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Give Your Body An MOT With Self-Checks!

15th March 2007 Print
The new SELFCheck home health screening test range from Pasante is reliable, fast, and discreet, enabling you to regularly monitor your health in the comfort of your own home. Each test comes with a comprehensive advice booklet so you know what to do and where to go for help when you find out your results.

There are nine tests in the range:

Female Chlamydia Test

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection that affects 1 in 10 women under the age of 24 in the UK.

Chlamydia can be easily treated if detected early but with no guarantee of symptoms the infection can go unnoticed leading to problems such as infertility. Regular testing is therefore very important. The SELFCheck Female Chlamydia test can be used at anytime during the day and provides an accurate result (over 98%) within 10 minutes.

Each kit contains one test and is able to detect bacterial infection even when no symptoms exist. The test costs £14.99 and is available from selected Tescos, Superdrug, Rowlands pharmacies, United Co-op pharmacies, National Co-op pharmacies and Day Lewis pharmacies as well as independent pharmacies nationwide.

Blood Glucose Level Test

High blood glucose (sugar) levels are caused by a high sugar diet, e.g. processed foods, and can lead to diabetes.

Diabetes affects 2 million people in the UK but the prevalence of the condition in increasing.

Diabetes can lead to long term problems with the cardiovascular system, kidneys and eyesight.

The SELFCheck Blood Glucose Level Test is recommended for everyone but especially people over the age of 40. Each kit contains two tests to check your blood glucose level and provides a fast and accurate result (98%) within 90 seconds. The test costs £9.99 and is available from selected Tescos, Rowlands pharmacies, United Co-op pharmacies, National Co-op pharmacies and Day Lewis pharmacies, selected health food stores as well as independent pharmacies nationwide.

Cholesterol Level Test

High cholesterol levels coupled with other external and internal factors – such as stress, smoking and family history – may increase the risk of heart and coronary diseases.

Two thirds of the UK population have raised cholesterol levels.

Early detection of high cholesterol will allow for preventative action and effective treatment.

The SELFCheck Cholesterol Test is strongly recommended for those aged over 40 and/or suffering with diabetes. Each kit contains one test and gives an accurate result (95%) within 3 minutes. The test costs £9.99 and is available from selected Tescos, Rowlands pharmacies, United Co-op pharmacies, National Co-op pharmacies and Day Lewis pharmacies, selected health food stores as well as independent pharmacies nationwide.

Bowel Health Test

Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK.

95% of all cases result from benign tumours called polyps that have been left undetected for years - polyps release blood into the colon which can appear in stools.

The SELFCheck Bowel Health Test detects the presence of blood in the stool – a common sign of polyps. If detected early, these polyps can be removed before they grow into malignant tumours. A positive result may also indicate other conditions such as bowel inflammations, haemorrhoids or changes in the digestive system.

Each kit contains one test and gives an accurate result (specificity level of 94%) within 5 minutes. The test costs £9.99 and is available from selected Tescos, Rowlands pharmacies, United Co-op pharmacies, National Co-op pharmacies and Day Lewis pharmacies, selected health food stores as well as independent pharmacies nationwide.

Menopause Test

Following the menopause, hormone levels can fluctuate for several years causing symptoms such as hot flushes, vaginal itching and dryness, insomnia, low libido and slow digestion.

Women reach menopause at an average age of 50, however this can vary between the age of 39 and 69.

The SELFCheck Menopause Test offers a reliable indication of whether the menopausal transition has been made by testing the level of FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) in the urine. Each kit contains both tests you need to complete to determine a result as accurate as laboratory test within 10 minutes. The test costs £9.99 and is available from Rowlands pharmacies, United Co-op pharmacies, National Co-op pharmacies and Day Lewis pharmacies, selected health food stores as well as independent pharmacies nationwide.

Stomach Ulcer Test

It is estimated that half of the world’s population is infected with the Helicobacter pylori bacterium, which can cause stomach ulcers or gastritis.

This causes inflammation of the stomach lining – known as gastritis – and in a few cases, can progress to stomach cancer.

This test is recommended for everyone as infection can occur in men and women of any age, and children. The SELFCheck Stomach Ulcer Test contains one test and uses a tiny blood sample to give an accurate result (sensitivity level of over 98%) within 10 minutes. The test costs £9.99 and is available from Rowlands pharmacies, United Co-op pharmacies, National Co-op pharmacies, Day Lewis pharmacies, as well as independent pharmacies nationwide.

Urine Infection Test

Urine infections can range from cystitis to severe kidney infections.

Urine infections are 50 times more common in women than men but it is still recommended that everyone takes a test if experiencing symptoms such as burning sensation when passing water, or a frequent desire to urinate.

The SELFCheck Urine Infection Test provides a reliable detection of leukocytes (indication of bacterial infection), protein (indication of kidney infection or bladder inflammation) and nitrite (indication of bacterial activity in the urinary tract) in the urine. Each kit contains two tests and gives an accurate result within 60 seconds. The test costs £9.99 and is available from Rowlands pharmacies, United Co-op pharmacies, National Co-op pharmacies, Day Lewis pharmacies, as well as independent pharmacies nationwide.

Drink Spike Detector Test

Drink "spiking" and Drug "spiking" are the fastest growing drug facilitated sexual assault crimes in the UK.

Women are significantly more likely to become victims than men.

The SELFCheck Drink Spike Detector Test indicates the presence of gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) or Ketamine in a drink and will give a reliable result within 3 minutes. Each kit contains four tests, is available from Rowlands pharmacies, United Co-op pharmacies, National Co-op pharmacies and Day Lewis pharmacies, as well as independent pharmacies nationwide and costs £4.99.

Multi Drug Test

3 out of 10 people in the UK have tried an illegal drug at some point in their life.

The SELFCheck Multi Drug Test detects the presence of the most commonly abused drugs (cocaine, amphetamine, cannabis, heroin and ecstasy and their derivatives) and gives a reliable result within 5 minutes. Each kit contains one test. The test costs £9.99 and is available from Rowlands Pharmacies, United Co-op Pharmacies, National Co-op Pharmacies and Day Lewis Pharmacies, as well as independent pharmacies nationwide.