The Battle of the Bulge

Is Your Body Resistant to Weight Loss?

Every January, many of us make a resolution to make a change in our lives. One of the promises that we make to ourselves is to lose weight. But following through on that resolution can get derailed if you don’t see results. How many times have you cut carbs and turned down dessert only to see the scale move in the wrong direction? While certainly discouraging, it may be a sign your body is resistant to weight loss. There are several blood tests that can help you determine the reasons behind your battle of the bulge.

Determine Your Vitamin D Levels

Did you know there is a correlation between your weight and vitamin D? Studies show a vitamin D deficiency is one of the causes of common obesity.

Vitamin D is considered the “sunshine vitamin” since sunlight is the main source. During the winter months, most of us are indoors, and the sunny source of our vitamin D is not as available. When you are deficient in this vitamin, our bodies think it is winter and start to pack on the pounds — almost like a bear getting ready to hibernate for the winter! Proper vitamin D levels can help the body counter this storage of excess body fat and help some people lose weight.

You can easily find out your vitamin D levels with a blood test like the one offered at Any Lab Test Now. Results come back within 24–72 hours, after which you can discuss with your doctor to determine what dose of supplements are needed to help shed the extra pounds.

Click here for more information about the Any Lab Test Now Vitamin D test.

Check Your Cortisol

Times of tension are also a trigger of weight gain. When we are under stress, our bodies release a hormone called cortisol. This hormone increases our food cravings, leading us to overeat. It can also cause us to store more body fat. Most of the time, our bodies will go back to normal. However, if you are under constant stress, you’ll find yourself on an unwanted trip on the weight gain train.

Aside from removing the cause of your stress (which is not always easy to do), there are a few things you can do to calm your cortisol — such as exercising, getting enough sleep, and meditating.

First, you must determine if stress is causing you to shop for stretchy pants. Any Lab Test Now has two different types of tests to measure your cortisol, including a simple saliva test. No fasting is required, and like all our tests, no appointment is necessary.

Click here for more information about the Any Lab Test Now Cortisol Hormone test.

Learn Your Liver Level

Another test from Any Lab Test Now that could get to the root of your struggles with weight is a complete liver panel. Your liver plays a part in processing dietary fat by producing a substance called bile, which is stored in your gallbladder and enters your bloodstream during food digestion, where it breaks fat down into molecules that are small enough to pass through the lining of your intestinal wall.

Poor liver function will allow fat and toxins to build up, and metabolism will slow down, leading to an accumulation of fat around the belly.

Click here for more information about the Any Lab Test Now Liver panel.

Total Thyroid Testing

Thyroid function is connected to our metabolism and weight. It is well known that hypothyroidism, or an under-active thyroid, can cause a slow metabolism, lead to weight gain and a higher body mass index. The Thyroid Federation International estimates there are up to 300 million people worldwide suffering from thyroid dysfunction, yet over half are presumed to be unaware of their condition.

Unfortunately, not enough primary care physicians don’t recognize hypothyroidism because they don’t order a complete thyroid blood panel like the one offered at Any Lab Test Now. You won’t need a doctor’s prescription to get this blood test (or any of our tests, for that matter). If your results show trouble with your thyroid, you can work with your physician on the steps to get it back under control and your weight, too.

Click here for more information about the Any Lab Test Now Thyroid panel.

Be at Ease

Any Lab Test Now wants you to be at ease when it comes to seeking out any type of lab work, including finding out what might be behind the cause of your weight gain.

We provide you a safe and clean alternative location for lab work. Each of our 185+ stores are sanitized several times a day, in accordance with the CDC’s protocols. Any Lab Test Now is a committed partner in helping you manage your family’s healthcare so you can make educated decisions that will directly affect your quality of life. We want to put you at ease during the coronavirus outbreak. We are here to help.

Find your closest Any Lab Test Now store at www.anylabtestnow.com.

