The article describes that in the US, more and more patients are independently ordering laboratory tests online in an effort to catch serious diseases early. However, the results obtained in this way often lead to doctors who do not have clear procedures on how to deal with them. Physicians may have difficulty interpreting tests that they did not indicate themselves and incorporating them into the patient's medical records. The text emphasizes that this trend creates a tension between the increasing availability of testing and the traditional role of the physician in diagnosis. He also draws attention to inconsistent practice in whether and how doctors react to such results. At the same time, the article indicates that the health care system is not sufficiently prepared for this form of "direct" testing of patients.