Nutrition and Your Health

As we strive to maintain our health and wellness, understanding our nutritional needs can play a significant role in achieving our goals. Any Lab Test Now® offers convenient and affordable nutritional testing options to help you uncover vital information about your body’s nutritional requirements.

Nutritional Testing Options at Any Lab Test Now

  1. Basic Nutritional Panel: A comprehensive panel that examines 11 different components in your body to determine whether you’re getting the nutrition you need. This test is ideal for those looking to lose weight or suspect they may have a vitamin deficiency.
  2. Micronutrient Test: This test measures your body’s ability to absorb vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients. It helps to identify deficiencies that may be affecting your overall health and provides a plan for correcting them.

The Importance of Nutrition Testing

Nutrition testing not only guides you toward a healthier lifestyle, but it can also provide valuable insights into potential health issues that may not be immediately apparent. By understanding the deficiencies and imbalances within your body, you can make informed decisions about your diet and well-being.

What is Poor Nutrition?

Poor nutrition starts when you eat foods that do not provide the nutrients you need most. Low-nutrient foods include those low in fiber and vitamins, or high in fat, sugar, and salt. Processed and pre-packaged foods are some of the unhealthiest choices you can make. They are packed with added sugar, sodium, and fat. These ingredients make food taste better, but too much of them leads to serious health issues like obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. 

On the opposite end of the spectrum, if you are under-eating, you could deprive your body of the nutrients it needs which may lead to anorexia or bulimia, two eating disorders that can cause a variety of dangerous health conditions.

Check Out These Food Facts: 

  • Diet is thought to be partly responsible for about 30 to 40 percent of all cancers, although diet alone is unlikely to be the “cause” or “cure” of cancer.
  • Salty foods increase blood pressure. To balance sodium levels in your bloodstream, your body retains water to try and rid your body of the excess salt through urine. This excess fluid travels through your bloodstream, and the increased volume presses against your blood vessels to cause high blood pressure.
  • Women who drank two or more diet drinks a day had a 29 percent higher chance of heart disease, a 31 percent higher chance of stroke, and a 16 percent increased risk of dying earlier than women who drank them less than once a week. 

Convenience, Affordability, and Professionalism

With Any Lab Test Now, you don’t need a doctor’s order to get tested. Simply walk in and choose the lab tests you want, with work-friendly hours available for your convenience. Plus, our transparent pricing ensures that affordable, high-quality testing is within reach for everyone.

Take control of your health today with Any Lab Test Now. Visit our website to find a location near you or explore our wide range of lab testing options, including general health, DNA, drugs and alcohol, STD, and additional tests.

Don’t leave your nutrition to chance – unlock the secrets to your body’s nutritional needs with Any Lab Test Now. Your journey to optimal health starts here!

Colorectal Cancer Awareness

We all know someone whose life has been touched by cancer. It’s a scary diagnosis that is generally followed up with treatment plans, support groups, and a journey of making peace with all the potential outcomes. By definition, cancer is a disease in which some of the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body. Unfortunately, there are many types of cancer, and they can attack anywhere inside the body, which only adds to the terror surrounding the diagnosis. Many people, understandably, don’t want to talk about cancer. Much less, specific cancers like colorectal cancer. 

Colorectal cancer is a disease where the cells in the colon or rectum grow out of control. Before a person is even aware, it can move from one stage to the next, causing treatments to become more intense and high-risk. Our greatest ally in fighting this cancer is early testing. At Any Lab Test Now®, we have a variety of screening options.

According to the CDC, risk factors include:

  • Inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
  • A personal or family history of colorectal cancer or colorectal polyps.
  • A genetic syndrome such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP).

And lifestyle factors like:

  • Lack of regular physical activity
  • A diet low in fruit and vegetables
  • Poor diet with higher amounts of fats
  • Overweight
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Tobacco use

Colorectal cancer typically occurs in people ages 45 and older, but in recent years, the disease has begun to affect younger people as well. Every year, about 150,000 Americans are diagnosed with this disease, with an estimated 50,000 deaths. Often known as the silent killer, colorectal cancer may develop without symptoms.

According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is one the most common types of cancer in men and women. It is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Routine testing can help prevent or find cancer at an earlier stage when it might be easier to treat. If found early, the five-year survival rate increases by more than 90 percent, meaning many lives could be saved by the awareness that comes with increased testing. 

Testing that Works For You

Remember, at Any Lab Test Now®, we make testing easy for you. You do not need a doctor’s note to get lab testing done. We invite you to walk in for same-day testing during work-friendly hours.