Don’t Let Your FSA Money Go to Waste

2020 is almost over.  Don’t let your FSA money go to waste!  

Due to the pandemic, many people are finding themselves with a higher-than-usual balance in their flexible spending accounts (FSA) at this point in the year.

The coronavirus has turned 2020 upside-down. Fewer people have been visiting doctors’ offices. Elective surgeries were postponed. Other services, including daycares, which are eligible for FSA dollars, closed down.  This has many worried about the tax-free dollars they haven’t used and stand to lose.

For example, during last year’s open enrollment, a parent may have put aside $2,500 in pre-tax income in a flexible spending account to help pay for childcare for the year ahead. When daycares closed due to the pandemic, that money wasn’t spent. Even if the daycare reopened, it is likely the parent is concerned about how to spend the money by the end of the year so as not to lose it.

There are plenty of ways to spend your money wisely and still meet the deadline for flexible spending accounts while gathering some vital information that will help you take control of your health. We are talking about lab tests, which are covered under your FSA.

Here are five tests from Any Lab Test Now you could take that would show a baseline you could share with your physician.

Annual Check-Up Panel

If you weren’t able to make it to your doctor for an annual physical and blood work due to COVID concerns, this is the test for you. The Annual Check-Up Panel evaluates your overall health by establishing a baseline for a number of very important tests, including your blood counts, kidney function, liver function, electrolytes, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL and thyroid function. Fluctuations in these could signal problems.

Cholesterol Tests

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends all adults get their cholesterol checked every four to six years. If you have a family history of high cholesterol, it is a good idea to get tested annually.  If untested, high cholesterol can go completely undetected until an emergency event such as a heart attack or stroke. High cholesterol can lead to plaque building up in your arteries, which will eventually cause damage to your body. If you do have high cholesterol, you can get started on medication or a diet plan to help reverse it.

Basic Nutritional Panel

Dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan, keto – the list of alternative eating lifestyles is growing. Many people choose diets that avoid specific foods. While it’s possible to get a wide variety of nutrients when eating this way, removing a food group from your diet can result in deficiencies of necessary nutrients. This panel will test for a variety of nutrients and vitamins, including iron and vitamins B12 and D, three of the most common deficiencies in the United States.

Vitamins, Minerals and Nutrition Lab Tests

Most of us realize we need vitamins and minerals to keep our bodies healthy. But, unless you know the specific and sometimes unusual signs, you may not realize is what vitamins and minerals your body is deficient in. Signs can include hair loss, lack of energy and slow wound healing. The qualified professionals at Any Lab Test Now can help you determine which test is most appropriate for your diet and lifestyle.

Allergy Tests

Allergies can develop at any point in your life. Allergies usually first appear early in life and become a lifelong issue. However, allergies can start unexpectedly as an adult. A family history of allergies puts you at a higher risk of developing allergies at some point in your life. At Any Lab Test Now, you can get tested and determine what is causing your allergies to act up.

Be at Ease

With all the options we have to offer, you’ll get the most out of your FSA dollars! And with your test results in hand, you can get the proper medications and start making lifestyle changes to ease your symptoms.

You can also be at ease when it comes to seeking out any type of lab work at Any Lab Test Now.

We provide you a safe and clean alternative location for lab work. Each of our 185+ stores is sanitized several times a day, in accordance with the CDC’s protocols. Any Lab Test Now is a committed partner in helping you manage your family’s healthcare so you can make educated decisions that will directly affect your quality of life. We want to put you at ease during the coronavirus outbreak. We are here to help.

Find your closest Any Lab Test Now store at www.anylabtestnow.com.

 

Quit Stalling:  It’s time to finally get your annual checkup!

The annual checkup. It is a staple in our medical history. But thanks to COVID-19, most of us have probably put off having this essential exam. Due to the novel coronavirus disease, virtually all in-person outpatient visits were canceled in many parts of the country between February and May 2020.

