COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT

What is this test?

A Complete Blood Count gives you an overall view of your health. 

The COMPLETE Blood Count (CBC) is a group of tests performed on a single blood sample that tell us about the different kinds of cells in the blood 

The test includes:

White blood cells (WBC)
White blood cells fight infection and play a role in immune responses such as inflammation and allergies.
Looking at the various different types of white cells is called a WBC Differential. Each cell type has its own job to do in fighting infection.  Increased numbers of certain WBCs can help to pinpoint if an infection is caused by a bacteria or virus.

Platelets, which are important in blood clotting.
Low numbers of platelets can lead to excessive bruising or bleeding.

VIT D TEST:

What is this test for?

Known as the “sunshine vitamin” we produce most of what we need through exposure to the sun. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin. 

Vitamin D controls absorption of calcium and phosphate. It is vital for keeping bones, immunity and teeth healthy.  Its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and neuro protective properties support immune health, muscle function and brain cell activity.

B12

What is this test?

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is an essential water-soluble vitamin that is found in virtually all meat products, fish, eggs, milk, milk products and certain algae such as seaweed. Folate (folic acid) is a type of B vitamin and forms, together with vitamin B12, part of the B complex vitamins. 

Vitamin B12 is essential in maintaining healthy nerve and red blood cells, and brain function. Testing your vitamin B12 is in particular important for people who do not get any or enough vitamin B12 in their diets e.g. vegans and some vegetarians, as well the elderly who are at risk of malnutrition. Vitamin B12 is generally not found in plant food, but many processed foods e.g. cereals have added vitamin B12. Folate is important for cell growth and reproduction. Certain drinks and foods, such as citrus juices and dark green vegetables, are particularly good sources of folate. 

ZINC

What is this test? Zinc is an essential trace element, which means your body cannot make it on its own and you must get it from your diet. Zinc helps the body to make new cells and enzymes, to process carbohydrates, fat and protein in food and promote wound healing.

Please allow ONE Week for the reporting of the test results. 

CALCIUM

This test measures the level of calcium in your blood. Calcium is one of the most important minerals in your body and has many essential functions.

Both total and corrected calcium are used in diagnosing and monitoring many health problems including general health screening, kidney disease, bone health, heart problems, and the effects of medications.

What tests are included?

• Total and corrected calcium

FULL LIPID PANEL (CHOLESTROL)

What is this test?

This will test Cholesterol, HDL, LDL and Triglycerides.  A cholesterol test give you important information about your risks of developing heart disease. If your test shows you have high cholesterol, you can take steps to lower it via changes in your diet. This may decrease your risk of developing heart problems in the future. 

What to do before this test

Prior to your test you will need to fast for 8 hours.  No food or Drink other than plain water. 

CRP

What is this test?

C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is a protein produced by the liver when there is inflammation or infection present in the body. 

 It is not diagnostic and is a non-specific marker for disease. CRP is classified as an “acute phase reactant”, which means that its levels will rise within hours after tissue injury, or in response to inflammation and infection.

CORTISOL

What is this test?

Cortisol is a hormone produced by your adrenal glands.   One of our stress hormones, cortisol is important because it allows us to react ( fight or flight mode) when we are under pressure.

THIS SAMPLE should be collected between 7-9.30am *FASTED

What to do before this test

Fasting for 8 hours minimum, no food or drink *(plain water only).  Blood samples collected between 7-930am

COPPER

What is this test?

Copper is an essential trace element that is found throughout the body. 

It plays a vital role, it keeps blood and nerve cells healthy, is essential for your immune system and plays a role in the development and maintenance of bone, heart and muscle health. Copper may also act as an anti-oxidant to protect cells against free radical damage. 

Please allow ONE Week for the reporting of the test results. 

FERRITIN ONLY

What is this test?

Ferritin is a protein that stores iron and transports wherever the body requires it.

Ferritin is released in a controlled manner when your body needs iron to make more red blood cells.

Your blood ferritin level is an indirect marker of the total amount of iron stored in the body at any specific time. (low iron and ferritin) or iron overload (high iron and ferritin). Ferritin is also an acute phase reactant protein that helps in the deference against infection and inflammation.

