Self-Tests

Self-tests

Medical self-tests are today more than just questionnaires on the internet. In the comfort of your home you can take small blood, saliva, urine or breath samples before having them evaluated by modern specialist laboratories. Self-tests can be used to determine your supply of vitamins and minerals, potential allergies and intolerances, as well as the levels of important hormones.

The labs that evaluate such self-tests are often the same ones that do analyses for medical practices and other medical facilities. They may also be active in research and be involved in the development of innovative testing procedures. The big difference: In a self-test you determine yourself when and where you perform it without the need for any waiting times or appointments.

Self-tests from cerascreen

For cerascreen® Self-Tests, use a test kit at home, or even when you are on the go, to collect a small sample. The type of sample will depend on the actual test: Sometimes you might just take a few drops of blood from your fingertip, while others you might take some saliva using a straw or cotton pad, urine or even a sample of respired air. With the blood tests only very small amounts are needed, and instead of sampling with a syringe a small prick on the finger is enough.

Then you send the sample in a prepaid return envelope to a medical specialist laboratory. The laboratory then analyses your sample for the parameter to be measured. After evaluation you shall then receive a detailed results report providing your values, classifying them and individual recommendations for action.

What can the self-tests measure?

cerascreen® self-tests include tests for vitamin D and vitamin B12 - both important vitamins that many people are not well supplied with. The mineral test checks the concentration of the minerals zinc, magnesium and selenium, all of which are important for building muscle and reinforcing the immune system, among many other things. Another important nutrient that can be detected in the blood by self-testing is Omega 3 fatty acid. There are also tests for iron deficiency and iodine deficiency. You can also determine cholesterol levels, a marker of cardiovascular health, as well as the long-term blood sugar indicator HbA1c, with which the risk of diabetes can be estimated. Blood tests for various types of allergies, including different food allergies and allergies to house dust and latex, are also available. Another test is for suspected coeliac disease (gluten sensitivity) – which is not to be confused with a cereal allergy! Other analyses can detect intolerances to lactose, fructose, sorbitol and histamine. Another option is to measure your exposure to toxic heavy metals such as lead, mercury and arsenic in the urine.

cerascreen®'s self-tests also allow you to measure the level of the “happiness” hormone serotonin, the sleep hormone melatonin, the stress hormone cortisol and the sex hormones oestrogen and testosterone. Fluctuations in hormone levels may be reflected in sleep disorders, depression and chronic stress.

A world first is the Genetic Age Test: This epigenetic DNA test analyses your cell ageing and tells you what your biological age is, which can often deviate quite strongly from the calendar age.