In late April, primary care visits were still down by as much as 60 percent. While there has been a slight rebound recently, the numbers are still down — indicating many of us may still be a little leery about going back into a doctor’s office and being exposed to someone with COVID.

Rather than put it off your annual exam for another six months, you can take your medical health into your own hands. There are five tests every doctor orders during a routine physical. You can get all of these tests done without a physical exam and without a doctor’s order.

Any Lab Test Now offers an Annual Check-Up Panel. It is the same set of tests typically ordered by a physician during an annual physical exam.

This is the panel that establishes your baseline, including your blood counts, kidney function, liver function, electrolytes, total cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar status, and thyroid function values. By knowing these levels, you can begin to manage your own health to see if they fluctuate over time.

After all the stress and lifestyle changes during the pandemic, it’s a good idea to find out what’s happening with your health.

Let’s take a look at the tests.

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

The CBC is a group of tests that evaluate the cells that circulate in the blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The CBC can evaluate your overall health and detect a variety of diseases and conditions, such as infections, anemia and leukemia.

Cholesterol Lipid with Ratio (Lipids Panel)

A lipid panel measures fats and fatty substances our bodies use as a source of energy. Lipids include cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL).

This panel measures:

Total cholesterol level.

Triglyceride level.

HDL cholesterol – the “good” cholesterol.

LDL cholesterol – the “bad” cholesterol.

Lipids are found in your blood and are stored in your body tissues. They are an important part of cells, and they help keep your body working normally. Lipid disorders, such as high cholesterol, may lead to life-threatening illnesses, such as coronary artery disease (CAD), heart attack, or stroke.

If your doctor finds a lipid disorder, treatment may be started to help lower your blood lipid levels. Your treatment could include medicines, diet changes, weight loss, and exercise.

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)

TSH is produced by the pituitary gland, a small organ located behind your sinus cavity. TSH stimulates the thyroid, a small butterfly-shaped gland located inside your neck in front of the trachea, also known as your windpipe. This releases the hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) into the blood. This test measures the amount of TSH in the blood.

T4 and T3 help control the rate at which the body uses energy.

If the thyroid releases too much T4 and T3, you may experience symptoms associated with overactive thyroid, known as hyperthyroidism. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include rapid heart rate, weight loss, nervousness, hand tremors, irritated eyes, and difficulty sleeping.

If there is not enough thyroid hormone production, this is called hypothyroidism. If your thyroid is underactive, you could experience symptoms such as weight gain, dry skin, constipation, cold intolerance, and fatigue.

If abnormal levels of thyroid hormones are detected, your doctor will prescribe a medication to bring the levels back into normal range.

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)

A CMP is a test that measures 14 different substances in your blood. It provides important information about your body’s chemical balance and metabolism. A CMP is used to check several body functions and processes, including liver and kidney health, blood sugar and protein levels, acid and base balance, fluid and electrolyte balance, and metabolism.

A CMP includes tests for the following:

Albumin – a protein made in the liver.

ALP (alkaline phosphatase), ALT (alanine transaminase), and AST (aspartate aminotransferase) – different enzymes made by the liver.

Bilirubin – a waste product made by the liver.

BUN (blood urea nitrogen) and Creatinine – waste products removed from your blood by your kidneys.

Calcium – a mineral essential for proper functioning of your nerves, muscles, and heart.

Glucose – a type of sugar and your body’s main source of energy.

Total protein – measures the total amount of protein in the blood.

Sodium, potassium, carbon dioxide, and chloride – electrolytes which are electrically charged minerals that help control the amount of fluids and the balance of acids and bases in your body.

Abnormal levels of any of these substances or combination of them can be a sign of a serious health problem.

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1C)

Called an A1c test for short, this test measures the amount of blood sugar (glucose) attached to hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the part of your red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. The test shows what the average amount of glucose attached to hemoglobin has been over the past three months. It’s a three-month average because that’s typically how long a red blood cell lives.

