Low Cost Blood Testing: The Health Check USA Blog » HealthCheckUSA News Alert: Condoms Help Protect against Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (HSV-2)

Posted by David | Posted on 28-07-2009

HealthCheckUSA News Alert: Condoms Help Protect against Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (HSV-2)

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ScienceDaily (July 15, 2009) — Condom use is associated with a reduced risk of contracting herpes simplex virus 2, according to a report based on pooled analysis of data from previous studies.

Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) typically causes genital herpes, a chronic, life-long, viral infection. Although studies indicate that consistent condom use reduces the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, the effectiveness of preventing the transmission of HSV-2 through condom use is less certain, according to background information in the article.

Emily T. Martin, M.P.H., Ph.D., of Children’s Hospital Research Institute and the University of Washington, Seattle, and colleagues analyzed data from six HSV-2 studies to assess the effectiveness of condom use in preventing the virus. The studies included three candidate HSV-2 vaccine studies, an HSV-2 drug study, an observational sexually transmitted infection (STI) incidence study and a behavioral STI intervention study. These yielded results from 5,384 HSV-2-negative individuals (average age 29) at baseline for a combined total of 2,040,894 follow-up days.

More than 66 percent of those who took part in the six studies were male, 60.4 percent were white, 94.1 percent were heterosexual and most reported no prior STIs.

A total of 415 of the individuals acquired HSV-2 during follow-up. “Consistent condom users [used 100 percent of the time] had a 30 percent lower risk of HSV-2 acquisition compared with those who never used condoms,” the authors write. “Risk of HSV-2 acquisition decreased by 7 percent for every additional 25 percent of the time that condoms were used during anal or vaginal sex.” The risk of acquiring the virus increased significantly with increasing frequency of unprotected sex acts. There were no significant differences found in condom effectiveness between men and women.

“Based on findings of this large analysis using all available prospective data, condom use should continue to be recommended to both men and women for reducing the risk of HSV-2 acquisition,” the authors conclude. “Although the magnitude of the protective effect was not as large as has been observed with other STIs, a 30 percent reduction in HSV-2 incidence can have a substantial benefit for individuals as well as a public health impact at the population level.”

Funding for this project was provided by grants from the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Take a Herpes Blood Test

If you think you may have been exposed to the Herpes virus, you should take a Herpes Blood Test. Taking a Herpes Blood Test through HealthCheckUSA means you don’t need a prescription from your doctor, and you’ll be able to get your results quickly and privately at a discounted price.

HealthCheckUSA offers many lab tests that are affordable and do not require a doctor’s prescription. We also have over 5,000 locations throughout the United States. Besides the Herpes test, we also offer STD testing.

HerpeSelect® Herpes Blood Test
HerpeSelect is the brand name of HSV diagnostic blood test kits manufactured by Focus Diagnostics. Available at HealthCheckUSA, HerpeSelect Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and 2 IgG Blood Test

HerpeSelect herpes blood test assays are designed to aid in the diagnosis of:
• Sexually active adults, with or without symptoms, who could transmit the virus to a sexual partner.
• Expectant mothers, to reduce the risk acquiring an infection near labor and transmitting the infection during labor.

About HealthcheckUSA, your Low Cost Blood Testing Solution

HealthCheckUSA is the nation’s leader in low cost, consumer blood and lab testing and provides people the ability to access all types of blood tests without a physician’s referral and at more than half the price of what a the same blood tests cost in a lab without insurance.

HealthCheckUSA has packages that make it simple for consumers to measure, monitor, and improve their health by being able to order their own lab tests without a doctor’s order. HealthCheckUSA serves customers without insurance, have high deductible insurance plans, and taking control of their health because their doctor won’t order the test.

Popular Blood Tests From HealthCheckUSA

Super Chemistry Blood Testing Panel
Total Cholesterol, HDL (Good), LDL (bad), rations, triglycerides, Glucose, Kidney, Liver & Heart functions, Electrolytes, Protein, Iron (anemia), Complete Blood Count (CBC). Total of 40 Blood Tests through HealthCheckUSA. Low Cost Blood Testing Made Easy by HealthCheckUSA.com.

Super Chemistry plus Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Blood Testing Panel
Prostate Cancer Blood Test (PSA) plus Super Chemistry which includes Total Cholesterol, HDL (Good), LDL (bad), rations, triglycerides, Glucose, Kidney, Liver & Heart functions, Electrolytes, Protein, Iron (anemia), Complete Blood Count (CBC). Low Cost Blood Testing Made Easy by HealthCheckUSA.com.

Super Chemistry plus Thyroid Panel Blood Testing Panel
Thyroid Panel (T3 Uptake, T4 Total and TSH) plus Super Chemistry which includes Total Cholesterol, HDL (Good), LDL (bad), rations, triglycerides, Glucose, Kidney, Liver & Heart functions, Electrolytes, Protein, Iron (anemia), Complete Blood Count (CBC). Low Cost Blood Testing Made Easy by HealthCheckUSA.com.

Men’s Blood Testing Panel
PSA, Diabetes Management Test (HbA1c), Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC), Testosterone Total plus Super Chemistry which includes Total Cholesterol, HDL (Good), LDL (bad), rations, triglycerides, Glucose, Kidney, Liver & Heart functions, Electrolytes, Protein, Iron (anemia), Complete Blood Count (CBC). Low Cost Blood Testing Made Easy by HealthCheckUSA.com..