The lab tests we provide are confidential, affordable, and convenient. You own the results, and you choose how to proceed with them. But we do encourage you to consult with a provider for further details to make the best decisions about your health. If you do not have a primary care physician, Any Lab Test Now® has partnered with Dial Care, a service that helps you find a provider licensed in your state.

 

Spring Allergies: Take Action With Lab Testing!

A sniffle here, a sneeze there. Our first thought is, “Uh-oh, I’m coming down with something.” But did you ever stop to consider what ails you may not be an illness at all, but an allergy?

Spring is the time of year when we all want to get outside and enjoy the mild temperatures and the beauty of the blossoming plants and trees. If you’re a seasonal allergy sufferer, you don’t need a calendar to tell you when winter is over; your nose probably will. If you can’t stop and smell the roses because you’re too busy sneezing and sniffling, then it’s probably time you switch up your wellness routine. Luckily,  Any Lab Test Now® is here to help with information on how to ease your allergy suffering.

Did you know?

  • About one quarter (25.7%) of adults and Nearly 1 in 5 children (18.9%) have a seasonal allergy 1
  • 4.1 million physician office visits with allergic rhinitis as the primary diagnosis 2
  • Allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S 3

Allergy Symptoms and Sources

The main source of allergies is pollen, which is a powdery substance produced by flowers and commonly found in trees, weeds, and grasses. If you have seasonal allergies, your body mistakes this harmless substance for something dangerous and tries to attack it.  An allergic reaction to pollen can cause symptoms like coughing, a runny or stuffy nose, and itchy, watery eyes. Seasonal allergies can be most serious when they impact your ability to sleep, contributing to a loss of productivity, so attending to the symptoms is important. One of the best ways to mitigate seasonal allergies is to add a quarterly allergy test to your wellness routine. Save yourself time and money using lab tests 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.

Pollen is not the season’s only trigger. With spring rains, there is more mold growth inside and outside your home. And spring cleaning will stir up dust mites throughout the house as well.

Here is a rundown of the top allergy-producing sources and when they cause the most issues:

  • Tree pollen typically appears in spring
  • Grasses shed pollen in late spring and summer
  • Mold spores often cause seasonal allergies during the spring, summer, and fall

The Allergy “Uglies”

Allergies can make you feel miserable. The symptoms may leave you feeling extremely sluggish and fatigued, which can impact other areas of your life, such as work or family time.  You can also experience the allergy “uglies,” which include puffy, saggy eyelids, watery eyes, and a red, runny nose. 

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, and cough suppressants, with a few stray pain relievers and fever reducers rolling around. At Any Lab Test Now, we want to help you take control of your seasonal allergies by helping you identify your triggers with direct-access lab testing. The “ugly truth” is that without the right information, you are more likely to self-misdiagnose and purchase the wrong types of medications. Buying various remedies and medications isn’t cheap, and the cost can quickly add up. When your symptoms strike, will you be prepared?

How to Reduce Your Exposure to Allergens

Before you settle for plastic flowers, fake grass, or hiding indoors, there are some simple strategies to keep springtime allergies under control.

  • Keep your windows closed
  • Keep the grass cut short and avoid gardening chores that may stir up allergens
  • Quarterly allergy testing
  • Remove clothes you have worn outside and shower to rid pollen from your skin and hair
  • Brush off your pets after they have been outside to prevent allergens from coming inside with them
  • Check your local TV weather forecast for information on current pollen levels

An Ounce of Prevention is a Worth a Pound of Cure

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!

Any Lab Test Now® can help you determine the source of your springtime sniffles. Check out our wide range of allergy testing by clicking here. You can make an appointment or just walk into any one of our locations where a qualified medical assistant will perform a simple blood draw. There is no cure for allergies, but they can be managed. The next step is to discuss the results of your allergy test with your doctor so you can stop and smell the springtime flowers without sneezing!

Click here to find your local Any Lab Test Now®.

  1. CDC/National Center for Health Statistics (2023) ↩︎
  2. National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (2019) ↩︎
  3. American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (2018) ↩︎

Bringing New Life to the New Year

At the start of a new year, we tend to take stock of our life and figure out what the goals are for the year or how 2024 might be a year of exciting growth. Perhaps the growth of your family!  If you are thinking about starting or expanding your family, there is an extensive amount of information out there, and it can be dizzying to determine what you need to know. When it comes to learning about your pregnancy, Any Lab Test Now® is a great resource to utilize along your journey to simplify the process.

Not only can Any Lab Test Now® provide tests to tell you whether you are pregnant or not, how far along you are, and the ever-popular gender-reveal DNA test — but you can consider us a great resource for the health and wellness of your growing family.