If your HbA1c levels are high, it may be a sign of diabetes, a chronic condition that can cause serious health problems.

Annual Check-Up Panel

 Getting your annual check-up panel is easy, thanks to Any Lab Test Now. It involves a simple blood test. You will have to fast for 10 to 12 hours before the test to ensure accuracy. Results take between 24 to 72 business hours after your blood is collected. Once you get the results, you can make a virtual appointment with your doctor to review any concerning outcomes.

See test information at https://www.anylabtestnow.com/tests/annual-check-up-panel/

Be at Ease

Any Lab Test Now wants you to be at ease when it comes to seeking out any type of lab work, including an annual check-up panel.

We provide you a safe and clean alternative location for lab work. Each of our 185+ stores is sanitized several times a day, in accordance with the CDC’s protocols. Any Lab Test Now is a committed partner in helping you manage your family’s healthcare so you can make educated decisions that will directly affect your quality of life. We want to put you at ease during the coronavirus outbreak. We are here to help.

Do You Know Your COVID Testing Options?

Are you confused about which COVID test is right for you? In this video, we will walk you through each COVID test currently available, so that you will know which one is the right fit. With rapid COVID Testing, you can have your results back in virtually no time at all.  Learn more about the COVID PCR Test, COVID Antibody Test, and the COVID Antigen Test. At Any Lab Test Now, we strive to get you in and out of your COVID test within 15 minutes.

Click here to watch the video!

The ABCs of STDs

Just because the focus has mainly been on COVID-19 doesn’t mean other health threats are going away. Sexually transmitted diseases are a good example.

STD rates appear to be rising across the United States as fewer people get tested and treated during the pandemic. COVID-19 has reduced the number of places where STD testing is available. Many public health department workers who typically trace HIV and STD cases are being pulled off to help with coronavirus testing. A recent survey finds 83 percent of STD programs have paused services, and 66 percent of clinics report a decline in sexual health screenings due to COVID-19.

This couldn’t have come at a worse time in the fight against STDs. Combined cases of syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia are at an all-time high in the United States, according to the annual Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance Report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Experts say these rates are an epidemic amid a pandemic.

However, despite the stay-at-home orders and calls for social distancing, people are still having sex.

STDs can have severe health consequences if not treated. The diseases are spread through unprotected sex. Sometimes a person will have symptoms, but it is possible to have an STD and spread it to another person even if there are no symptoms.

Just because COVID 19 is limiting testing at public health departments, you can still find out if you have a sexually transmitted disease anytime at Any Lab Test Now. A comprehensive screening panel tests for all major STDs at one time at one low price. No fasting is required. All test results are kept confidential.

Here are the most common STDs and the symptoms:

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is the most commonly reported STD in the U.S. It is caused by a common bacterium that can be treated with antibiotics. But if left untreated, chlamydia can cause serious complications. Symptoms include an odd discharge from the vagina or penis or painful urination. Only about 25 percent of women; and 50 percent of men get symptoms.

Women who don’t get treated for chlamydia can suffer permanent damage to their reproductive system.

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is another common sexually transmitted disease. Like chlamydia, it is caused by a bacterium and has similar symptoms — unusual discharge from the vagina or penis and/or painful urination. Most men with gonorrhea will exhibit symptoms, but only about 20 percent of women will experience symptoms.

Untreated gonorrhea can cause serious and permanent health problems in both men and women, including infertility.

Syphilis

Syphilis is a sneaky STD. There are several stages of the disease, which can overlap. Syphilis usually starts with a sore called a chancre. It can show up anywhere in or around the male or female genitalia and can be mistaken for a pimple or ingrown hair. The chancres usually clear up in a few weeks, but the syphilis remains. A secondary stage of the disease involves a rash on the palms of the hands and/or soles of the feet. Some people may also experience flu-like symptoms. People whose untreated syphilis moves into the late stage can face serious health problems such as tumors, blindness, and paralysis.