Women’s Blood Testing Panel
Thyroid Panel (T3 Uptake, T4 Total and TSH), Diabetes Management Test (HbA1c), Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) plus Super Chemistry which includes Total Cholesterol, HDL (Good), LDL (bad), rations, triglycerides, Glucose, Kidney, Liver & Heart functions, Electrolytes, Protein, Iron (anemia), Complete Blood Count (CBC). Low Cost Blood Testing Made Easy by HealthCheckUSA.com.

Popular types of blood and lab tests include: thyroid testing, complete metabolic testing (CMP), complete blood count testing, heart disease testing, cholesterol testing, diabetes testing (HbA1c), prostate cancer testing (PSA), vitamin D testing, vitamin B-12 testing, testing for osteoporosis, iron deficiency testing, testosterone testing to check for Low Testosterone (Low T), erectile dysfunction, estrogen testing for low levels of estrogen, male hormone testing and female hormone testing for hormone imbalances, drug testing, STD testing for herpes, hepatitis A, B and C testing, HIV, Chlamydia, syphilis, and EBV, herpes type 1 and type 2 testing, fertility testing in men, fertility testing in women, infertility testing in men, infertility testing in women, pregnancy testing, blood test for pregnancy, blood test for herpes, blood test for HIV, blood test for thyroid, and many more. Please go to www.HealthCheckUSA.com or call 800-929-7044 for complete details.

Posted by David | Posted on 28-07-2009

HealthCheckUSA News Alert: Prenatal Blood Testing of Thyroid is Debated

Category : thyroid screenings

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By INGFEI CHEN, New York Times (published April 14, 2009)

When women think about pregnancy, the thyroid gland is seldom the first thing that leaps to mind. Nestled in the neck, the gland makes hormones that govern metabolism, helping to regulate body weight, heart rate and a host of other factors.

But if the thyroid malfunctions, it can produce too little or too much of these hormones. During pregnancy those conditions, known as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, respectively, may lead to miscarriage, premature birth and pre-eclampsia — and in the case of hypothyroidism, impaired intelligence in the child.

A decade and a half of research has now brought the cumulative evidence of these risks to a critical mass. Clinical guidelines call for vigilant monitoring and treatment of patients to keep thyroid reserves normal and to safely guide women through pregnancy and early motherhood.

But because thyroid problems can easily go undiagnosed, the hazards have also set off a debate over whether every woman who is pregnant or planning to be should have a blood test to check her thyroid. That test measures for thyroid-stimulating hormone, or T.S.H., which spurs the gland’s hormone production.

Most doctors’ groups have not endorsed universal prenatal thyroid screening, citing uncertainties over whether it would yield health benefits justifying the expense of testing in roughly 6.4 million pregnancies each year and educating doctors to read results that are tricky to interpret.

But the big unanswered question — and crux of the debate — is whether treatment would help women with a mild, common form of thyroid deficiency, called subclinical hypothyroidism. For now, medical societies advise testing only high-risk women.

As a matter of policy, Dr. Kenneth D. Burman, the president of the American Thyroid Association, agrees with that stance for now. Yet like more and more endocrinologists, he offers TSH blood test for pregnancy in his practice, at Washington Hospital Center in Washington.

“Every patient I see who’s considering getting pregnant or is pregnant gets a thyroid function blood test ,” he said. “And I think that’s the right thing to do.”

He and others say they expect more and more doctors and medical societies to support universal screening after weighing all the evidence. The thyroid association is holding a symposium this Thursday and Friday in Washington to discuss the most recent research.

Symptoms of a wayward thyroid can be subtle, and pregnancy can mask them. Fatigue, weight gain and dry skin — all typical in pregnant women — can also result from hypothyroidism, said Dr. Alex Stagnaro-Green, an endocrinologist at Touro University College of Medicine in Hackensack, N.J.

The opposite condition, hyperthyroidism, affects roughly 2 in 1,000 pregnancies. But again, its symptoms — poor sleep, weight loss and nervousness after childbirth — could result from other postpartum conditions. (Renaissance painters unknowingly depicted the link between thyroid problems and pregnancy by showing women with goiters from an overactive thryoid after childbirth.)

Hypothyroidism, which usually arises from underlying autoimmune disease, is the more frequent and worrisome concern. As many as 10 to 20 percent of reproductive-age women test positive for antibodies that attack the thyroid gland and may eventually destroy it. Their risk of miscarriage is doubled.

Three to five out of 1,000 women of childbearing age suffer from overt hypothyroidism, in which thyroid hormone, or T4, is low and T.S.H. is abnormally high. But the most common thyroid dysfunction is subclinical hypothyroidism, in which T4 is normal but T.S.H. is slightly elevated. That condition affects 2 to 3 percent of women but often goes undiagnosed when it causes no obvious symptoms.