Three Tests at Your Fingertips

Starting with the first step of your journey, the confirmation of pregnancy lab tests at Any Lab Test Now® are much more accurate than the over-the-counter stick tests you can purchase at your local pharmacy or grocery store.

  1. The PREGNANCY TEST (YES OR NO) is a Beta hCG Quantitative (pregnancy test). It can detect values within seven to 10 days of conception. Our test can pinpoint hCG — a glycoprotein hormone produced by the placenta, which peaks between the seventh and 10th week of gestation. Test results generally take between 24 to 72 business hours after your specimen is collected.

Keep in mind, one of the benefits of having testing done with us at Any Lab Test Now® is that you do not need to provide a doctor’s order to get lab testing. If you are trying to determine with accuracy that you are or are not pregnant, we offer convenience without worrying about scheduling appointments. In fact, at all our locations, you can walk in for same-day testing. We make it easy for you by offering work-friendly hours.

  • PREGNANCY WITH GESTATIONAL AGE (HOW FAR ALONG) is a pregnancy test with fetal age chart, done through a blood test that not only tells you “Yes” or “No” but tells you how far along you are in your pregnancy. It is accurate if you are at least two weeks pregnant at the time of the test.

Many families appreciate this test to confirm how advanced the mother is and better calculate a due date.

  • One of the most popular tests we supply at Any Lab Test Now® is the gender reveal. Popularized in the early 2000s, more couples want to know the gender of their baby so they can unveil that information during a fun event or party for family and friends to enjoy. Whether extravagant or simple, these reveal methods have become quite creative over the years and a fun way to welcome the new little family member.

The GENDER REVEAL DNA test analyzes a simple blood draw sample to determine the gender of your unborn child. To ensure the best results, it’s advised that the expectant mother be at least eight weeks along before having this test. This test can only be used for single pregnancies. This non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT) test has accuracy above 99%. This DNA test analyzes the fetal cells that circulate in maternal blood.

You can have test results within three to four business days. Our dependable technology at Any Lab Test Now® provides an accurate look at your pregnancy, how far along you are, and the baby’s gender.

You’re in Control of Your Health and Information

It’s important to remember that at Any Lab Test Now® test results belong to you. However, we strongly encourage you to have a conversation with your provider about the results. When expecting a baby, it is vital to the health of your pregnancy to see an OB/GYN as soon as you confirm your pregnancy to ensure the best care for you and your baby. If you do not have a primary care physician or a specialist, Any Lab Test Now® has partnered with Dial Care. This service helps you find a provider licensed in your state to discuss results and any further testing or changes you may need to make to achieve your health goals. In the case of pregnancy, they can direct you to a specialist you need for in-person care.

Any Lab Test Now® is Your Resource for Health and Wellness

Any Lab Test Now® is your partner in health. We have developed accurate testing for you so that you are empowered with the information you need to seek the best care possible for you and your baby. Call now to schedule an appointment at a location near you.

How to Maintain Health & Wellness

The National Institutes of Health reminds us that maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle is important for several reasons:

  • Reducing the risk of chronic diseases: Being overweight or obese is associated with an increased risk of several chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and certain cancers. By maintaining a healthy weight, individuals can reduce their risk of developing these conditions.
  • Improving overall health and quality of life: Being at a healthy weight can help individuals feel better physically and mentally and can improve their overall quality of life. Maintaining a healthy weight can help improve energy levels, reduce fatigue, improve sleep, and reduce the risk of depression and anxiety.
  • Boosting immune function: Maintaining a healthy weight can help boost immune function, making it easier for the body to fight off infections and illnesses.
  • Increasing lifespan: Studies have shown that maintaining a healthy weight can increase lifespan and reduce the risk of premature death.
  • Get active: Aim for at least 1-3 hours of physical activity each week. This could include activities like walking, running, swimming, biking, dancing, or playing sports.
  • Eat a balanced diet: Nourish your body with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. Limit processed foods, sugary drinks, and unhealthy fats.
  • Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated and support overall health.
  • Get enough sleep: Most adults need around 7-8 hours of sleep per night. Adequate sleep is essential for physical and mental recovery, as well as mood regulation and cognitive function.

Having trouble sleeping and not sure why? Check out our Sleep Balance Kit.

  • Manage stress: Chronic stress can wreak havoc on your health. Find healthy ways to manage stress, such as yoga, meditation, spending time in nature, or spending time with loved ones.
  • Make it a lifestyle: The key to maintaining good health and fitness is to make it a sustainable part of your life. Find activities you enjoy and that fit into your schedule. Don’t be afraid to experiment and find what works best for you.

