US consumers ordering healthcare tests online

New York

CONSUMERS will soon be able to bypass their doctors by going online to order cholesterol readings, thyroid tests and other bloodwork from the biggest diagnostics company in the US.

Laboratory Corp of America Holdings will let customers go online to pay for tests, visit a service centre to get blood drawn, then view the results on the Web. The company has already been doing back-office lab work for a number of Internet firms that let people order tests without a doctor.