Hypothyroidism may harm fetal brain development. Ten years ago, researchers in Maine analyzed blood samples from 25,216 pregnant women and identified 62 with hypothyroidism. Their children, by then 7 to 9 years old, were given intelligence tests. Nineteen percent of the children born to women with an untreated underactive thyroid had an I.Q. of 85 or lower, compared with 5 percent of those whose mothers had a healthy thyroid. “At about 85 or below, that’s where you begin to have trouble in school and in life in general,” said Dr. James E. Haddow, a pediatrician at Brown University who was an author of the study. But if mothers had their hypothyroidism treated, their children’s intelligence was not impaired.

In reaction, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists endorsed routine thyroid function (TSH) blood testing in all women considering pregnancy. But other organizations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, have said wide-scale screening is premature until more data prove that treating subclinical hypothyroidism would prevent adverse effects in women and their offspring.

Studies do suggest that T4-replacement therapy is protective. But few large clinical trials have rigorously tested this intervention in mildly thyroid-deficient women. So far, promising results have come from one major, well-designed Italian study that showed miscarriage and preterm delivery rates dropped sharply when thyroid hormone pills were given to pregnant women who tested positive for thyroid antibodies.

Experts are now looking to the outcomes of two other major clinical trials under way in Wales and the United States. Both aim to confirm the I.Q. effects and the ability to avert them by studying pregnant women with underactive thyroids who receive hormone therapy or no treatment.

Pregnancy is such a critical time that “to expose a baby to a medication without known benefit may not be the best thing, unless we truly know that it’s helpful,” said Dr. Catherine Spong, the chief of pregnancy and perinatology at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, which is sponsoring the American trial.

That study will track 1,170 expecting mothers, including women with subclinical hypothyroidism, and their children will undergo I.Q. testing at age 5. Results are expected in 2015.

Advocates of routine blood testing see no need to wait for more answers, though. Dr. Terry F. Davies, an endocrinologist at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, finds the evidence “overwhelming” that a shortage of maternal thyroid hormone harms intellectual function in babies. “Once you believe that,” he said, “it would seem to me illogical not to be sure that all women have normal thyroid function during pregnancy.”

And Dr. Haddow said universal prenatal testing could be justified on the grounds of benefiting a woman’s general health. In the Maine study, 58 percent of the pregnant women who had hypothyroidism but did not know it eventually did have it diagnosed, but it took an average of five years. Pregnancy is “an optimal time” for T.S.H. testing, he said.

Most medical societies endorse only selective blood screening. Two years ago, the Endocrine Society released recommendations for testing thyroid function (TSH) in women at high risk for thyroid disorders, including anyone with symptoms of a goiter or sluggish thyroid, or a family history of thyroid problems, as well as those with Type 1 diabetes or autoimmune disease or previous miscarriage or premature delivery.

But research since then has revealed flaws in that strategy. “The problem is, it’s not good enough,” Dr. Stagnaro-Green said. A British study found that such testing missed 30 percent of those with hypothyroidism and 69 percent of those with hyperthyroidism.

For now, until there is confirmation that treatment truly helps, Dr. Stagnaro-Green said he still favored selective thyroid function blood testing . But he added, “My belief is that data will be forthcoming that will push us towards universal screening.”

About HealthcheckUSA, your Low Cost Blood Testing Solution

Popular Blood Tests From HealthCheckUSA

Posted by David | Posted on 27-07-2009

Low Cost, Affordable Blood Testing Made Easy at HealthCheckUSA

Category : blood tests

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DeGee Johnson wants to save time and not have to go to her doctor for 2 office visits and go the lab besides. Marlene Ortloff is trying to save money because she lost her job and no longer has health insurance and has to pay for blood tests out of her pocket. Polly Dehnert was tired of trying to get her doctor to order a comprehensive hormone panel. Janie Bowthorpe, from Stop the Thyroid Madness, was tired of trying to get her doctor to test her thyroid to rule out any thyroid disorders. A cancer patient in Texas is worried about his privacy. Five people, five different reasons, but they all made the same decision: to order their blood tests directly from HealthCheckUSA and avoid going through their doctor.

Ordering a blood test is not hard to do. With the advent of the internet and over 5,000 lab locations across the country, HealthCheckUSA is empowering thousands of consumers each month to take action and get their blood tested. “This gives me more power,” says Levine, 43, a rancher from Coni-fer, Colo., who used HealthcheckUSA to get a complete blood count and a sophisticated thyroid test. “I wasn’t getting the answers or tests I needed from my doctor. Plus it’s economics. The thyroid panel ordered by my endocrinologist in Boulder cost me $210. The same test through HealthCheckUSA costs $85.” Unless your insurance will cover both the doctor visit and lab costs – HealthCheckUSA is a great bargain!”

Common Blood Testing Questions

What is a laboratory test (also known as blood test) from HealthCheckUSA?
A laboratory test (blood test) is a health screening service that can determine many things about your health that may otherwise go undetected. The tests that you order are the same medically accepted lab tests ordered by physicians. A small sample of your blood is tested by a fully accredited Medical Reference Laboratory, and then analyzed for the tests that have been requested by you or your doctor.

Why are laboratory tests from HealthCheckUSA useful?
A regular physical examination helps to determine your level of health that a doctor can see, hear, or touch, such as vision, hearing, weight, respiratory functions, etc. A laboratory test (blood test) provides additional information about your health that cannot be measured in such a way. Test results keep you and your doctor informed about health issues that may otherwise be overlooked.

