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About the Tests

Information on Future of Medicine health screening tests.

Lipoprotein (a)

Measures the amount of lipoprotein(a) or Lp(a), in the blood. Lp(a) is a type of cholesterol that is like the “bad” LDL cholesterol but even stickier. Elevated levels of Lp(a) in your blood can contribute to blocked arteries, thus reducing blood flow to your heart, brain, and other vital organs. It can also increase clotting and cause inflammation in blood vessels. Values greater than 125.0 nmol/L have been associated with an increased risk for heart disease, stroke, and heart valve disease. Values between 75 and 125 nmol/L are considered borderline and may also increase these risks, but this is still under investigation. People of African and South Asian descent have higher levels of Lp(a) on average. It is still under investigation if the same ranges carry the same increased disease risk in these populations. Most data indicate that the risk levels are similar.

Facts about Lp(a)

About 1 in 5 people may have elevated Lp(a).

Higher Lp(a) levels increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart valve disease. This risk increases with higher Lp(a) levels. For example, an Lp(a) of 250 nmol/L carries a higher risk than an Lp(a) of 100 nmol/L.

There is no drug currently available to lower Lp(a), but doctors are testing new medicines for lowering Lp(a) in clinical trials. If you have high Lp(a), there may be a clinical trial that is a good fit for you.

People with elevated Lp(a) can still take preventive actions to lower their risk of heart attacks and strokes, including following a healthy lifestyle and sometimes taking other preventive medications like statins.

The level of Lp(a) you have in your body is largely determined by your genes, and things like diet and exercise do not typically impact that level.

Given that Lp(a) is strongly genetically determined, it is recommended that closely related family members to someone with high Lp(a) also get their own levels tested.

Factors that could impact results

Factors such as illness, recovery from illness, and technical differences in testing methods can all contribute to fluctuations in Lp(a) results.

Hemoglobin A1c (A1c)

Also known as A1c or HbA1c, this test measures the average blood sugar levels in your body over the past 2-3 months. This test is useful for evaluating the long-term control of blood glucose concentrations in patients with diabetes, diagnosing diabetes, and identifying patients at increased risk for diabetes (prediabetes).

Facts about blood sugar

Diabetes is a chronic condition where you have too much sugar in your bloodstream.

High blood sugar levels can damage blood vessels, narrow arteries, and cause cholesterol to build up.

Factors that could impact results

Some factors like kidney disease, liver disease, severe anemia, and pregnancy can elevate your A1c levels for reasons not related to diabetes.

Creatinine

Measures the amount of creatinine in your blood. Creatinine is a waste product that your kidneys filter outs of your body. Elevated levels can indicate kidney problems.

Facts about kidney function

A normal eGFR indicates healthy kidney function, while a reduced eGFR may signal kidney disease. A decreased eGFR is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events.

eGFR

The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) uses your creatinine level, age, and gender to estimate how well your kidneys are filtering blood. The higher the number, the better your kidneys are working.

Factors that could impact results

While high creatinine/low eGFR typically indicates kidney problems, there are a few other factors that can lead to this result if done just prior to the blood collection. These include very strenuous exercise that leads to muscle injury, excessive meat intake, or creatinine supplement intake. You should speak with your doctor if you have abnormal creatinine or eGFR results.

hsCRP

Measures levels of C-reactive protein in your blood, a substance produced by the liver in response to inflammation. The high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) test can detect inflammation caused by various conditions such as infection, injury, or chronic disease.

Facts about hsCRP

Chronically elevated hsCRP levels may be associated with an increased risk of heart disease.

If your hsCRP levels are elevated, your healthcare provider may recommend further testing or clinical consultation to determine the cause and to guide treatment.

Lipid Panel

Measures the amount of cholesterol and fats in your blood. Doctors typically order a lipid panel to assess your risk for heart disease and stroke. If you have unhealthy lipid levels, your healthcare provider may recommend diet, exercise, or certain medications.

What's included:

LDL

Measures the amount of low-density lipoprotein in the blood. LDL is sometimes referred to as “bad” cholesterol because it can build-up in the arteries. Unhealthy levels of LDL cholesterol may increase a person’s risk of heart disease.

HDL

Measures the amount of high-density lipoprotein in the blood. HDL is thought of as the “good” cholesterol because it carries bad cholesterol away from the arteries where it can be removed from the body.

Triglycerides

Measures the amount of triglyceride, a type of fat (lipid) in the blood. Elevated levels of triglycerides are linked with increased risk of heart disease.

VLDL

Measures the amount of very low-density lipoprotein in the blood. VLDL primarily carries triglycerides. High levels of VLDL can contribute to blockages in the arteries.

Total Cholesterol

Measures the total cholesterol in the blood. This includes both LDL “bad” and HDL “good” cholesterol.

Factors that could impact results

  • · Not fasting could impact your LDL, VLDL, and triglyceride levels
  • · Alcohol consumption, illness, and certain medications and supplements

pTau

Not part of the standard Heart & Kidney Health Screening. By invitation only at select locations.

Measures levels of a protein that builds up in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Facts about pTau

While pTau occurs naturally in the body, elevated pTau levels in the blood may indicate an increased likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

If you have elevated pTau levels, your healthcare provider may recommend further testing, and suggest lifestyle changes to support overall brain health.

The pTau test can give you an idea of your Alzheimer's disease risk, but it can't tell you for sure if you'll get Alzheimer's, as many different factors play a role in your overall risk.

Factors that could impact results

  • · pTau testing is still emerging and no guidelines on fasting have been established.
  • · If testing pTau over time, testing should happen under similar circumstances (Time of day, fasting/not fasting).

Liver Function Tests and Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF)

Not part of the standard Heart & Kidney Health Screening. By invitation only at select locations.

A collection of tests that measure the levels of certain enzymes and proteins in your blood which may be indicators of liver scarring (also called fibrosis).

Liver function tests include: albumin, alkaline phosphatase, ALT (SGPT), AST (SGOT), direct bilirubin, total bilirubin, and total protein.

Enhanced Liver Fibrosis includes: hyaluronic acid (HA), procollagen type III amino-terminal peptide (PIIINP), and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1).

Facts about liver scarring

Liver scarring can occur as a result of diet, lifestyle, alcohol use, viruses, and other medical conditions.

Early detection of liver scarring is important for preventing serious liver problems, such as cirrhosis or liver failure.

Results from liver function tests and ELF can help your healthcare provider evaluate your liver health and recommend a treatment plan.

Factors that could impact results

  • Certain medical conditions, recent infections or inflammation can influence test accuracy. In addition, drinking alcohol before the test could temporarily affect liver markers.

FibroScan

Not part of the standard Heart & Kidney Health Screening. By invitation only at select locations.

Measures liver stiffness and fat content using a non-invasive ultrasound scan.

Facts about liver stiffness and fat content

Liver stiffness can indicate scarring, which may develop as a result of fatty liver disease, MASH, or other conditions.

Fat buildup in the liver can lead to serious conditions such as cirrhosis and liver failure if left untreated.

FibroScan can detect liver issues early, track changes over time and guide treatment decisions.

Factors that could impact results

  • Eating or drinking (other than water) within 3 hours of the test may impact results.
  • Also, consuming alcohol and high-fat foods within 24 hours of the test could temporarily influence liver measurements.

DISCLAIMER

This is not a substitute for information provided by your doctor. Please ask your doctor about your lab results to receive personalized guidance on actions you may need to take.