National Influenza Week: December 7th- 13th, 2014

This year, the Center for Disease Control has declared the week of December 7th-13th as National Influenza Week. During this week, the goal is to inform and educate the general public about influenza and highlight the importance of continuing the influenza vaccination.

There are many benefits to getting the vaccine. Along with it being a great preventative measure to avoid infection, it is especially helpful for those with chronic health conditions who could become more seriously ill if they were to contract the virus. If a person has already become sick with the flu, the vaccine can still help suppress the symptoms of the flu and lower the severity of sickness.

The CDC suggests the public to take 3 actions to fight the flu.

  1. Take time to get the flu vaccine early. It takes approximately two weeks after being vaccinated for your body to develop the antibodies it needs to fight the flu effectively.

  2. Take everyday preventive actions to avoid spreading germs like washing your hands frequently and keeping sanitizer nearby.

  3. If you do contract the virus, take flu antiviral medication if a physician prescribes.

The CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months and older. By getting vaccinated today, you can help protect yourself and those around you who are more vulnerable to a serious flu illness. Not all Any Lab Test Now® locations provide flu vaccines. Call your local clinic today to see if your particular location offers this service.

Important Immunization Facts for College Students

This year, America’s colleges and universities are welcoming back record numbers of students. If you’re one of the more than 21 million undergraduates¹ attending school this fall, you know that proof of immunization is an important requirement. Now is the perfect time to learn more about which vaccinations you’ll need.  Before you can step foot in the classroom, make sure you’re up-to-date on these shots.

REQUIRED (varies by state and institution, so check with your college)

  • MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella)
  • Meningitis
  • Hepatitis B
  • Varicella (chicken pox)

RECOMMENDED

  • Influenza (flu)
  • Td (tetanus, diphtheria)
  • HPV (human papillomaviruses)

Minors will need to get parental consent before getting caught up on any immunizations they might be missing. If you aren’t sure which vaccinations you’ve already had, speak with your doctor to obtain a medical history. Or, you can obtain proof of immunization through a lab test, such as MMR titers or Varicella titer testing.  Some diseases – chicken pox, for example – will not require additional immunization if you have already been sick.

¹ U.S. Department of Education Institute, National Center for Education Statistics

Raising Awareness for Health Centers During Health Center Week

Have you ever noticed that when you get sick you always feel the need to find out what’s wrong? Who wants to go another day with a tummy ache, a sore throat or the dreaded sinus headache and congestion? Believe it or not that’s one of the many benefits provided by health centers. You might start asking yourself… “But I don’t have insurance, so how can I get service?” The good news is you have options at your disposal that will empower you to Take Control of Your Health® whether you have high deductible insurance, a Health Savings Account or Flexible Spending Account, or if you are uninsured.

A great example of available options is ANY LAB TEST NOW®. Though ANY LAB TEST NOW® does not treat or diagnose, it does empower its customers to be proactive about managing their health by providing direct access to blood tests, DNA tests, drug and alcohol testing as well as other lab testing services.  After you get your lab test results, you can quickly call a physician with our AmeriDoc telemedicine services program.  The doctor is just a phone call a way, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and can treat many non-emergent care issues by phone, video call, or chat.

According the National Association of Community Health Centers, there are around 44 million people in the U.S. that are currently uninsured with another 56 million with high deductible insurance. This often makes health take a back seat to cost, which stresses the importance of price transparency. Can you take more good news? ANY LAB TEST NOW®’s affordable, transparent prices fit into a person’s healthcare budget, providing a solution that continues to support overall health and wellness. Don’t let your health take a back seat, without it we are nothing.

During the week of August 11 – 17 the nation celebrates Health Center Week. Why not take the time during this week to stop by a health center near you, check in on your health and thank them for helping to empower you and your loved ones to Take Control of Your Health®?

To learn more about ANY LAB TEST NOW®’s lab testing options stop by an ANY LAB TEST NOW® near you or visit www.anylabtestnow.com

Allied Health Back-to-School Healthy Checklist

With the new school year around the corner the excitement of back to school shopping is here again; these days back-to-school shopping as it relates to college or technical school takes more than a new wardrobe and new supplies. Now students also need to shop for a place to get immunization confirmations along with other lab tests just to be able to enroll.  Or, you can track down that pediatrician you saw 16 – 18 years ago and see if they can pull your records quickly….