I am healthy – why do I need a blood test from HealthCheckUSA?
Knowledge of your blood’s chemistry is your best defense against degenerative disease. A simple blood test such as our Basic Health and Wellness Blood Testing Panel can indicate what is happening long before any symptoms of disease occur. Similar to a warning indicator on your automobile, your blood test profile is one of the best warning indicators now known to medicine. When blood tests reveal abnormalities, it is urgent to reverse the warnings as quickly as possible to avert the danger of degenerative disease. Even a blood test result that is normal is useful: not only does it help to rule out potential problem areas, it establishes a baseline of normal ranges against which future blood tests can be monitored. When you understand these blood tests and the role blood plays in your body, you can keep your blood test values within normal ranges through diet, exercise, and proper nutrition. When you visit your physician, a history of laboratory reports that you have kept can often provide the clue to a proper diagnosis.

Are blood tests from HealthCheckUSA accurate?
Yes – Blood tests available through HealthCheckUSA are the same medically accepted lab tests ordered by doctors for their patients. The blood tests are analyzed by an accredited medical reference laboratory. The results are confidential, and are available on the HealthCheckUSA Web site within 3-4 business days.

Which are some of the more popular types of blood tests from HealthCheckUSA?
Our most popular blood test for first-time clients is the Basic Health and Wellness Blood Testing Panel. The Basic Health and Wellness blood test panel establishes a comprehensive foundation of all aspects of your health, upon which future blood tests can be measured. Once this baseline has been established, many clients use the panel of blood tests as a regular check of progress, and to monitor the effects of a change in diet, exercise, or lifestyle.

Why do I need a Complete Blood Count (CBC) blood test from HealthCheckUSA?
A CBC blood test is the most frequently performed lab test. It provides a great deal of information about the three kinds of cells in the blood – red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. It is most frequently used as a blood screening test, as an anemia check, and as a blood test for infection, but it is also used to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of a large number of other conditions. Included in the CBC blood test are hematocrit, hemoglobin, red blood cell count, red blood cell indices, white blood cell count, white blood cell differential, and platelet count.

Why do I need a Thyroid Blood Test Panel 2 from HealthCheckUSA?
The thyroid is one of the most important glands in the body. This hormone regulates the metabolism of the body by increasing the rate of the reactions taking place in the body’s cells. The panel of thyroid blood tests are used to evaluate the symptoms of excess (hyperthyroidism) such as unexplained weight loss, tremor, nervousness, rapid heart rate, diarrhea, or the sensation of always being too hot. Symptoms of too little thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism) are unexplained weight gain, tiredness, dry skin, or the sensation of always being too cold.

How do I take a blood test from HealthCheckUSA?
Simply choose which lab test you wish to take from the list offered, select the most convenient laboratory location, fill out the client information profile, and select your method of payment. You will be sent a personalized requisition form by email to take to your selected laboratory location. The technician at the laboratory will draw a small sample of your blood for testing. As you have prepaid for this service, no further payment will be required at the laboratory.

Do I need to fast before taking a blood test?
To ensure absolute accuracy, a ten-hour fast is recommended. Black coffee and water are permitted during your period of fast.

Will I be able to understand the results of my blood test?
Yes – all blood test results include reference ranges and abnormalities found. A detailed explanation of each blood test can be viewed on this web site.

How can I contact someone if I have questions about my blood test results?
Any questions regarding significant findings or abnormal levels should be discussed with your doctor. Any other questions pertaining to your blood test results should be sent us via email.

Can I take the blood test results to my doctor for a diagnosis?
Yes – the blood tests that you order are the same medically accepted lab tests ordered by physicians, and your doctor will be able to discuss them with you. Your doctor will use these results in conjunction with your history and may even decide to order additional tests to confirm the results of any abnormalities.

How do I access my blood test results online at HealthCheckUSA.com?
We now offer the ability for our customers to download their results directly online through our HealthCheckUSA.com web site. As mentioned in our privacy policy, this is a completely secure process and all results remain entirely confidential. We do not give access nor do we distribute any personal customer information to third parties whatsoever.

In order to view your results online, you must register through HealthCheckUSA.com.

Simply order your test through normal process. Once ordering process is complete, the next screen will ask you for a unique username and password. This information will be processed immediately and your account will be activated. Please click here to order a test.

Results are typically available for viewing within 7 business days. (Depending on the type of result ordered, in most cases, results will be available sooner). To view you’re your results, simply log onto HealthCheckUSA at your convenience and enter your username and password to view your results. Please keep record of your username and password as HealthCheckUSA does not have access to this information for your own protection.
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How Does the Physician Interpretation work?
Once you have your blood drawn, your results are sent directly to you as usual. If you elect to have your results reviewed by a board certified physician, you will also receive instructions on how to access the interpretation of your results. By calling a toll free number and using your user identification number and personal identification number (provided with instructions), you will have access to your personal interpretation. Interpretations are available 72 hours after your blood draw.