FULL IRON PANEL 

What is this test?

This test includes Ferritin and Iron levels.

Iron is an essential trace element that, among other functions, is needed in small quantities to help form normal red blood cells (RBCs). It forms a critical part of haemoglobin, the protein that binds oxygen in the lungs and releases it as the blood circulates to other parts of the body. 

The body cannot produce iron and must take it up from the foods we eat or from supplements. Low levels of circulating and stored iron can lead to “iron deficiency anaemia”. Conversely, too much iron (iron overload) can be toxic to the body. 

Iron is stored inside cells in a protein called ferritin.  When the body needs to make new red blood cells the iron stored in ferritin is released into the blood stream and transported to the bone marrow where blood cells are made. In iron deficiency anaemia, ferritin levels are usually low.

GLUCOSE

What is this test?

Glucose is the main sugar found in the blood and comes from the food you eat. 

Along with fat, glucose is one of the body’s preferred sources of carbohydrate fuel. Glucose can either be used immediately for energy, or it can be stored. Blood glucose testing can be used to screen for type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

HOMOCYCTEINE

What is this test?

Homocysteine is an amino acid (a building block for proteins) that you get mainly from eating meat. 

High levels of homocysteine in the blood may mean that you have a vitamin deficiency.

What to do before this test

Prior to your test, fast for 8 hours MINIMUM, FASTING no food or drink (plain water only permitted). Blood collection between 7-930am.  Test results will take approx 1 week to come back. 

T3 - Thyroid

What is this test?

Tri-iodothyronine (T3) together with thyroxine (T4) are hormones produced by your thyroid gland. Most of the T3 in your body is bound to protein. The FREE TRIIODOTHYRONINE (FT3) test measures your levels of free T3 in the blood; this is the amount of T3 not bound to protein. 

T3, along with your other thyroid hormone, thyroxine (T4), are the hormones responsible for regulating your body’s metabolism, body temperature, and heart rate. A FT3 is done together with FT4 to determine if you have a thyroid problem. 

LIVER FUNCTION TEST

What is this test?

The liver function test (LFT) - liver health:

• albumin

• protein

• bilirubin

• alkaline phosphatase (ALP)

• alanine transaminase (ALT)

• gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT)

The liver’s primary functions are to remove toxins from the blood, help with digestion by producing bile, make proteins that help with blood clotting, stores vitamins and iron, and convert carbohydrates to glucose. It essentially plays a central role in our metabolism, the process that turns food into energy.

When you would usually get this test?

Liver functions tests are used to screen for, to detect, or evaluate &monitor acute and chronic liver inflammation (hepatitis), infection, liver disease and/or liver damage.

This test can be used periodically to evaluate liver function. 

KIDNEY HEALTH TESTING

The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located just below the rib cage and are essential filters that remove waste products, impurities & toxins from the body.

Health kidneys are very important and have many functions, regulating blood pressure, promoting bone health, the production of red blood cells.

What tests are included:

• Sodium

• Potassium

• Urea

• Creatinine

• eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate)

• Uric acid

 PROGESTERONE

 What is this test for?

Progesterone is a steroid hormone; its main role is to prepare a woman’s body for pregnancy. 

The progesterone test can be used to help determine the cause of infertility, to assess when you are ovulating and to monitor the health of the foetus during pregnancy.

TESTOSTERONE

What is this test for?

Testosterone is one the key male sex hormones produced by the testes. 

Testosterone plays a major role in the development of male sexual characteristics, body and facial hair, a deep voice. Testosterone also plays an important part in sex drive, sperm production and muscle strength. 

FSH - FOLICLE STIMULATING HORMONE

What is this test for?

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is a hormone produced by cells in your pituitary. FSH together with LH are called “gonadotropins”  they stimulate – in males the testes, in females the ovaries to produce testosterone. They are essential for reproduction. 

Lack or insufficiency FSH can cause infertility or subfertility in both men and women. In women, this hormone also stimulates the growth of follicles in the ovary; each follicle will release on egg at ovulation, and increases estrogen production.