Here is a selection of our tests and profiles. We do offer a complete pathology service, so even if you cannot see the test you require on this page we almost certainly offer it. If you need help understanding a test we suggest you visit Lab Tests Online, which is a peer reviewed site that covers most tests.
Haematology
aPTT (Bleeding tendency)
Blood Group
Clotting Screen
Erythropoeitin
ESR
FDP’s/D-Dimer (Thrombosis test)
Full Blood Count
Group & Red Cell Antibody Screen
Haemoglobinopathy screen
INR (Warfarin monitoring)
IM screen (Glandular fever)
Malarial Parasites (Incl FBC)
Protein C
Protein S
Prothrombin time (Bleeding tendency)
Reticulocytes
Schistosome antibodies
Thrombosis risk screen
Vitamin B12 & Red Cell Folate
Von Willebrands screen
Biochemistry
Albumin
ALP (Liver/Bone/Gut damage)
ALT (Liver damage)
Amylase (Pancreatic damage)
AST (Liver/muscle damage)
Bence-Jones Protein
Bilirubin (Liver damage)
BNP (Heart failure)
Calcium
Cholesterol
CK (Muscle damage)
Copper
Creatinine (Kidney failure)
CRP (Bacterial infection/Atherosclerosis risk)
Ferritin (Iron stores)
Gamma GT (Liver damage)
Glucose
HbA1C (Diabetic monitoring)
HDL Cholesterol (Good cholesterol)
Homocysteine (Vascular damage)
Iron
Iron studies (Fe Transferrin & Ferritin)
LDH ((Liver damage)
Magnesium
Phosphate
Potassium
Protein total
Protein electrophoresis
Sodium
TIBC (Iron levels)
Triglycerides
Urea (Kidney damage)
Uric acid (Gout)
Tumour Markers
5HIAA (Carcinoid)
AFP (Teratoma/Seminoma)
HCG (Teratoma/Seminoma)
ß2 Microglobulin (Myeloma)
CA 19-9 (Pancreas)
CA 125 (Ovary)
CA 15-3 (Breast)
CEA (Colon)
PLAP (Prostate)
PSA (Prostate)
Endocrinology
AFP (Alpha-fetoprotein)
Aldosterone (Off drugs for 2 weeks)
Androstenedione
Antimullerian Hormone (AMH)
HCG (Pregnancy)
Cortisol
DHEA Sulphate
FSH (Follicle stimulating hormone)
Growth Homone
Insulin
Inhibin B
LH(Luteinising hormone)
Oestradiol(Oestrogen)
Parathyroid hormone
Progesterone
Prolactin
Renin (Off drugs for 2 weeks)
SHBG (Sex Hormone Binding Globulin)
Testosterone
Free Thyroxin (Free T4)
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
Free Triiodothyronine (Free T3)
Thyroid profile 1
Thyroid profile 2
Urine Catecholamines
Trace Metals
Aluminium
Arsenic
Cadmium
Chromium
Copper
Lead
Magnesium
Manganese
Mercury
Zinc
Allergies
Total IgE
Individual Allergens
Inhalant/Food profile
Inhalant profile
Food profile
Child profile
Nut & Seed profile
Shellfish profile
Cereal profile
Antibiotic profile
Insect profile
Microbiology
Blood culture
Faeces (M C & S)
MRSA by PCR
Sputum
Swabs
TB culture
Urine (Protein glucose M C & S)
Virology
Chlamydia antigen (PCR)
CMV abs (Cytomegalovirus)
Helicobacter pylori abs
Hepatitis A abs
Hepatitis B markers
Hepatitis B Surface antigen
Hepatitis C abs
Herpes I & II abs
HIV abs 1 & 2
HPV(Human Papilloma Virus)
Measles abs
Mumps abs
Rubella immunity screen
Toxoplasma abs
Syphilis IgG/IgM
Varicella Zoster abs (Chickenpox)
Drugs
Amiodarone
Carbamazepine
Digoxin (More than 6 hrs post dose)
Lamotrigine
Phenobarbitone
Phenytoin
Topiramate
Valproic acid
INR
Haematology is the study of blood cells, blood forming tissues and their diseases. The main types of blood cell are:
1) Red Cells whose primary function is to carry oxygen. Haematologists investigate the causes of too few red cells (anaemia) or too many cells (Polycythaemia)
2) White Cells which protect us against infections and infestations. Haematologists will investigate the causes of abnormal cells or unusual numbers of cells.
3) Platelets which play a vital role in blood clotting. For this reason haematology also covers the study of coagulation and haematologists will investigate people who have a tendency to bleed or clot inappropriately.
Prices for haematology tests range from £15.50 for a Full Blood Count which counts and examines the different types blood cells to £321.83 for a thrombotic screen which is used to identify the causes of inappropriate clotting.
Biochemistry is the study of the non cellular part of blood including Proteins, Fats, Minerals, Carbohydrates and Enzymes. Typical tests undertaken in Biochemistry are the Liver Function Profile (£17.88), The Kidney Profile (£14.30), Lipid Profile (£19.07), Iron Studies (£44.10).
Tumour Markers are proteins that are commonly produced by cancer cells. They can be used to screen for cancer or for monitoring treatment. In practice tumour markers are often raised by diseases other than cancer so they are of limited use as a screening tool but Oncologists find that they are a useful way of checking a patients response to chemotherapy. Tumour markers typically cost £20.00-£30.00.
Endocrinology is the study of Hormones. These commonly include the hormones that control reproduction and sexual characteristics, thyroid function, digestion, and growth. Prices for individual hormones start at £20.00 with profiles of more than one hormone starting at £38.00.
Trace metals are elements that are either needed for normal healthy living, such as zinc (£38.75) and magnesium (£12.10) or they can be poisonous if present at too high a level, such as mercury (£38.74) or lead (35.74)
When a person is allergic to a substance they produce antibodies against it just as if it was an infection. These antibodies are of a type called IgE. We can measure the total amount of IgE(£31.45) in the blood or the specific antibodies to a particular substance (29.78). The blood test is at its most economical when a large number of substances are tested in a profile. A comprehensive food allergy profile (£120.99) covers 9 of the common foods while a full food and inhalant profile (£263.98) tests 44 grasses, weeds, mites, moulds, trees, foods, and animals.
Microbiology is the study of bacteria and fungi. We are continually exposed to bacteria and fungi, most are harmless, or even helpful, but when they begin to grow in inappropriate places they can cause illness. Urine should be sterile but when bacteria, typically gut flora, get into the urinary tract they can cause considerable pain. A urine culture (£29.80) will identify any bacteria in a urine sample. These bacteria can then be grown and exposed to different antibiotics to see which ones would be suitable for treatment.
Virology is the study of viruses. Virology tests can be divided into 2 types. The first type look at the antibodies we make to viruses we have been exposed to, for example, we can test a blood sample to see if someone has had measles (£23.84). The second type of test will detect the presence of a virus itself, the HIV virus (£28.80) can be detected in this way within a few days of exposure.
Drugs can be ineffective if the dose is too low or toxic if the dose is too high. Warfarin is used to prevent clots but if the dose is too low it has no effect and if it is too high then the patient can bleed uncontrollably. An INR (£16.69) will check that the correct dose is being given.