At Any Lab Test Now®, we understand how important it is for you to be in the driver’s seat when it comes to your health. We’re here to help.

Knowing about your body and understanding health information, allowing you to make appropriate decisions, is part of your health literacy. Educating consumers on how to best prevent and manage chronic and everyday illnesses is our goal at Any Lab Test Now®.

That’s why we want you to understand these five basic ideas about your health.

  1. Baseline Health – If you think about your health as if you are taking a picture, your baseline is the all-inclusive or panoramic view of your health using a wide-angle lens.

Baseline tells you where your health is right now, not where it should be or where you want it to be.

At Any Lab Test Now®, we have tests to provide that snapshot of where you are and how your body is functioning. Perhaps it shows an area of concern or a few red flags that need further testing, or maybe all is well and you do this check-up again in a year.  

That’s why utilizing our Annual Panel is a great tool to obtain that snapshot. It includes the following screenings:

  • Complete Blood Count (CBC) – This test gives important information about the kind and the number of cells in your blood.
  • Cholesterol Lipid with Ratio (Lipids Panel) – This can determine if you have abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels.
  • Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) – This test checks your body’s production of TSH and helps screen for thyroid disease, hyperthyroidism, and hypothyroidism.
    • Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) – This gives you a very good picture of your overall health and your electrolyte count. It is a good indicator of issues of concern like heart health.
  • Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1C) – The Hemoglobin A1c Test is a valuable measure of the overall blood glucose levels over a period of time (2 to 3 months). This test can be used to help detect pre‐diabetes and diagnose diabetes.

It’s important to revisit these benchmarks annually and create a new snapshot, especially if there were problems detected.

This brings us to our next point, zeroing in on specific problems that may have been discovered in the annual screening panel.

  • Specifics – From that “photography” analogy, this step zooms in on any problem areas. It’s essentially the telephoto lens. This step takes a closer look at areas of the body where an issue may need to be addressed.

For example,if the Lipid Panel shows your “bad” cholesterol looks too high, it may be time to change your diet or be placed on medication to lower your cholesterol.

Specific lab testing is also useful if you have a specific ailment. Let’s say you are experiencing urinary issues. At Any Lab Test Now®, we can run a Renal Function Panel that evaluates the kidney (renal) function by measuring minerals, electrolytes, proteins, and glucose.

  • Universal Testing – You may have heard information in the past that there are certain risk factors, conditions, or diseases that may be more common to certain races or ethnicities. Historically, lab tests have been conducted with what’s called a “race adjustment factor.” At Any Lab Test Now®, the testing has become more universal among races and ethnicities. Calculating the risk factors is done based on results.
  • Screenings vs. Diagnostic Tests – This is a big one. It’s important to understand the difference between a lab test that is a screening versus a diagnostic test. When it comes to your health, comprehending the difference can be lifechanging.

Think of it this way: a screening isquick, easy, and informative but not definitive. It gives you a good snapshot. This is a routine test when you don’t necessarily have symptoms.

A diagnostic test, on the other hand, is often more complicated and invasive. It may be a test that further investigates a red flag discovered during a screening or if you are symptomatic. Remember, many lab tests are not one-and-done.

Any Lab Test Now® provides screening tests, and you are given the results. You own those results and can use them accordingly. However, if a screening shows an abnormality or concern, it’s recommended to seek further examination and information-gathering with your physician.

  • Find a Preferred Care Provider

That leads us to our final point, having a partner in your health. It’s always a good idea to have further conversations with a healthcare provider, no matter what your lab tests show. We’re talking about a preferred care provider, not self-diagnosis through a Google search. It’s best to find a trusted source to review your lab testing results.

Any Lab Test Now® has partnered with Dial Care. This is a good choice if you don’t have a primary care physician. Dial Care provides licensed, practicing physicians in your state. In the age of virtual care and telehealth, this is a very real solution for finding a primary care physician in your state and area. These are doctors that can prescribe medication based on the big picture or provide guidance to further testing or recommend specialists.

Schedule Your Snapshot Screenings Today

Stay on top of your family’s health and improve your health literacy by taking charge of your wellness. Any Lab Test Now® can help by providing the lab tests you need to ensure your health. Call now to schedule an appointment at a location near you.