Syphilis is easily treated by antibiotics in the early stage. The treatment will still work in the late stage but won’t reverse any damage already done to the body.

Herpes

There are two strains of herpes to look out for – herpes 1 (HSV-1) and herpes 2 (HSV-2). The main symptoms are painful blisters around the penis, vagina, or anus. However, not everyone who has herpes gets blisters. Even if you have protected sex with someone who has herpes, you can still catch it. All it takes is skin-to-skin contact, including areas that a condom doesn’t cover. Herpes is a virus and can’t be cured, but medication is available to help control it.

Some of the complications associated with herpes include bladder issues and an increased risk for contracting other sexually transmitted diseases. Babies born to mothers infected with herpes can be exposed to the virus during birth — possibly resulting in brain damage, blindness, or even death.

HIV

HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. It can be transmitted through unprotected intercourse with an infected person or sharing a needle with someone who is infected. It can also be passed through body fluids such as blood, semen, and breast milk — but HIV is not transmitted through saliva or by kissing.

Symptoms of HIV vary. It can feel like the flu, with body aches, fever, and fatigue. There is no cure for HIV, but there are drugs that can help people with HIV live long lives.

Testing Recommendations

Regular STD testing is important if you have sex, no matter how healthy you seem. The CDC recommends that any sexually active adult get tested for STDs regularly, depending on age and number of sexual partners.

• All adults and adolescents from ages 13 to 64 should be tested at least once for HIV. Anyone who has unsafe sex or shares injection drug equipment should get tested for HIV at least once a year.
• All sexually active women younger than 25 should be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia every year. Women over 25 with risk factors (new or multiple sex partners) should also be tested yearly.
• All pregnant women should be tested for syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B.
• All sexually active gay and bisexual men should be tested annually for syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. Those who have multiple or anonymous partners should be tested more frequently for STDs, including HIV.

 Be at Ease

If you are considering STD testing but are wary of bumping into a coronavirus patient at your doctor’s office, you can be at ease with a visit to Any Lab Test Now. We provide you with a safe and clean alternative location for lab work.  Each of our 185+ stores is sanitized several times a day, in accordance with the CDC’s protocols.

Any Lab Test Now is a committed partner in helping you manage your family’s healthcare so you can make educated decisions that will directly affect your quality of life. We want to put you at ease during the coronavirus outbreak. We are here to help.

Find your closest Any Lab Test Now at www.anylabtestnow.com.

The power of vitamin D. How the sunshine vitamin boosts your immunity.

As people search for ways to protect themselves from the coronavirus, there is growing evidence that vitamin D could help protect you against COVID-19.

Research shows immune-boosting vitamin D may play a role in preventing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a common killer in COVID-19 patients.

Before you run out to the nearest pharmacy or nutrition store to stock up on supplements, there are some things to consider first.

What is vitamin D?

Vitamin D is essential for maintaining healthy bones and teeth. It also plays an important role in helping immune systems function. Low levels of vitamin D can lead to autoimmune problems — when the immune system attacks healthy cells — and increase the chance of infection.

It is called the “sunshine vitamin” because the primary and most accessible source of vitamin D is the sun. Ultraviolet rays from the sun trigger vitamin D synthesis.

Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency include frequent illness or infection, slow wound healing, fatigue, bone and back pain, hair loss, muscle pain, and depression.

An estimated 40 percent of adults in the United States may be deficient in vitamin D. Age and genetic background can play a part in how much vitamin D is present in your body.

Seventy-nine percent of African Americans are vitamin D deficient — nearly double the national average. The reason? People with darker skin pigmentation have more melanin, which reduces the body’s ability to produce vitamin D. We also become deficient as we age. Our thinning skin is less efficient at making vitamin D.

Vitamin D and COVID-19

Vitamin D deficiencies have long been associated with an increase in respiratory infections like pneumonia, tuberculosis, and bronchitis.

