How does the symptom checker work?

How does the symptom checker work?

Abby Health's symptom checker is a triage and intake tool that helps you describe what you are experiencing clearly before your consultation. It is not a diagnostic tool and does not tell you what is wrong. Its job is to help your clinician understand your situation from the moment the consultation begins. For clinical assessment and diagnosis, you need to speak with an Abby clinician.

What does the symptom checker actually do?

The checker walks you through a structured set of questions about what is going on — the main symptom, when it started, how it has changed, what makes it better or worse, and any related signs. Abby AI, our medical decision-support tool, takes those answers and prepares a clear summary for the clinician you will see, alongside your existing record.

It does three useful things:

• Helps you put the right words around what you are feeling
• Surfaces red flags that need urgent assessment
• Saves time at the start of the consult by replacing the basic-history questions

Is the symptom checker a diagnostic tool?

No. It is intentionally not a diagnostic tool. Diagnosis requires a clinician's judgement, examination, and clinical assessment — the symptom checker does none of that. The Therapeutic Goods Administration regulates software that performs diagnosis, and Abby AI is built explicitly within the boundaries of decision support. You can read about how the TGA regulates software-based medical devices in Australia, and how Abby AI sits as a decision-support tool in What Abby AI is — decision support explained.

How is the symptom checker different from a chatbot?

A diagnostic chatbot tries to tell you what is wrong. The Abby symptom checker tries to make sure your clinician understands what is going on. It does not give clinical advice, recommend treatments, or replace the consultation. We have written more about the boundaries we hold ourselves to in What Abby will never ask you to do.

If you want to read general public-health information before your appointment, the Healthdirect service is the best Australian source — but again, it is not a substitute for clinical advice.

How accurate is it?

Accuracy is not really the right question for a triage tool — it is not trying to be right or wrong about what is wrong with you. What we measure is whether it helps clinicians prepare and surfaces red flags reliably. Abby AI is reviewed continuously by clinicians, with a 0.03% disapproval rate on AI-supported notes. Abby Health internal data, Q1 2026. Standards for clinical documentation and triage are set by the RACGP, and the symptom checker is built within them.

What about urgent symptoms?

The checker flags red-flag symptoms that need urgent assessment — for example, severe chest pain, signs of stroke, severe shortness of breath, suicidal ideation. If you are clearly in an emergency, the checker tells you to call 000 and stop using the form. If your symptoms are severe or worsening, call 000 or go to the nearest emergency department. If you are in crisis right now, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or 000.

For more on the cases telehealth is not designed for, see What telehealth can't do — the safety limits.

What conditions is the symptom checker most useful for?

The checker is designed to help with the everyday concerns that bring patients to a GP: respiratory symptoms, gut symptoms, skin issues, urinary symptoms, headaches, fatigue, mental-health concerns, and the dozens of smaller issues that fit between them. It is less useful for highly specific specialist conditions — a long-running rheumatology problem, for example, is better described in your own words to the clinician. You can also upload photos of skin issues or wounds for the clinician to review before the consult. For the kinds of conditions Abby clinicians commonly see, see What conditions can Abby treat.

Where does the information go after I finish?

Your responses become part of your medical record and are pulled up alongside your prior history before your consult. The clinician opens the consultation already up to speed. For the bigger picture of how this fits with the intake flow, see How do I use the AI-powered intake form? and How do I ask Abby a medical question?.

Is what I share private?

Yes. Anything you share through the symptom checker is part of your medical record, and only Abby clinicians involved in your care can see it. Your privacy rights under Australian law are summarised by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.

How Abby can help

The symptom checker is the start of a consult, not the end of one. If you are unwell and want a clinical answer, the next step is to book. Abby appointments are bulk billed for eligible patients with a valid Medicare card. Start at abbyhealth.app/services/general-practice.