Additional tips:

  • Set realistic goals: Don’t try to change everything at once. Start with small, achievable goals and gradually build on them.
  • Find a buddy: Having someone to exercise with can help you stay motivated and accountable.
  • Track your progress: Keep track of your workouts and eating habits to see how you’re doing. This can help you stay on track and motivated.
  • Reward yourself: Celebrate your successes along the way! This will help you stay positive and motivated.

Weight Loss Goals Made Easier

If you are looking for some assistance on your weight loss or weight maintenance journey, Any Lab Test Now® is your partner to support you with your health and wellness goals. There are a few effective tests we supply that are designed to provide customizable information to help you reach and maintain a healthy weight and exercise level.

  • First is our HEALTHY WEIGHT DNA TEST. Through a simple cheek swab, DNA cells are collected and examined. This scientifically based weight-management test identifies your unique genetic makeup and provides diet and exercise strategies specifically tailored to your genotype. This means it is not a one-size-fits-all test. The lab looks at your DNA and analyzes various genetic markers that are known to be associated with your weight, metabolism, and body type.
    • Within a few weeks of taking the test, you will receive personalized nutrition and fitness recommendations that work best for your body. This is custom-made and designed just for you.
    • Unlike diet books and pre-packaged meal plans, the fitness program created by the results of DNA testing can offer personalized solutions to help you realize a healthy weight since it’s based on your unique genetic information. That includes the best foods to eat, nutrients, supplements, and the most ideal workouts to maximize your healthy weight.
  • Next is our WEIGHT MANAGEMENT HORMONE TEST PANEL. This is another significant test that helps you determine whether a hormone imbalance may be the culprit of you not losing weight or struggling to maintain a healthy weight.
    • For a little background information, hormones are messengers that send signals to various parts of the body, consequently affecting the way our organs work, and regulating many different body processes. Hormones follow a natural cycle, and hormone testing looks at where your hormones are in that cycle. When there is an imbalance, it may be difficult to maintain your weight. The results of this test can help you and your healthcare provider get a handle on underlying hormone imbalances that could be affecting keeping you at a healthy weight.
    • Specifically, this panel looks at various hormones and other factors that play different roles in your body’s ability to maintain weight. For example, cortisol is a stress hormone that affects your metabolism and the way your body uses sugar — so if you frequently feel stressed, your body will use sugar differently than if you were relaxed. Thyroid hormones also affect your metabolism, which can, in turn, affect your weight. Your sex hormones affect the way that your body deposits fat.
    • This test requires you to fast and give a blood sample.

Manage Your Health

What we do at Any Lab Test Now® is empower you to take control of your health by providing tests like these for weight management. The test results belong to you. However, we strongly encourage you to have a conversation with your provider about the results. If you do not have a primary care physician, Any Lab Test Now® has partnered with DialCare. This service helps you find a provider licensed in your state to discuss results and any further testing or changes you may need to make to achieve your health goals.

Any Lab Test Now® is Your Resource for Improved Health

Any Lab Test Now® provides thousands of tests available to you as our commitment to being your partner in health. We are here to help you and your family achieve your health and wellness goals. You can walk in for same-day testing during convenient work-friendly hours or call now to schedule an appointment at a location near you.

Download an illustrated copy of this guide below.

ALTN Healthy Lifestyle GuideDownload

Screenings to Start the New Year

Early in the new year, it’s the perfect time to start fresh with new goals and make some changes, especially when it comes to self-care and your health. If you resolved to make you and your family’s wellness a priority this year, Any Lab Test Now® is excited to partner with you to get on track and stay on track all year.

The key to sticking to your health resolutions is figuring out what you’re working with — what’s your baseline? This begins with having some testing done to get a snapshot of your overall health. This will give you an idea of how things are working, and if anything may require further testing.

The tests we provide at Any Lab Test Now® are quick, easy, and accessible while serving as a screening and often a diagnostic tool to help you manage your health.

Your Starting Point

To start the new year off right, there’s no better glimpse of your overall health than our Annual Check-Up Panel. The panel consists of five tests typically ordered by a physician during an annual physical examination. Those tests include:

  1. Complete Blood Count (CBC)
  2. Cholesterol Lipid with Ratio (Lipids Panel)
  3. Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
  4. Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
  5. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1C)

This is a baseline screening test. Your baseline consists of all the numeric test results (levels), including your blood counts, kidney function, liver function, electrolytes, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL, and thyroid function values. Empowering you with the knowledge of these numbers gives you a sense of whether or not changes need to be made or if further testing is needed.

