Walk-In Blood Tests With No Doctor's Visit Required
In stark contrast to New York, in Arizona patients can walk into laboratories and order a choice of tests on demand. Some labs even display the testing options on a price list, offering labs like a basic metabolic panel for just $17.4
This seemingly basic right to choose your own medical testing in Arizona is largely the result of intense lobbying by Theranos Inc., a blood-testing start-up firm that had hoped to identify illnesses from a finger prick instead of vials of drawn blood.
After failed inspections, the firm has closed its blood-testing facilities,5 but the doors it opened for companies offering direct-to-consumer testing using conventional methods remain.
Sonora Quest Laboratories, one company offering so-called direct access testing (DAT), reported 400 percent growth in the sector in 2016 and continued growth of more than 15 percent a month.6
Further, as Forbes reported, Sonora president and CEO Dave Dexter said, " … Doctors in the state have not been suddenly overwhelmed by anxious patients, and patients haven't been overwhelmed by the challenge of dealing with their data."
Instead, the patients have become empowered to become more deeply engaged with their health.
A number of companies have also started to allow patients to order hormone panels, test nutrient levels and markers of inflammation and more, then give the option to consult with doctors, nutritionists or other medical personnel for follow up.
...
4 Blood Tests I Advise Performing Annually
As direct-to-consumer lab tests become increasingly available, one of the first questions that probably come to mind is which tests are worth getting.
This is where having a relationship with a holistic health care provider can be valuable, as you can set up a baseline of which tests you should be monitoring and what your results should be (the reference ranges provided on lab test reports are not always accurate when it comes to optimal health).
This can vary considerably depending on your age, health status and health goals. There is no doubt, however, that having direct access to lab testing, and direct access to your results, is an invaluable way for you to take control of your health.
As a general rule, I recommend getting the following four tests done on an annual basis, although others, such as uric acid level, may be beneficial as well.
Fasting insulin and glucose. Your fasting insulin level reflects how healthy your blood glucose levels are over time. A normal fasting blood insulin level is below 5, but ideally you'll want it below 3. A fasting glucose level below 100 mg/dl suggests you're not insulin resistant, while a level between 100 and 125 confirms you have pre-diabetes and may indicate an increased risk of heart disease. | Serum ferritin. While many are iron deficient, which can lead to problems, having too much iron is just as common, and may be even more dangerous. Iron is potent oxidative stress, so excess amounts can increase your risk of heart disease. Ideally, monitor your ferritin levels and make sure they are in the 60 to 80 ng/ml range. To lower your iron level, either donate blood or get therapeutic phlebotomy. |
Vitamin D. Optimizing your vitamin D is one of the easiest and least expensive things you can do for your health. But, the only way to determine your optimal dose is to get your blood tested. Ideally you'll want to maintain a vitamin D serum level of between 40 and 60 ng/mL (100 and 150 nmol/L). | Fasting lipid panel, which includes total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglycerides. The key here is to focus on the ratio between these lipids, not the individual measurements in isolation. To learn more, see "7 Factors to Consider if You're Told Your Cholesterol Is Too High." An NMR Lipoprofile can also provide a more accurate risk assessment. |
No comments:
Post a Comment