Short Waves

Do-it-yourself kits have many reached life and death proportions, as the United States Food and Drug Administration recently authorized a California biotechnology firm to manufacture an over-the-counter cancer detection kit.

The product, to be used to test for colon and rectal cancers which account for 58,000 deaths in the U.S. each year, should reach stores sometime in December and sell for about $7.50 each.

Although home pregnancy tests are very popular, preliminary reports from industry analysts indicate that they are doubtful that consumers will trust home testing for cancer.