Now, a new study highlights the vital role of vitamin D in fighting off respiratory infection, including COVID-19. They stress that a deficiency in vitamin D can be a factor in one’s deteriorating condition, should they contract COVID-19.

The study claims to find evidence that vitamin D prevents respiratory infections, especially in older adults whose vitamin D levels are low. Although its specific role in coronavirus infections is still unknown, researchers vouch for its effectiveness in boosting the immune system.

The study also displayed that patients with vitamin D deficiency and those not receiving the correct dose encountered the most benefit from supplementation.

This could be beneficial information for a large number of people, including African-American adults who are generally at greater risk for a number of chronic and potentially life-shortening conditions such as hypertension, stroke, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and all-cause mortality, some of which is associated with vitamin D deficiency.

How can you boost your vitamin D intake?

The first and best way to boost your vitamin D is to get outside in the sun. Research shows the best time to get vitamin D from sunlight is between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. in the spring, summer, and fall. Vitamin D produced in the skin may last at least twice as long in the blood compared with other forms of supplementation.

You can also build up your vitamin D levels through certain foods. The National Institutes of Health recommends eating foods naturally rich in vitamin D. These foods include egg yolks and fatty fish like salmon, tuna, and mackerel, as well as beef liver and cheese.

Vitamin D is also added to milk and some breakfast cereals, orange juice, yogurt, margarine, and soy beverages. It is best to check the labels to confirm.

Of course, you can also take vitamin D supplements. It comes in two forms: vitamin D2 and vitamin D3. Vitamin D2 comes from plant sources and fortified foods, while vitamin D3 comes from animal sources. The recommended daily dose for adults aged 19–70 is 15 mcg (600 IU), according to the National Institutes of Health.

It is important to take the recommended daily allowance because it is possible to overdose on vitamin D.

Get tested

The only way to know if your level of vitamin D is low is to get tested. Vitamin D testing is offered at Any Lab Test Now.  No fasting is required, and you do not need to visit your doctor first to get the test done. Test results generally take between 24 to 72 business hours.

Click here to learn more about Any Lab Test Now’s Vitamin D Testing

Be at ease

At Any Lab Test Now, we understand that people may have concerns about going to a healthcare facility during the coronavirus outbreak. You can be at ease knowing that we are providing you a safe and clean location for your lab work. Each of our 185+ stores are sanitized several times a day, in accordance with the CDC’s protocols. When you get your test results, you can easily make a telemedicine appointment with your physician and share the details. Any Lab Test Now is a committed partner in helping you to make educated healthcare decisions that can benefit your quality of life.

Find your closest Any Lab Test Now store at www.anylabtestnow.com.

Hey Guys, It’s Time to Take Control of Your Health

Hey Guys, It’s Time to Take Control of Your Health!

Just because social distancing is the new normal, you cannot ignore the fact that June is the one month out of the year set aside to show the men in your life a little more love than normal. Not only does Father’s Day fall during the month of June, but the entire month is also set aside to encourage men of all ages, shapes, sizes and colors to stop and look closely at their habits and ask the question, “How do I take control of my health?”

June is National Men’s Health Month

National Men’s Health Month is a time when dads, husbands, sons and brothers can learn about preventing chronic health problems and improving their overall quality of life. There is even scientific proof they need it! A survey conducted by researchers at Cleveland Clinic found a majority of guys would rather do chores around the house, like cleaning the bathroom or mowing the lawn, than go to the doctor. An eye-opening discovery when you take a closer look at the state of men’s health in our country.

• Heart disease is the leading cause of death among men.
• 1 in 9 men will face a prostate cancer diagnosis during his lifetime.
• 30 percent of men have suffered from some form of depression.

When you consider these facts along with the stress of life in a quarantine plus unhealthy eating habits many guys probably picked up while sheltering in place, now is a good time for a reboot! At Any Lab Test Now, we give you access to information that can help you and your doctor assess your health and decide how adjusting a few behaviors could make a difference.