Required tests for freshman college enrollment or for healthcare professional students can include but are not limited to MMR Titers (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) and/or Varicella Titer (Chickenpox).  Some schools might require students to be tested for Hepatitis A, B and/or C; or obtain a TB screen, drug test or flu shot.  And you just thought you were finished with school shopping!

With everything on your to-do list for back-to-school, wouldn’t it be nice if there was a place where you can have all the necessary lab tests done at an affordable price and that didn’t require too much of your time? ANY LAB TEST NOW® is an affordable option for back-to-school lab testing, for both incoming college students and allied health students. Working within the student’s budget while offering fast and convenient lab tests, especially if you just found out about a last-minute requirement, is important. Whether you need confirmation of immunization through titers testing, hepatitis tests, a flu shot or a drug test, ANY LAB TEST NOW® makes it fast, easy and as painless as possible.

You have too much to do to get ready for school and ANY LAB TEST NOW® can help you Take Control of Your Health® and get ready for school with something as simple as making an appointment. For more information about our allied health lab testing services visit an ANY LAB TEST NOW® near you or www.anylabtestnow.com.

Getting in the Spirit of National Collegiate Health and Wellness Week

Going to college is a great experience. It is the time when you finally get to study the subjects you are really interested in and when you begin to work towards your future career. You are the one and only responsible for what comes next for Y-O-U, including meeting deadlines, paying bills on time and of course taking care of your health.  Welcome to adulthood!

Now let’s talk about the process to get into college. Yes grades, tests scores and a comprehensive entry essay are a given; but the other side of this process believe it or not comes down to your health. Are your immunizations up to date? Have you been tested for venereal diseases? Some institutions may also require you to take a drug test. All these elements combined and perhaps an interview will determine whether you get in or not.

Next… Congratulations you got accepted! Now the grind begins, you are on a roll and burning the midnight oil has become part of your daily routine. You figured “why not I’m young I’ll catch up on Z’s once I graduate!” Ask yourself do these activities affect my overall health and wellness? The answer to that question is YES! Let’s be honest that midnight oil being burned is not just due to studying and once you graduate the time to catch up on Z’s decreases. It has been reported that some of the main health concerns on campuses across the country include lack of sleep, infectious diseases, alcohol abuse and lack of exercise.

The time to Take Control of Your Health® is now! You might ask yourself, but “how do I do that?” Perhaps doing the good old buddy system could work.  ANY LAB TEST NOW® can be that buddy you need to help you stay on top of things and make sure you’re healthy. We have the tests that you don’t have to study for including titer testing, STD testing and overall wellness checkups. Plus, we have B-12 shots that can help you boost that energy after those all-nighters.  Get in the spirit of National Collegiate Health and Wellness Week, increase your awareness about the importance of staying healthy, fit and get educated on how to do it.  Visit www.anylabtestnow.com to find additional information on how to Take Control of Your Health® and visit a location near you.

Defend Yourself Against the Flu

Did you know the CDC reported that in a 30-year period, deaths affiliated to the flu in the United States alone range from 3,000 to 49,000 people? Flu season is here and now the battle to prevent getting the virus begins. It is safe to say that getting the flu is no picnic. You will get most of the symptoms of the common cold such as body aches, sore throat and a cough with an additional high fever and the feeling that your runny nose should be in intensive care.

It is important to note that anyone regardless of their age can get infected with the flu. However, age does play a part in the period of contagiousness. A healthy adult may infect others from one day before developing symptoms up to 5 to 7 days after becoming ill. Children, as well as those with weakened immune systems, have the ability of infecting others for a period longer than a week.

Since most cases of the flu take place during the months of October through May; now is the time to act and make sure you and the ones you love are protected. Getting your flu shot as soon as it is available not only protects you from being stuck in bed for a week but it also prevents you from potentially infecting others.

ANY LAB TEST NOW® can be your ally.  Take 5 minutes to stop by for the shot that will help keep you and your loved ones protected from the virus. The shot is not available at all ANY LAB TEST NOW® locations. For more information on where the flu shot is available near you visit https://www.anylabtestnow.com/locations/.