Another Significant Test to Consider

You’ll notice that in the Annual Check-Up Panel, one of the items examined is the TSH, or thyroid stimulating hormone, because it’s vital to your body functioning properly.

The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ located in the front of your throat. Endocrine experts say the thyroid releases hormones that control your body’s metabolism; the way your body uses energy and keeps all the other systems in your body working correctly. When the thyroid doesn’t function properly, it can set off a chain of issues like breathing, heart rate, weight, body temperature, etc. When numbers indicate that levels are too low or too high it can cause hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid, or hyperthyroidism, an overactive thyroid.

Any Lab Test Now® provides a Comprehensive Thyroid Panel, which includes five tests that determine how well the thyroid is functioning by looking at specific hormones. This is an important panel of tests to determine if there is an imbalance in your body. Thyroid disorders are more common in women, and they often occur with changes in other hormone levels, such as with pregnancy or with older age.

You Are What You Eat

Pardon the pun, but the Basic Nutritional Panel we offer is like the charcuterie board of testing in that it looks at a little bit of everything when it comes to your nutritional health. Perhaps you are trying to lose weight or feel like you may have a vitamin deficiency — this is an effective screening test that will provide the answers you’re looking for.

Especially at a time when your health and the strength of your immune system is top of mind, knowing if your body is receiving proper nutrition is beneficial knowledge to have, not just for your health but for your wallet as well. This panel from Any Lab Test Now® gives you a look at 11 different components that will tell you if your body is getting the nutrition it needs to operate efficiently.

Start the New Year off Right

Test results belong to you. However, we strongly encourage you to have a conversation with your provider about the results. If you do not have a primary care physician, Any Lab Test Now® has partnered with Dial Care. This service helps you find a provider licensed in your state to discuss results and any further testing or changes you may need to make to achieve your health goals.

There is no better way to kick off the new year than being dedicated to your health and wellness. Any Lab Test Now® is your partner in health, providing tests to help keep you and your family healthy all year long. Ready to get started with your resolution? Call now to schedule an appointment at a location near you.

Understanding HSA & FSA

As we approach the season of open enrollment and year-end wrap-ups, one of the key decisions you may face involves evaluating your healthcare benefits. Two options that frequently emerge during this decision-making process are Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). There are similarities and differences between both, so it’s important to understand the nuances of these accounts to help you make an informed choice for the upcoming year and use up benefits before you lose them.

What is an HSA?

A Health Savings Account (HSA) is a tax-advantaged medical savings account available to taxpayers in the United States who are enrolled in a high-deductible health plan (HDHP). Contributions made to an HSA are tax-free, allowing you to set aside money for future medical expenses without any tax liability. The funds in an HSA roll over year-to-year if they aren’t spent. An added benefit is that some employers contribute to HSAs as part of their benefits package. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that HSAs are typically tied to high-deductible plans. This means that while you might save on premiums, you’ll have a higher out-of-pocket cost before your insurance kicks in.

What is an FSA?

On the other hand, a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) allows employees to set aside pre-tax earnings for medical expenses. However, unlike HSAs, FSAs are characterized by a “use it or lose it” policy. If the funds aren’t utilized by the end of the plan year (with some exceptions allowing for a short grace period or a carry-over of a limited amount), they are forfeited. FSAs are not dependent on the type of health plan you have. So, you don’t need a high-deductible plan to qualify.

Key Similarities and Differences between HSAs and FSAs

Here is a quick list of what these two health accounts have in common:

  • Tax advantages: Both HSAs and FSAs offer tax advantages, allowing you to set aside money for healthcare expenses without the burden of tax.
  • Contribution limits: Each account has an annual limit on how much you can contribute. It’s essential to keep abreast of the current contribution limits to maximize benefits without overstepping boundaries.
  • Eligible expenses: Both accounts cover a wide range of medical expenses, from prescription medications to doctor visit co-pays and medical equipment.

Now, a look at the differences you’ll find between HSAs and FSAs:

  • Rollover: One of the most significant differences is the rollover feature. HSAs allow unused funds to roll over year after year, while FSAs typically don’t. This difference is crucial for planning how much to contribute each year.
  • Dependence on health plans: HSAs require that you have a high-deductible health plan. In contrast, FSAs are available regardless of your health plan type.
  • Account ownership: If you change jobs, you can take your HSA with you; but FSAs are generally not portable.

Typically, as the year draws to a close, you might decide to use up the money in these accounts, taking care of health expenses if you have been putting off all year. Especially if you have an FSA, you should be thinking about how to utilize your remaining funds because, with most FSAs, unused funds may be forfeited at the end of the year.