What is the proper use of HealthCheckUSA’s drug tests?
These drug tests are for screening purposes only. Positives have not been confirmed for legal use and specimens have not been collected under legal guidelines for secure collection, therefore results cannot be used for employment or other legal reasons. Although a negative result indicates no drugs were detected above the method’s cutoff level, other methods may be used to detect lower levels of the drugs in the urine. Results can also be affected by the amount of urine excreted, weight or body type of person taking drug, acidity or alkalinity (pH) of urine, and frequency of drug taken. We offer two separate drug screening panels: Drug Screen Panel 1 and Drug Screen Panel 2. (Pricing may vary according to location you choose.)

As with all of our testing, results of the drug tests are entirely confidential and not shared with any third party and fully compliant with our privacy policy. Any questions please contact our customer service at (800) 929-2044.
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What is a HealthCheckUSA Walk-In Site?
In efforts to make the process more convenient to you, HealthCheckUSA has 2 locations in San Antonio, Texas. At these locations there is no need to pre-pay on-line or wait for us to send you the paperwork. Simply walk in to this location directly at your convenience without any appointment! This location will accept check or credit card payment and draw your blood immediately. Call our customer service for any further questions 1(800) 929-2044.

The blood tests available through HealthCheckUSA are the same medically accepted lab tests ordered by doctors for their patients. The blood tests are analyzed by an accredited medical reference laboratory. The results are confidential, and are available by fax to you or your doctor, or by mail to you (please allow 10 working days for mailing). Results are also available on the HealthCheckUSA Web site within 3-4 business days. An information sheet with an explanation of each test, including normal reference ranges, accompanies all results.

Popular types of blood and lab tests include: thyroid testing, complete metabolic testing (CMP), complete blood count testing, heart disease testing, cholesterol testing, diabetes testing (HbA1c), prostate cancer testing (PSA), vitamin D testing, vitamin B-12 testing, testing for osteoporosis, iron deficiency testing, testosterone testing to check for Low Testosterone (Low T), erectile dysfunction, estrogen testing for low levels of estrogen, male hormone testing and female hormone testing for hormone imbalances, drug testing, STD testing for herpes, hepatitis A, B and C testing, HIV, Chlamydia, syphilis, and EBV, herpes type 1 and type 2 testing, fertility testing in men, fertility testing in women, infertility testing in men, infertility testing in women, blood test for pregnancy, and many more. Please go to HealthCheckUSA or call 800-929-7044 for complete details.

Posted by David | Posted on 21-07-2009

HealthCheckUSA partners with Stop The Thyroid Madness

Category : blood tests, health tests, lab tests, thyroid test, Women's Health

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Exciting News to Thyroid Patients and Fans of Stop the Thyroid Madness

Stop the Thyroid Madness and HealthCheckUSA have partnered together to develop specific packages and lab testing options that will assist Stop the Thyroid Madness members in managing their condition and taking control of their health. With the guidance of Janie Bowthorpe, leading Thyroid activist, best selling author and media personality and founder of Stop the Thyroid Madness.com; HealthCheckUSA has put together testing options that are the affordable, convenient, and many don’t require a doctor’s order.

HealthCheckUSA is the nation’s leader in low cost, direct-to-consumer blood and lab testing and provides people the ability to access all types of blood, urine and saliva tests without a physician’s referral and at a 50% – 80% savings; perfect for customers without insurance, have high deductible insurance plans, and taking control of their health because their doctor won’t order the tests they need.

The lab tests available through HealthCheckUSA are the same medically accepted lab tests ordered by doctors for their patients. The lab tests are analyzed by an accredited medical reference laboratory. The results are confidential, and are available on the HealthCheckUSA Web site within 3-4 business days.

Low Cost Thyroid Lab Testing Options at HealthCheckUSA

Thyroid Function Blood Testing Panels

STTM Basic Thyroid (Free T3, Free T4 and TSH)

The HealthCheckUSA STTM Basic Thyroid Blood Testing Panel is a group of tests that includes Free T3, Free T4 and TSH that are often ordered together to help evaluate thyroid gland function and to help diagnose thyroid disorders. The tests included in a thyroid panel measure the amount of thyroid hormones in your blood. These hormones are chemical substances that travel through the bloodstream and control or regulate your body’s metabolism—how it functions and uses energy.

This group of tests would typically cost $325 from your local doctor or hospital lab. At $85.00, that’s a savings of $240!

Additional STTM Blood Testing Panels

STTM Ferritin Blood Analysis

Composed of iron and protein, Ferritin is a storehouse for iron in the body. Measurement provides an accurate picture of how much iron you have available in reserve. It is used to evaluate anemia and for diagnosing iron deficiency. Low Ferritin is a sign of iron deficiency. Ferritin is high with inflammation, infection, liver disease, iron overload, certain amends and certain cancers (leukemia and lymphoma). Symptoms of low ferritin include fatigue, depression, weakness, achiness, breathlessness, and/or others.

This test would typically cost $109 from your local doctor or hospital lab. At our price of $45.99, that’s a savings of $63!

STTM Total Iron Panel

The HealthCheckUSA STTM Total Iron Blood Testing Panel is a group of tests that includes Super Chemistry Complete Metabolic Panel, Iron Profile with TIBC, and Ferritin Analysis that are often ordered together to help evaluate metabolic and iron deficiency and to help diagnose heart disease, risk of stroke, Hemochromatosis, liver disease, iron overload and helps diagnose thyroid disorders (conversion of T3 and T4).

