Do-It-Yourself Liver Test Launched In U.K.
Ishita Sukhadwala - AHN News Writer
October 30, 2007
London, England (AHN) - A liver test, which allows people to see the extent of damage to their liver due to excessive drinking, has been launched in the U.K. Tuesday.
Until now the device, called the LiverCheck test, was only available in clinics and hospitals. By making it widely available, manufacturers of the test say they hope people will be able to take responsibility for their own health and increase their awareness of unhealthy lifestyle and when to seek medical advice.
The test measures two enzymes produced in the blood when liver cells are damaged due to excessive alcohol.
People taking the test send their blood sample to a laboratory and can expect to receive results in forms of a color-coded warning scale within a week. Those with off-the-scale- results will get a call from the laboratory urging them to go see a doctor.
According to Channel 4 News, Dr Rajiv Jalan, a liver expert at University College Hospital in London believes the test will save lives.
He said: "If someone knew they were going to get liver disease, they would do something about it. LiverCheck could avoid them getting to the stage where they are doing themselves real harm."
However, other medical experts have warned people not to depend excessively on the test results.
Professor Humphrey Hodgson, of the Royal Free Hospital and spokesperson for the British Liver Trust, said: "Alcohol can affect other organs in the body and a visit to your GP can assess all these areas and paint the bigger picture of your health. The last thing we want is the promotion of a false sense of security which results in people drinking at hazardous and harmful levels", reports BBC News.
The test costs about $200 and can be purchased over the telephone or the Internet.
Link
Ishita Sukhadwala - AHN News Writer
October 30, 2007
London, England (AHN) - A liver test, which allows people to see the extent of damage to their liver due to excessive drinking, has been launched in the U.K. Tuesday.
Until now the device, called the LiverCheck test, was only available in clinics and hospitals. By making it widely available, manufacturers of the test say they hope people will be able to take responsibility for their own health and increase their awareness of unhealthy lifestyle and when to seek medical advice.
The test measures two enzymes produced in the blood when liver cells are damaged due to excessive alcohol.
People taking the test send their blood sample to a laboratory and can expect to receive results in forms of a color-coded warning scale within a week. Those with off-the-scale- results will get a call from the laboratory urging them to go see a doctor.
According to Channel 4 News, Dr Rajiv Jalan, a liver expert at University College Hospital in London believes the test will save lives.
He said: "If someone knew they were going to get liver disease, they would do something about it. LiverCheck could avoid them getting to the stage where they are doing themselves real harm."
However, other medical experts have warned people not to depend excessively on the test results.
Professor Humphrey Hodgson, of the Royal Free Hospital and spokesperson for the British Liver Trust, said: "Alcohol can affect other organs in the body and a visit to your GP can assess all these areas and paint the bigger picture of your health. The last thing we want is the promotion of a false sense of security which results in people drinking at hazardous and harmful levels", reports BBC News.
The test costs about $200 and can be purchased over the telephone or the Internet.
Link