Utilizing Funds to Improve Your Health

Screening tests offered by Any Lab Test Now® are the ideal way to make use of those resources in your health accounts before the zero hour and address your and your family’s health.

Our lab testing centers offer thousands of tests that can address specific health concerns or more general screenings that provide a snapshot of your overall health. Here are a few to consider:

ANNUAL CHECK-UP PANEL

Regular lab tests through bloodwork are essential for tracking your health and establishing a reference point. By understanding your initial levels, you can observe their fluctuations over time.

If you’re looking to proactively manage your health but need a starting point, the Annual Check-Up Panel is a great choice. This set of five tests, often requested during a yearly physical, offers insights into your blood count, kidney and liver performance, electrolytes, cholesterol, triglycerides, hemoglobin A1c, and thyroid functionality.

COMPREHENSIVE FEMALE PANEL

Even when you’re in good health, regular lab tests play a crucial role in preserving it. If you want to examine your well-being but are unsure of the starting point, consider the Comprehensive Female Panel. Comprising 11 tests, it offers insights into blood counts, kidney and liver health, electrolytes, cholesterol, hemoglobin A1c, thyroid activity, and hormone balances. This panel is tailored for women across all age groups aiming to proactively manage their health.

COMPREHENSIVE MALE PANEL

Consistent lab testing remains crucial for health upkeep, even when you’re feeling good. If you’re seeking a broad health assessment and are uncertain about the starting point, the Comprehensive Male Panel is a blood test that might be your answer. With eight tests, it delivers insights into blood counts, kidney and liver health, electrolytes, cholesterol, hemoglobin A1c, thyroid activity, prostate wellness, and hormone balances. It’s a fitting choice for men across all age brackets aiming to proactively oversee their health.

Any Lab Test Now® is Your Partner in Health

We want to help you and your family stay healthy by providing answers about your wellness. At Any Lab Test Now®, we provide tests that give you tangible results, utilizing your FSA or HSA to cover the costs. We provide the lab testing; you own the results and can use them as you choose. Call now to schedule an appointment at a location near you.

The Difference Between HSA and FSA

For many of us, the end of the calendar year does not just mean it’s the holiday season — it’s also open enrollment time for health insurance. Whether you are signing up on marketplace, in your workplace, or independently — this is when many of us look ahead to determine what kind of healthcare coverage we will want to choose going into 2024.

Navigating healthcare coverage choices and terminology can be challenging. After all, most of us only worry about this stuff once a year, wait for our insurance card, and forget about it. But to help you get acclimated to this year’s enrollment, let’s review some terms, so you make good choices and get the most bang for your buck.

You’ll see the acronyms HSA and FSA come up frequently as you troll through healthcare information. There is a significant difference between the two.

What is an HSA?

Heathcare.gov describes an HSA as a type of savings account that lets you set aside money on a pre-tax basis to pay for qualified medical expenses. The untaxed funds in the Health Savings Account can be used to pay for qualified medical expenses like deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and some other expenses — resulting in lower out-of-pocket healthcare costs.

But here’s something important to note — HSAs can be used ONLY with high-deductible health plans, which is the choice for about 30 million Americans right now.

When to Use an HSA

Here’s an example of when you would use your HSA. Let’s say you break your arm. Ouch. To correct the injury, you need surgery. Even though your health insurance may cover the bulk of the surgery, your patient responsibility or co-pay might be several hundred dollars. You can use the money you tucked away in your HSA to pay that deductible.

There are some dos and don’ts when it comes to using your HSA funds. Let’s unpack one. If you travel internationally, either through work or leisure, you can use your HSA to pay for treatment in a foreign country as well as any prescribed drug you purchase and consume in another country if the drug is legal in both the other country and the United States.

There are many stipulations regarding the use of an HSA. It’s best to check what counts as a qualified medical expense based on criteria set by the IRS. If you use your HSA for an expense other than eligible medical expenses, you can subject yourself to significant IRS penalties after being flagged for an audit.

What Is an FSA?

An FSA, or Flexible Spending Account, is similar to an HSA. If you have a health plan through a job, you can use a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to pay for copayments, deductibles, some drugs, and some other healthcare costs.

A Flexible Spending Account is a special account you put money into that you use to pay for certain out-of-pocket health care costs without paying taxes on that money.

Sometimes an employer will make contributions to your FSA, although it’s not required, or money can be taken from your paycheck and put into the FSA.

FSA vs. HSA

Here are two very important differences between these two savings plans.

  1. Generally, you must use the money in an FSA within the plan year. An HSA, on the other hand, has no “use it or lose it” provision. HSA money is there for you to use well into the future.
  2. You own the money in your HSA. Your employer owns the money in your FSA.

