Five Essential Tests Men Need

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer found in American men after skin cancer. Most of the time it tends to be a slow-growing cancer, but there are also aggressive, fast-growing types of prostate cancer. Screening tests can find the disease early, sometimes before symptoms develop, when treatments are most effective.
Screenings for healthy men is a prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test. The American Cancer Society suggests that screening should start:

• 50 for average-risk men
• 45 for men at high risk. This includes African-Americans.
• 40 for men with a strong family history of prostate cancer.

The American Urological Association recommends a first-time PSA test at age 40, with follow-ups per doctor's orders.

Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)

available from LabXpress $75.00

Male Hormone Lo-T (Testosterone)

Testosterone starts about age 27 or 28 and its effects can usually be felt by age 35. The result of Lo-T is andropause or hormonal-aging.

• Symptoms of Andropause (low testosterone symptoms in males)
• Decreased mental quickness and sharpness
• Decreased energy, strength and endurance
• Less desire for activity and exercise
• Decreased muscle and increased body fat
• Mild to moderate depression and irritability
• Depression and/or loss of eagerness and enthusiasm for daily life
• Decreased sex drive
• Decreased sexual function and/or sensitivity

Lab testing produces two key numbers -- total testosterone and free testosterone. Total testosterone is the number most commonly used and quoted. The majority of testosterone in any human body is bound to protein molecules and is totally inactive. Only “non-bound” testosterone that has become freed is active in the system. As testosterone levels start to decline, most men start to feel the effects of low T, as free Testosterone levels decline.

Testosterone Total

available from LabXpress $70.00

Testosterone Free

available from LabXpress $55.00

Testosterone Free & Total

available from LabXpress $95.00

Cholesterol Levels

Atherosclerosis – hardening and narrowing of the arteries — can progress without symptoms for many years. Over time it can lead to heart attack and stroke. Lifestyle changes and medications can reduce the LDL Cholesterol know as the "bad" cholesterol and lower your risk of cardiovascular disease.
The fasting blood lipid panel is a blood test that tells you your levels of total cholesterol, LDL "bad" cholesterol, HDL "good" cholesterol, and triglycerides (blood fat). The results tell you and your doctor a lot about what you need to do to reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Men 20 years and older should have a new panel done at least every five years. Starting at 35, men need regular cholesterol testing.

Lipid Panel

(Cholesterol, HDL, LDL & Triglycerides) available from LabXpress $35.00

Type 2 Diabetes

One-third of Americans with diabetes don't know they have it. Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to heart disease and stroke, kidney disease, blindness from damage to the blood vessels of the retina nerve damage, and impotence. When found early, diabetes can be controlled and complications can be avoided with diet, exercise, weight loss, and medications.

A fasting glucose test (after 12 hours with nothing to eat) is most often used to screen for diabetes. The Hemoglobin A1C or the A1C test, tells how well your body has controlled blood sugar over time. Healthy adults should have the test every three years starting at age 45. If you have a higher risk, including high cholesterol or blood pressure, you may start testing earlier and more frequently.

Glucose Fasting

available from LabXpress $23.00

Hemoglobin A1C

available from LabXpress $65.00

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

HIV-1 is found in the blood and other body secretions of infected individuals, even when there are no symptoms. Most untreated people infected with HIV-1 eventually develop AIDS. It spreads from one person to another when these secretions come in contact with the vagina, anal area, mouth, eyes, or a break in the skin. There is still no cure or vaccine.

The most commonly used test is an HIV Antibody Test. Antibodies are produced by the body in response to the presence of HIV, and this test looks for those antibodies.

When someone becomes infected with HIV, it can take up to three months for their immune system to produce enough antibodies to show up on an HIV test (although in a few cases it can take up to six months) - this gap is known as the window period. Because the HIV test looks for antibodies, taking an HIV test less than three months after possibly getting infected might not give an accurate result. However, throughout the window period , the infected person has enough virus in the blood, breast milk or sexual fluids to infect another person even though it may not show on a test.
If you are concerned about a recent exposure or contact, the HIV PCR test, may be the best testing option. A PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test, also known as a "viral load," is used to measure the amount of HIV in an HIV-positive person's blood. Because this test looks for HIV directly in a person's blood instead of detecting antibodies (the body's reaction to HIV), it may detect an HIV infection about a week after an exposure.

HIV Screening Tests

10 minute HIV Antibody Test

is available from LabXpress $89.00

HIV PCR Test

is available from LabXpress $199.00