This group of tests would typically cost $269 from your local doctor or hospital lab. At $119.99, that’s a savings of $149!

STTM Vitamin Deficiency Panel

The HealthCheckUSA STTM Vitamin Deficiency Blood Testing Panel is a group of tests that includes Master Chemistry Complete Metabolic Panel, Vitamin D, 25 Hydroxy, and Vitamin B-12 with Folate that are often ordered together to help evaluate metabolic and Vitamin D deficiency, Vitamin b-12 deficiency and to help diagnose heart disease, risk of stroke, liver disease, and iron overload.

This group of tests would typically cost $350 from your local doctor or hospital lab. At $164.00, that’s a savings of $186!

STTM Men’s and Women’s Hormone Lab Testing Panels

STTM Women’s Basic Hormone Assessment

The HealthCheckUSA STTM Women’s Basic Hormone Assessment is a group of blood tests that includes Estradiol (E2), DHEA-S, Testosterone Free and Total, Progesterone and STTM Basic Thyroid Panel (Free T3, Free T4 and TSH) that are often ordered together to help evaluate thyroid disorders, hormonal imbalances and to determine stages of menopause.

This group of tests would typically cost $645 from your local doctor or hospital lab. At $195, that’s a savings of $450

STTM Women’s Comprehensive Hormone Assessment

The HealthCheckUSA STTM Women’s Comprehensive Hormone Assessment is a group of blood tests that includes LH, FSH, Estradiol (E2), DHEA-S, Testosterone Free and Total, Progesterone and STTM Basic Thyroid Panel (Free T3, Free T4 and TSH) that are often ordered together to help evaluate fertility, thyroid disorders, hormonal imbalances and to determine stages of menopause.

This group of tests would typically cost $750 from your local doctor or hospital lab. At $249, that’s a savings of $500

HealthCheckUSA is the nation’s leader in low cost, direct-to-consumer blood and lab testing and provides people the ability to access all types of blood, urine and saliva tests without a physician’s referral and at half the price. HealthCheckUSA has packages that make it simple for consumers to measure, monitor, and improve their health by being able to order their own lab tests without a doctor’s order. HealthCheckUSA serves customers without insurance, have high deductible insurance plans, and taking control of their health because their doctor won’t order the test.

Blood tests available through HealthCheckUSA are the same medically accepted lab tests ordered by doctors for their patients. The blood tests are analyzed by an accredited medical reference laboratory. The results are confidential, and are available on the HealthCheckUSA Web site within 3-4 business days.

Popular tests include: thyroid testing, complete metabolic testing (CMP), complete blood count testing, heart disease testing, cholesterol testing, diabetes testing (HbA1c), prostate cancer testing (PSA), vitamin D testing, vitamin B-12 testing, testing for osteoporosis, iron deficiency testing, testosterone testing to check for Low Testosterone (Low T), estrogen testing for low levels of estrogen, male hormone testing and female hormone testing for hormone imbalances, drug testing, STD testing for herpes, hepatitis A, B and C testing, HIV, Chlamydia, syphilis, and EBV, herpes type 1 and type 2 testing, fertility testing in men, fertility testing in women, infertility testing in men, infertility testing in women, pregnancy testing, and many more. Please go to HealthCheckUSA or call 800-929-7044 for complete details.

Posted by David | Posted on 20-07-2009

A New Link Discovered with Obesity and Diabetes? Get Tested at HealthCheckUSA.com

Category : Blood Testing, blood tests, health screening, health tests, lab tests, testing for diabetes

Tags: assessment, basic health, blood, blood test, blood testing, bloodstream, causal link, cell metabolism, diabetes, diabetes tests, doctor, fat cells, glucose, HbA1c, health, health and wellness, healthcheckusa, ing, insulin, lab, lab testing, lab tests, liver, low cost blood testing, managing diabetes, no insurance, order a blood test without a doctor's order, overweight individuals, pancreas, panel, physician, pigment, prevention, regulation of blood glucose, risk, risk of diabetes, test, testing, tests, type, type 2 diabetes, type 2 diabetic, types, ultimate health, undefined, wellness, wellness assessment

Scientists have long suspected a connection between obesity and diabetes, but were unable to determine the details of the relationship.

Until now.

According to a recent study published in the journal Cell Metabolism, fat cells secrete PEDF (pigment epithelium-derived factor), a protein that, when released into the bloodstream, desensitizes the muscle and liver to insulin. The pancreas must then produce more insulin to compensate. Because it becomes overworked, the pancreas eventually slows down or stops releasing insulin altogether, which can lead to Type 2 Diabetes. Overweight individuals tend to be less responsive to insulin, and thus need more to maintain their body’s regulation of blood glucose.

The study results showed that while an increase in PEDF causes Type 2 diabetes, obstructing it actually reverses the effects – when PEDF was blocked, subjects became more responsive to insulin, and thus did not need a surplus of it to keep their systems regulated.

Now that this direct causal link between obesity and diabetes has been discovered, researchers can begin working on a new drug that will successfully prevent and treat Type 2 diabetes. Weight loss is certainly an effective means of averting and managing diabetes as well.

