How It Works
Tests are open to men and women of all ages.
All the tests are blood samples taken from a vein in your arm. More than one sample may be taken depending on the tests you have chosen. The samples are then sent to a state of the art laboratory with technology to deliver fast and accurate results.
Your privacy is prioritised to ensure all data is handled securely and confidentially.
You will receive your results in a detailed report which will give you information and recommendations about your health. It will include advice on the actions you need to take to remain in optimum health.
What do I need to know before taking a test?
We want to ensure that anyone who is considering taking a test understands the conditions it checks for and what the results may mean. For each of the conditions we have provided general details below and links to other websites that provide more detailed information.
Before you book a test, please carefully read this and if needed, visit the specialist website listed.
We would stress, if you have any concerns about your health, you should, in the first instance, consult your GP.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a serious condition where your blood glucose level is too high. It can happen when your body doesn't produce enough insulin or the insulin it produces isn't effective. There are 2 main types of Diabetes.
Type 1 often comes on quickly and has symptoms of feeling very thirsty, going to the toilet a lot (especially at night), tiredness, weight loss, itching and blurred vision. This occurs because the pancreas stops producing insulin to control your blood glucose level.
Type 2 is far more common and can have similar symptoms but is often asymptomatic. In the UK, over 90% of all adults with diabetes have type 2 and recent research indicates that 30% of people living with Type 2 diabetes in England are undiagnosed. You may be more at risk of type 2 diabetes if you are overweight or obese, do not have a healthy diet, have a family history of type 2 diabetes, are of Asian, Black African or African Caribbean origin or suffer from high blood pressure.
By taking regular exercise, having a healthy body weight combined with healthy eating, you can reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes.
The complications of untreated Diabetes can be damage to the blood vessels sometimes leading to a heart attack or stroke, eye and vision problems, nerve damage, particularly to the feet and legs leading to ulcers, and kidney damage
An HbA1c test is the main blood test used to diagnose diabetes. It tests your average blood sugar levels for the last two to three months. You may have diabetes if your HbA1c level is 48mmol/mol or above, or you could be diagnosed with prediabetes if the HbA1c is 42 – 48mmol/mol
You’ll normally get the test results in a few days. From these results, your healthcare professional will be able to see if you have diabetes. If you didn’t have any of the symptoms of diabetes before you were tested, you’ll need to have the test again by your GP to confirm the result.
For Further Information visit NHS - www.nhs.uk/conditions/diabetes
Diabetes UK - http://www.diabetes.org.uk/diabetes-the-basics
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a natural fatty substance in your blood. It’s produced in the liver and it's also in some of the foods we eat. Cholesterol is important to keep the cells in our bodies healthy.
High cholesterol is when you have too much cholesterol in your blood. It's mainly caused by eating fatty food, not exercising enough, being overweight, smoking and drinking alcohol. Having higher cholesterol is more likely as we age, are male and from a south Asian background. It can also run in families. You can lower your cholesterol by eating healthily and getting more exercise. Some people also need to take medicine.
High cholesterol does not usually cause symptoms. You can only find out if you have it from a blood test. The blood test measures the levels of HDL (“good” cholesterol), Non -HDL (“bad” cholesterol), Triglycerides and the ratio between Total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol. You should have a blood test if you are over 40, overweight, or high cholesterol or heart problems run in your family.
If the results show a high cholesterol level, it means you have too much 'bad' cholesterol in your blood, which increases your risk a heart attack or stroke. But a high level of 'good' (HDL) cholesterol can help keep that 'bad' (non-HDL) cholesterol in check.
If you have high cholesterol, make an appointment to talk to a doctor or nurse who will go through with you about how it can be reduced. This might include things like changing your diet, stopping smoking, reducing alcohol intake, taking more exercise or taking medicine. They may also work out your risk of having a heart attack or stroke in the next 10 years. By lowering your cholesterol you can help lower your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
For Further Information visit NHS - www.nhs.uk/conditions/high-cholesterol/
British Heart Foundation - www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/risk-factors/high-cholesterol
PSA Test
A PSA test is a blood test to help identify prostate conditions including prostate cancer. The test measures the amount of Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) in your blood. PSA is a protein produced by both cancerous and non-cancerous tissue in the prostate, a small gland that sits below the bladder in males.
- About 15% of men who have prostate cancer do not have a raised PSA level.
- Three out of every four men with a raised PSA level don’t have prostate cancer.
- One out of four men with a raised PSA level will have cancer
A PSA test is not a perfect test, but it will help find other conditions and is the best test available until something better comes along!
Early detection saves lives. Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting men worldwide. Every year, in the UK, over 12,000 men die from prostate cancer. However, when detected early, the survival rate rises significantly.
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