Utilizing Health Accounts at Any Lab Test Now®

One of the medical expenses you can pay for with both an HSA and FSA is diagnostic lab work from Any Lab Test Now®. We have thousands of tests available to you, providing comprehensive health screenings that allow you to focus on your family’s health.

At Any Lab Test Now®, we provide clear, concise, and understandable results. You also have the option to glean additional information with our DialCare service. This allows you to consult with our provider about your results. The clarity you receive from a medical professional can affect the way you handle your health and can be lifesaving.

Remember, at Any Lab Test Now®, the lab tests we provide are confidential, affordable, and convenient. You own the results, and you choose how to proceed with them, whether that means consulting with your provider for further details or perhaps the results give you the peace of mind you were seeking.

Obtaining lab testing through blood tests is a very precise indicator of your health. It tracks your overall well-being, can detect issues with organs, or how well you are managing a disease. It is an important look at your overall wellness.

Stay on top of your family’s health by utilizing our diagnostic lab testing, which can be paid for using your FSA or HSA. Call now to schedule an appointment at a location near you.

Titer Testing, Who Needs It?

If you’re a parent, no doubt you remember your little one having to head to the pediatrician to get vaccines for several diseases. In many states, those immunizations are required for school-aged children. If your child is now a young adult, they may be heading to college or heading into the next chapter of life, and they need those immunization records. Problem is, those records are sometimes difficult to track down, especially if you’ve moved.

When Proof of Immunization is Needed

Besides colleges and universities requiring proof of immunization, there are others who need to have confirmation of immunization, like healthcare students, travelers, school faculty, healthcare and veterinary professionals, medical sales and medical device representatives.

Titer Testing with Any Lab Test Now®

If you fall into any of these categories, Any Lab Test Now® can provide answers through a few of our titer tests. These are antibody tests that detect the presence and measure the amount of antibodies in a person’s blood and can provide confirmation of immunization. Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system in response to the presence of foreign substances, such as viruses or bacteria. A titer may be used to prove immunity to disease.

What Does a Titer Test Reveal?

Here’s the process. Come to an Any Lab Test Now® lab testing center. We will obtain a blood sample from you. The results of the titer test will show whether you have a sufficient level of antibodies against the targeted pathogen. If the titer level is above a certain threshold, it generally indicates that you are immune to the disease or have a protective level of antibodies due to prior exposure or vaccination. If the test is negative (no immunity) or equivocal (not enough immunity) you need to get a booster vaccine.

Titer tests are commonly used for diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis, varicella (chickenpox), and others. They are also used to check immunity for individuals at risk of exposure to certain infectious agents.

Get Tested at Any Lab Test Now®

Here are a few of the important tests we have at Any Lab Test Now®.

Student Titer I Panel – This is a simple venous blood draw that can test for immunity for the following diseases:

  • Measles – Also known as rubeola, is a virus that infects cells in the lung and in the back of the throat.
  • Mumps – This is a contagious viral infection that is easily spread through sneezing, coughing, talking, or by sharing items (e.g., utensils or cups).
  • Rubella – Highly contagious infection characterized by fever and rash.
  • Varicella – Chickenpox and shingles are caused by an infection with the varicella-zoster virus (VZV).

Student Titer II Panel – this was previously called the Allied Health Panel. This series covers all the above-mentioned diseases, plus tests for hepatitis B, which is inflammation of the liver caused by a viral infection.

Why Vaccines are Important

The World Health Organization attributes immunization to saving millions of lives every year, creating a significant impact on global health, promoting healthy populations, and enabling economic development by reducing illness-related productivity losses.

Vaccines are designed to protect individuals from serious and potentially life-threatening infectious diseases. They stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies and memory cells, which provide immunity against specific pathogens. Vaccines have been instrumental in eradicating or controlling several diseases that were once widespread and caused significant morbidity and mortality. For example, smallpox has been eradicated worldwide, and diseases like polio and measles have seen significant reductions in cases due to vaccination efforts.

Healthcare and You

If you want or need to know if you have immunity against certain illnesses, Any Lab Test Now® can help. We are a lab testing center that provides tangible results, which gives you the opportunity to make well-informed decisions about your health.

With many young adults leaving the nest, they are budgeting for the first time, or it’s the debut of their own healthcare plans. For insurance with a high deductible, we are the solution to help save you money. Lab testing is one of the medical expenses you can pay for with a Health Savings Account (HSA) or a Flexible Spending Account (FSA).

Any Lab Test Now® is Your Partner in Health

It’s important for young adults or anyone looking for information to understand the value of their health and make informed choices that support their well-being. We are here as a resource to obtain answers. Call now to schedule an appointment at a location near you.

