presently available at pharmacies and drug stores for use as self-testing by ordinary people. Meanwhile, mail health check-up testing services have recently been making a rapid progress in the market. In this system, users purchase "sample collecting kits" at large-scale pharmacies, directly or indirectly, and then after collecting samples (urine, blood, etc) by themselves, they put the samples onto the mail testing service process consisting of the linkage of convenience stores--couriers--testing agencies affiliated with clinical facilities. The samples are tested in the testing agencies and the results of the testing are returned to individual user. This innovative system allows users to control and manage their own health conditions. Future prospects and problems over the system will be discussed here.