Time to Reboot!

So, in quarantine for more than six weeks, you indulged a little. Maybe you tossed back cheeseburgers and pizza rather than taking a nightly run. Guess what, foods high in fat are also linked to high cholesterol, a condition that can put you at high risk for heart disease. Luckily, you can walk into Any Lab Test Now to get a Cholesterol Lipid Panel without seeing your doctor first. The test can determine if your cholesterol numbers are abnormal. You can share the results with your physician who might decide you need medication to maintain your cholesterol levels.

Now, if you cannot remember the last time you visited the doctor for a physical exam, this might be a good time to get a Comprehensive Male Panel. In addition to checking your cholesterol levels, this expansive round of tests shows a broad overview of your health. The results could show your physician if your testosterone is low, how your liver and kidneys are functioning, if you are at risk for diabetes, and even provide a baseline when it comes to prostate cancer.

The PSA Test at Any Lab Test Now is a blood test that measures your PSA or prostate-specific antigen levels. No matter your age, all men need a PSA test. If your PSA numbers are elevated, it may indicate either prostate cancer or an enlarged prostate. It is important to share the results with your doctor immediately.

Taking Control of Your Health

 At Any Lab Test Now, you get access to thousands of tests, many specifically designed with men’s health in mind. We provide you a safe and clean location to get lab testing done. Most tests are completed in about 15 minutes or less. So come on guys, no more excuses, thanks to Any Lab Test Now, taking control of your health has never been easier.

Be at Ease

Be at Ease

April 2020 will go down in history as a month plagued with uncertainty. The idea of visiting your doctor’s office or an emergency room right now is daunting given the state of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is why, at Any Lab Test Now, we want you to know we are here to help you feel at ease.

Any Lab Test Now is NOT testing for coronavirus. Instead, we are a trusted option for those who need routine lab work done in a safe and protected environment.

As a designated essential healthcare business, Any Lab Test Now is deeply rooted in the community and has become a trusted provider of more than 8,000 lab tests. We give our customers direct access to tests that range from routine bloodwork to tests that support someone who is under the care of their doctor for acute and chronic conditions that must be monitored on a regular basis. Some of those customers could be on blood thinners and need weekly tests, customers who require testing before prescriptions can be refilled or customers who like to self-monitor their health and wellness.

As we continue to provide these tests for you, we are sanitizing, sterilizing and disinfecting throughout the day, every day. We always have, long before we had heard of the terms social distancing, self-quarantining and sheltering in place. But since the pandemic began, we immediately began safeguarding all our locations to ensure your safety.

Here is what you can expect at an Any Lab Test Now facility:

Clean and Safe Labs

• All employees take their temperature daily to ensure good health.
• Employees are sent home at any sign of illness.
• All customers are screened upon arrival for exposure or symptoms of COVID-19, including a check for fever.
• All frequently touched surfaces are sanitized several times a day.
• Handwashing (minimum 20 seconds) before and after every lab test is conducted.
• Payments may be made via phone after appointment.

Fast and Affordable Care

• Appointments aren’t necessary but calling ahead for an appointment or scheduling online will ensure no wait time and you can usually get in and out in a matter of minutes.
• Tests can be performed with or without an order from your physician, so no need to bother your family doc at this busy time. We have independent physician oversight for all testing.
• Most results will be returned to you fast, in 24–72 hours, by mail, fax, or in some cases, email.
• Transparent pricing, no insurance accepted.

Professional and Compassionate Care

• We offer testing in a non-judgmental and compassionate environment.
• Your privacy is a top priority.
• Testing is kept confidential.
• Results are shared only with you unless formal written consent is given.

There has never been a more critical time for Americans to take control of their health. Any Lab Test Now is a committed partner in helping you manage your healthcare so you can make educated decisions that will directly affect your quality of life. We want to put you at ease during this time of uncertainty. We are here to help.