The importance of testing for diabetes is greater than ever. Diabetes testing is available through HealthCheckUSA.com at very affordable prices. How much is your life worth? Don’t risk becoming a Type 2 Diabetic. HealthCheckUSA offers many diabetes tests, Click here for more information on ordering a low cost diabetes blood test.

Additional Blood Testing Panels
- Basic Health and Wellness Assessment
- Men’s Comprehensive Blood Testing Profile
- Women’s Comprehensive Blood Testing Profile
- Total Health and Wellness Lab Assessment
- Ultimate Health and Wellness Lab Assessment

HealthCheckUSA is the nation’s leader in low cost, direct-to-consumer blood and lab testing and provides people the ability to access all types of blood tests without a physician’s referral and at half the price. HealthCheckUSA has packages that make it simple for consumers to measure, monitor, and improve their health by being able to order their own lab tests without a doctor’s order. HealthCheckUSA serves customers without insurance, have high deductible insurance plans, and taking control of their health because their doctor won’t order the test.

Posted by David | Posted on 13-07-2009

VAP Advanced Cholesterol Blood Test Available at HealthCheckUSA

Category : blood tests, cardiovascular health, health screening, health tests, heart attacks, heart disease, heart disease test, lab tests, strokes

Tags: blood, blood lab, cardiovascular, cholesterol no insurance, cholesterol blood, cholesterol lab testing, complete, disease, diseases, doctor, health, health s, health test, healthcheckusa, heart, lab, physician, risk, screening, test, testing, tests, type, types, undefined, VAP blood test, VAP lab test, VAP test

The affordable VAP Test provides direct, detailed measurements of cholesterol subclasses that play important roles in the development of heart disease–the No. 1 cause of death in the United States. The comprehensive information provided by the VAP Test allows for improved diagnosis and gives physicians the ability to develop patient-specific therapy, monitor treatment progress, and increase patient compliance. The VAP Test also allows physicians to comply with updated National Cholesterol Education Program. The National Cholesterol Education Program is a program managed by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, a division of the National Institutes of Health. Its goal is to reduce increased cardiovascular disease rates due to hypercholesterolemia (elevated cholesterol).

Roseanne Varner, Atherotech’s president and chief executive officer, said the collaboration with HealthCheckUSA and the availability of the VAP Test through the Web site are important steps in Atherotech’s expansion into the direct access testing market. “We are pleased to partner with HealthCheckUSA and provide the VAP Test to people concerned about their cardiovascular health,” Varner said. “HealthcheckUSA’s focus on providing direct-to-consumer tests and services such as the VAP Test is to be commended. People are showing a growing need to take charge of their health, especially their heart health, and the detailed cholesterol information provided by the VAP Test will let them do just that.”

According to according to Holt Vaughan, Director for HealthcheckUSA, the company is delighted to be one of the first to offer the VAP Test directly to consumers. “We have been educated extensively about the VAP Test and the valuable information it provides about heart disease risk in people who may have a false sense of security about their cholesterol levels,” Vaughan said. “We believe that the VAP Test will revolutionize the way consumers monitor their cholesterol in the future.”

To request a VAP Test without a physician referral physician referral consumers can go to www.healthcheckusa.com Web site and select a lab location closest to them. HealthcheckUSA then forwards the customer the appropriate paperwork, which they can take to the lab without an appointment. The simple blood test can be completed in 10 minutes. Professionals screen all test results, and patients are urged to consult a physician if abnormalities appear. Results and explanations are mailed to HealthcheckUSA customers within 10-14 working days. Information about the VAP Test also is available at HealthcheckUSA’s main Web site at www.healthcheckusa.com.

About HealthcheckUSA.com

About Atherotech, Inc.

Atherotech, a leading specialty reference laboratory based in Birmingham, is dedicated to improving the early diagnosis and treatment of heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases that kill nearly 1 million Americans each year. Its VAP Cholesterol Test was named one of “five tests worth paying for” by the Wall Street Journal. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.thevaptest.com or www.healthcheckusa.com.

Posted by David | Posted on 26-05-2009

Dangers of Osteoperosis: Importance of Vitamin D Testing

Category : Vitamin d

Tags: blood, cancer, diabetes, disease, diseases, doctor, health, healthcheckusa, nutrients, osteoperosis, osteoperosis testing, physician, prevention, screening, test, testing, tests, type, types, undefined, Vitamin d, vitamin d deficiency, vitamin d testing

“On the Bright Side”

From Experience Life, June 2004

The National Institutes of Health cite osteoporosis among the most serious dangers of not getting enough vitamin D. In one study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (April 28, 1999), one-half of women with osteoporosis who were hospitalized for hip fracture at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston also happened to be deficient in vitamin D. Another study in Australia came upon a similar finding: Of 1,500 elderly women, the higher the vitamin-D levels, the less likely they were to suffer a bone-breaking fall.

Meanwhile, rickets, a vitamin-D-deficiency disease that prevents proper bone formation in childhood, has recently resurfaced as a public-health issue – possibly, some speculate, because of decreased exposure to sunlight.

