From Social Media to Self-Testing: How Patients Are Redefining Lab Work

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More patients are taking an active (and sometimes independent) role in their health care, especially when it comes to lab testing. A new national survey of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted by YouGov and commissioned by Siemens Healthineers shows that many patients now expect to have a say in which tests are ordered, even when those tests are not strictly recommended by a health care provider.

Among adults who had lab work done in the past two years, an overwhelming 93% said they expect their doctor to order a lab test if they ask for it. Many of these requests are influenced by information patients find on their own.

More than one-third of respondents (37%) said they requested a lab test after learning about it through personal research, such as conversations with family and friends or information found online. Social media is also shaping medical decisions, with 17% of patients reporting that they asked their doctor for a lab test based on something they saw on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Reddit or Facebook.

Interest in predictive and preventive testing is especially high. Nearly nine in 10 patients (89%) said they are interested in lab tests that can help predict future health risks, rather than just explain current symptoms. As testing options become more accessible, some patients are bypassing traditional medical pathways altogether.

More than a quarter of respondents (27%) said they pursued blood testing on their own, out of curiosity and without a doctor’s recommendation, while 22% reported using at-home tests such as genetic, fertility or hormone kits.

Despite this growing independence, trust in health care providers remains strong — at least in some areas. Nearly all patients (95%) said they trust their doctor to order the most appropriate tests. However, trust drops when doctors advise against patient-requested testing. About 13% of patients said they do not trust their provider’s guidance if a requested test is denied, highlighting a growing tension between patient expectations and evidence-based care.

One of the more concerning findings is how often patients keep test results to themselves. Nearly half (49%) of those who pursued testing independently said they did not share their results with a health care provider. Additionally, one in five patients said they would not tell their doctor if they followed medical advice from social media. This lack of transparency can create risks, as supplements, dietary changes or alternative treatments may affect lab results or influence medical decisions in ways providers are unaware of.

Cost also plays a major role in how patients interact with lab testing. Among respondents with unpaid medical bills, more than half said their debt included unpaid lab testing fees. Yet despite financial strain, patients continue to see lab testing as highly valuable. Nearly all respondents (98%) said lab results provide meaningful insights into their health, 96% trust the results of the test, and 94% said they are more likely to follow their doctor’s advice when it is supported by test results. Patients also reported they are far less likely to delay bloodwork due to cost compared with other types of care, such as imaging (5% versus 22%, respectively).

Overall, the survey reflects a shift toward do-it-yourself health care, where patients want more control, more data and more predictive insights while still valuing guidance from their health care providers. The results highlight the importance of open communication between patients and clinicians to ensure that testing decisions are both informed and safe.

Michele Zwickl, head of laboratory solutions, diagnostics at Siemens Healthineers North America, concluded: “Greater access to testing and more informed patients can be ingredients for improved patient care, so long as we don’t overlook or negate the quality controls that have long ensured trustworthy test results.”