Young Adult Health

Transitions in life are never easy. Take, for example, the newfound responsibilities that come with entering young adulthood. Often this means for the first time in life, you, as a young person are on your own, navigating new territory — learning to manage how to take care of yourself. This transformation often occurs in the late teens and early 20s and can be an eye-opening experience, especially when it concerns health.

The National Institutes of Health says young adulthood is the ideal time to learn and practice preventive health. While it’s perceived that young people enjoy good health, this is a time in your life when serious long-term illnesses or disorders can be averted through knowledge and wellness practices. Many chronic issues, such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and certain types of cancer, have their roots in early adulthood. It’s during this time that you can establish routines and behaviors related to physical activity, nutrition, sleep, stress management, and preventive care. Prioritizing health now, sets the foundation for a healthier future.

The Importance of Screenings

As a young person, you are still undergoing physical development and growth, making it crucial to support your bodies’ needs. Proper nutrition, regular exercise, and sufficient sleep contribute to healthy growth, muscle development, bone density, and hormonal balance. This stage of life lays the groundwork for optimal physical health and reduces the risk of chronic diseases later in life.

Any Lab Test Now® is your partner in health throughout all seasons. We understand that for you to be engaged in wellness practices providing optimal health, now and long term, means getting routine screenings to maximize health, provide baselines, and detect early signs of untreated illness. Plus, at this age, risk-taking is common, which is behavior that impacts lifelong health.

Overall Look at Your Health

Helping to serve these needs, our lab testing centers offer the ANNUAL CHECK-UP PANEL, which is a routine but effective lab test that monitors health, establishes a baseline, and provides knowledge of your wellness. This panel consists of five tests that provide a snapshot of information about your blood counts, kidney function, liver function, electrolytes, cholesterol, triglycerides, hemoglobin A1c, and thyroid function.

Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Young adulthood is a period of significant lifestyle changes, such as entering the workforce, pursuing higher education, or starting independent living. Prioritizing mental health is essential during this time, as you face various stressors and challenges. In a recent Kaiser Family Foundation/CNN survey, 34% of American adults under age 30 rate their mental health as fair or poor, with many saying it prohibits their ability to enjoy a quality of life. That’s why this is an ideal time in your life to be cognizant of good health practices both physically and mentally. Regular exercise and a balanced diet play a role in promoting mental well-being, reducing stress, and enhancing resilience to cope with life’s demands. Good nutritional health supports a strong immune system, which is crucial for young adults.

Our BASIC NUTRITIONAL PANEL includes a variety of tests that can help you determine if you are getting enough nutrition. This panel can also help rule out adrenal gland disorders and malnutrition. It can also reveal anemia, signs of infection, or other factors that may cause fatigue; a CMP, which analyzes electrolytes, sugar, proteins, and enzymes, including sodium, potassium, calcium, glucose, and liver/kidney function tests; and an iron and total iron-binding capacity test (TIBC) — which measures the amount of iron in your blood.

Providing Answers When You Need Them

We also understand that this may be the first time you’re on your own, making choices that can affect your health. Behaviors like smoking, illicit drug use, excessive alcohol consumption, and sexual activity can have a substantial impact on current and long-term health outcomes. Problems associated with disease transmission through sexual contact has reached epidemic proportion in the United States, according to the CDC. Cases of the sexually transmitted infections (STDs) chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis all increased between 2020 and 2021 — reaching a total of more than 2.5 million reported cases throughout the U.S.

Any Lab Test Now® is a judgment-free zone. We are here to provide answers when you need them. Our STD PANEL, COMPREHENSIVE, tests for infections that can be spread from one person to another through sexual contact. It is possible to have an STD and not realize it. Symptoms of STDs can vary — some people might experience significant symptoms, and others may have none. Even if people do not feel any symptoms, they can still spread STDs. This is why STD testing is so important. Early detection can lead to proper treatments.

Healthcare Costs

You may be leaving the nest and are budgeting for the first time, or perhaps it’s the debut of your own healthcare plan. For insurance with a high deductible, we are the solution to help save you money. Costs associated with lab testing are one of the medical expenses you can pay for with a Health Savings Account (HSA) or a Flexible Spending Account (FSA).

Any Lab Test Now® is Your Partner in Health

It’s important for you to understand the value of your health and make informed choices that support your well-being. By taking proactive steps to maintain your health during this pivotal stage of life, you can lay the groundwork for a healthier future and maximize your potential in all aspects of life. We are here as a resource to obtain answers with tangible results. Call now to schedule an appointment at a location near you.