But the benefits of this nutrient are more than bone deep. “Low vitamin-D states are also associated with diabetes, hypertension, weak immune systems and autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis,” says Gregory Plotnikoff, MD, MTS, FACC, associate professor of clinical medicine and pediatrics at the University of Minnesota. “In many cases, vitamin D regulates the genes associated with key functions. When not enough vitamin D is present, disease may be present.”

Read more about the links between vitamin-D deficiency and other things such as pain, muscle pain and cancer http://www.experiencelifemag.com/issues/june-2004/health-wellness/on-the-bright-side.html?ht

The tests available through HealthCheckUSA are the same medically accepted lab tests ordered by doctors for their patients. The tests are analyzed by an accredited medical reference laboratory. The results are confidential, and are available by fax to you or your doctor, or by mail to you (please allow 10 working days for mailing). Results are also available on the HealthCheckUSA Web site within 3-4 business days. An information sheet with an explanation of each test, including normal reference ranges, accompanies all results.

Posted by David | Posted on 26-05-2009

Vitamin D Deficiency: Additional evidence on importance of Vitamin D

Category : health screening, health tests, Vitamin d, Women's Health

Tags: blood, cancer, diabetes, disease, diseases, doctor, health, healthcheckusa, healthy, liver, physician, prevention, screening, test, testing, tests, type, types, undefined, Vitamin d, vitamin d deficiency, vitamin d test, vitamin d testing

“Vitamin D in the Crossfire”

From Experience Life, June 2006

While the tried and true advice — seek shade, wear sunscreen, avoid direct sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily — hasn’t changed, recent research indicates that our hyper-vigilance about sun exposure may actually be compromising our body’s ability to maintain healthy levels of vitamin D.

We’ve long known vitamin D is essential to building strong bones, but a flurry of emerging studies is linking deficiencies of the sunshine vitamin to a growing list of serious health concerns, including hypertension, diabetes, depression and a variety of cancers. Despite vitamin D also coming from foods like eggs, cod liver oil, fatty fish and fortified products, many Americans, especially those living in cloudier climes, do not get today’s “adequate intakes” for bone health.

Read more about vitamin D in the crossfire here http://www.experiencelifemag.com/issues/june-2006/health-wellness/vitamin-d-in-the-crossfire.html?ht

Posted by David | Posted on 26-05-2009

Vitamin D Deficiency: Importance of Vitamin D Testing

Category : health screening, lab tests, Uncategorized, Vitamin d, Women's Health

Tags: blood, diabetes, disease, diseases, health, healthcheckusa, healthy, hormone, prevention, screening, testing, tests, type, types, vitamin b12, vitamin b12 test, Vitamin d, vitamin d deficiency, vitamin d testing

“Light Rhythms”

From Experience Life, June 2009

Recent studies in North America and Europe indicate that a staggering 95 percent of people are vitamin D deficient — not surprising given how much time we spend inside.

Sunlight doesn’t just help set your internal clock, it actually nourishes your body by helping it create vitamin D. Classified as a water-soluble vitamin, vitamin D acts more like a hormone, working with the parathyroid hormone to balance calcium in the blood and build strong bones. It also maintains healthy cellular growth and regulates the immune system, which prevents excessive inflammation that can lead to autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, periodontal disease, multiple sclerosis and irritable-bowel diseases.

The Institute of Medicine of the National Academies currently calls for 200 international units (IU) of vitamin D per day for people younger than 50, 400 IU for those 51 to 70, and 600 IU for people 71 and older. But organizations like the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics have called on the government to raise those numbers to between 1,000 to 2,000 IU daily.

Read more about sunlight and vitamin D here http://www.experiencelifemag.com/issues/june-2009/health-wellness/light-rhythms.html?ht

Posted by David | Posted on 20-05-2009

Thyroid Disorders; “Escape from Inertia”

Category : thyroid screenings, thyroid test

Tags: health, hormone, hypoism, hypothyroidism, panel, test, testing, tests, thyroid

“Escape From Inertia”
From Experience Life, May 2009

Most of us struggle at some point to overcome a stubborn resistance to exercising. Not sure what’s keeping you from exercising more regularly? Here’s a reason that may be lurking beneath the surface:

Undiagnosed health issues. Hypothyroidism, a condition in which your thyroid doesn’t release enough metabolism-stimulating hormones, can make you unnaturally fatigued and your muscles sore and weak. Even under the best circumstances, this condition can make exercise seem impossible.

More tips for getting - and keeping – your body in motion, even when you don’t feel like it visit http://www.experiencelifemag.com/issues/may-2009/fit-body/escape-from-inertia.html?ht=

If you would like to test your thyroid, click here to order the Thyroid Panel II from HealthCheckUSA.com.

Experience Life Magazine is a partner of HealthCheckUSA.com.

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A New Link Discovered with Obesity and Diabetes? Get Tested at HealthCheckUSA.com

VAP Advanced Cholesterol Blood Test Available at HealthCheckUSA

Dangers of Osteoperosis: Importance of Vitamin D Testing

Vitamin D Deficiency: Additional evidence on importance of Vitamin D

Vitamin D Deficiency: Importance of Vitamin D Testing

Thyroid Disorders; “Escape from Inertia”

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