Wellness Laboratory Testing: Monitoring Your Own Health

Regional Health Services of Howard County offers wellness laboratory testing to the public. This laboratory testing service differs in that the public may choose from a select list of laboratory tests, which are available without a doctor’s order. The results of these tests will help patients monitor their own health status.

Because Americans are more health-conscious today, more aware of their own bodies, and more knowledgeable about physical health and illness in general, they are interested in knowing and monitoring their personal test results beyond what is provided at their annual physicians. While this service does not take the place of medical care, it is another tool for patients to access the information they need to monitor their own health.

Wellness laboratory testing is offered from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday and 8:00 to 10:00 am on Saturday at the hospital lab. Everyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Results of the tests will be sent directly to the patient within one week. Patients are encouraged to share the results with their personal physician. Critical test results will be reviewed by a physician. Payment for the tests must be received at the time of service in cash, check or credit card; insurance will not be billed. Wellness tests offered include:

Hematology Wellness	$15.00
White Blood Count Red Blood Count and Indices Hemoglobin Hematocrit Platelet Count (Checks for anemia, infections)

Glucose Wellness *	$10.00

Cholesterol Wellness *	$10.00

ALT Wellness (liver)	$10.00

AST Wellness (liver)	$10.00

Lipid + Glucose Wellness *	$25.00
Glucose Cholesterol Triglyceride HDL Cholesterol LDL Cholesterol Cholesterol/HDL Ratio

Chemistry Wellness *	$25.00
Glucose (Diabetes) BUN (Kidney) Creatinine (Kidney) Calcium (Osteoporosis) Alkaline Phosphatase (Liver) ALT (Liver) Uric Acid (Gout) Total Protein (Nutritional Status)

Hemoglobin A1C Wellness:	$30
Glycohemoglobin (diabetes)

Potassium Wellness:	$10

TSH Wellness (thyroid):	$40

PSA Wellness:	$45
Prostate Specific Antigen (prostate cancer). PSA levels can also be elevated in a number of conditions other than cancer, such as benign prostatic hypertrophy (noncancerous enlargement of the prostate), prostatitis (inflammation or infection of the prostate), and after manipulation of the prostate (e.g., after a prostate biopsy or urinary catheterization). Waiting three months for testing is recommended after biopsy or manipulation.

Blood Type	$15.00
ABO Type RH Type

* Indicates that an individual should be fasting. Fasting, for the laboratory, means no solid or liquid food for 12 hours and no alcohol 24 hours prior to specimen collection. Water should be taken in normal amounts, and you should continue taking your medications as directed by your health care provider.

Please contact the Hospital Laboratory at Regional Health Services of Howard County at (563) 547-2101 if you have questions about this new service.