The High Cost of Hay Fever

If we took a peek inside your medicine cabinet, what would it look like? If you are like a lot of people, your cabinet would be a jumble of allergy medicines, decongestants, cough suppressants and expectorants with a few stray pain relievers and fever reducers rolling around.

Here at Any Lab Test Now, we want to help you take control of your seasonal allergies by helping you pinpoint your triggers with allergy testing. Without the right information, you are more likely to self-misdiagnose and purchase and use the wrong types of medications, medications that aren’t cheap. When your symptoms strike, will you be prepared?

HIDDEN COST OF YOUR COUGH

Let’s start with an Australian study published last year. They studied nearly 300 people who believed they had hay fever based upon their symptoms. The researchers found that only 17 percent of them selected the correct over-the-counter medications to treat their symptoms.

Those costs add up. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, the annual cost of allergies exceeds $18 billion. Allergy sufferers are also more likely to miss work – 1.7 more days lost than non-allergy sufferers. What could save you time, money and suffering? It could be as simple as allergy testing.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND YOUR SYMPTOMS

Most doctors would agree that the first step in winning your battle against seasonal allergies is to know your triggers, and that’s where your local Any Lab Test Now can help. We offer a wide range of allergy testing that will help you fight back when it seems like your body is in revolt!

The experts at the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) say seasonal allergies are like other types of allergies. They develop when the body’s immune system overreacts to something in the environment, usually during spring, summer or fall when certain plants pollinate. The ACAAI estimates that as many as 50 million people have allergies of some type. Usually, the symptoms include:

• Sneezing
• Coughing
• Itchy eyes
• Runny nose

If you leave them untreated, problems can worsen, so it’s a good idea to treat them — and an even better idea to avoid them altogether.

If you find that you are sneezing and coughing during certain times of the year, you may have seasonal allergies, but the best way to find relief (and save yourself some money in the process) is to pinpoint exactly what’s triggering your symptoms. The simplest way to do that is by taking advantage of the wide range of allergy testing we offer at Any Lab Test Now.

PREVENTION BEGINS WITH ALLERGY TESTING

Any Lab Test Now offers numerous types of allergy tests. One of our lab experts can help you decide which one would be best for you.

Our Environmental Allergy Test is a combination panel that measures IgG and IgE antibodies to 90 food allergens and 45 environmental allergens (will test for 45 regional environmental allergen such as grass, weeds, trees and mold.) The Basic (Pediatric) Allergy Panel is the perfect introductory test. It screens for allergies to 32 environmental substances and foods, including eight common grasses and weeds, including ragweed. There are many more to choose from and we can help guide you toward the test that is right for you.

One of the best things about allergy testing at Any Lab Test Now is the blood draw! That may sound crazy, but remember, it wasn’t that long ago that testing like this used to require hundreds of needle pricks to determine an allergy reaction. Now, one simple blood draw can look for the specific antibodies to hundreds of substances — using only one needle.

Before the sneezing and wheezing has you crawling to your local pharmacy buying everything on the shelf to find relief, stop in at Any Lab Test Now and ask about allergy testing. It will save you time, trouble, and probably even some of your hard-earned cash.

4 Reasons You Make Us Happy

“We often take for granted the very things that
most deserve our gratitude.”-Cynthia Ozick

All of us at ANY LAB TEST NOW® want to make sure you know that we don’t take you for granted and appreciate you more than you know. We wanted to dedicate this post to you to simply say thank YOU! Here’s a few reasons why you make us happy.

1. We get to do what we love, which is helping people like you with affordable lab tests.

2. Every day is a new adventure and you help us map out our journey.

3. We are constantly learning to better serve you through education and we appreciate your willingness to learn and trust us.

4. You keep a smile on our face because of your confidence in our high quality lab testing facilities and accredited and certified laboratory testing partners.

There’s plenty more reasons, but we’ll stick with those for now. Thanks for a great year and we can’t wait to show you what we’ve got next year!