All Checked Up

13/04/2026

For Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, here's 3 simple tips to help you get an accurate test result when taking your Bowel Cancer Screening test.

The test shown is the Quantitative Faecal Immunochemical Test (QFIT). The only test recommended in thr UK by NICE for Bowel Cancer Screening.

Order your kit from us and we provide a free stool collection bag which makes it easier and cleaner to collect your 💩 sample

09/04/2026

Just a quick run down on some of the most common test tubes used in blood tests and what each does.

There are more, like dark blue, red, green etc, but these are generally the most common ones used. Each have their own characteristics and some designed specifically for certain tests such as the light blue top for Coagulation tests (ie how well does your blood clot).

The grey one is generally used for measuring your glucose or sugar level, but by far the two most common are the Purple/Lavender EDTA tube used for Full Blood Count/Complete Blood Count

and the Yellow SST tube. SST standing for Serum Separator Tube because if you look at the bottom there is a gel which helps separate the liquid part or plasma part of the blood when centrifuged (Spun Down) so you essentially get two layers and this helps with analysing the blood sample later on.

So now you know why we take the tubes we take when coming in for your blood test.

07/04/2026

Did you know? Bowel cancer screening can reduce your risk of dying from bowel cancer by 25%.

So how does the test actually work?

✅ It's done completely at home — no clinic visit needed
✅ Order your bowel cancer screening test
✅ Collect a small stool sample using the kit provided
✅ Sent back to our UKAS accredited lab
✅ The test checks for tiny traces of blood in your stool that you wouldn't be able to see yourself
✅ Results are usually returned within 24 to 48 hours
✅ It's quick, private, and painless

Early detection really does save lives — bowel cancer is highly treatable when caught early. The hardest part is just getting started.

Order your kit today via the link in our bio.

BowelHealth

03/04/2026

Our opening hours over the Easter Bank Holiday

03/04/2026

02/04/2026

A new way to take collect your blood at home with our Arm Autocollect device. It's quick easy and honestly painless. You essentially peel off the sticky bit, stick on your forearm

01/03/2026

“Is male menopause real?”

It’s a term often used — but it doesn’t tell the full story.
Some men in midlife experience:
- Low mood
- Low s*x drive
- Erectile issues
- Muscle loss
- Weight gain around the middle
- Fatigue
- Sleep problems
- Poor focus

Testosterone levels do slowly decline as men age — but it’s usually gradual and steady.

When symptoms are significant, it could be late-onset testosterone deficiency. Or it could be something else entirely.

Either way — it’s not “just aging.” And it’s not something you should ignore.

If you’ve noticed changes, start the conversation. Proper testing > guessing

23/02/2026

Ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cancer among women in the UK. But only 27% of cases of are diagnosed in the early stages

Pioneered by the University of Southampton, the trial is looking at whether a specialist medical tampon could help improve early diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

Named the Violet Study, vaginal fluid samples will be collected from women undergoing risk-reducing ovarian cancer surgery, using a diagnostic tampon and vaginal swabs.

In addition, tissue samples from the removed ovaries and fallopian tubes will be used to compare from women with the earliest signs of ovarian cancer to those without cancer

Scientists will check for alterations in biomarkers known as microRNAs — These are small biological signals found in both ovarian cancer cells and vaginal fluid. If these microRNAs are detected, this could suggest a potential approach for predicting ovarian cancer in the future.

02/02/2026

FAQs for Bowel Cancer Screening. The modern QFIT test does not require you to be on a restricted diet or to come off your medications, that's why its a great test to do at home, because it can fit in so easily with your daily routine. The only thing to remember is you shouldn't take your test if you have an active haemorrhoid/piles, diarrhoea, or during menstruation (for women). This is to ensure an accurate test result.

15/01/2026

A full blood count is the world's most common blood test, with an estimated 3.6 billion + tests being performed worldwide each year.

So why is it so popular? Simply because it can provide a broad insight in to a number of disorders such as anaemia, infection, inflammation, nutritional status, bleeding and many other diseases. 

A FBC is actually comprises of a number of different panels red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.  Red blood cells are involved in carrying oxygen around the body via the protein haemoglobin. White blood cells are our defence mechanism for fighting infections and alike. They also control the immune process and are involved in allergy response. Platelets help the blood clotting process by plugging holes in broken blood vessels.

Unlike some tests such as Cholesterol, a FBC test result is rarely affected by lifestyle changes unless there is an underlying deficiency (such as vitamin B12 or folate deficiency or iron deficiency) or increased alcohol intake. Therefore it can provide an good indicator of your overall health.

You can also get an Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) panel alongside your FBC, which is useful in detecting non specific inflammation, however CRP is usually a better marker nowadays.

05/01/2026

It's cervical cancer awareness month and to kick start the series of posts on cervical cancer we want to talk about a virus or more accurately a group of viruses called HPV which are responsible for nearly all of cervical cancer cases. We break down exactly what is HPV, the myths and facts and why regular screening is important in order to help prevent cervical cancer.

HPV is actually a common group of viruses that infect the skin and mucous membranes. There are more than 100 types of HPV. Most HPV infections don’t cause symptoms or problems and are cleared naturally by our immune system, but persistent infection and reinfection of some types of HPV can increase the risk of developing cervical cancer.

HPV Is mainly transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, such as through a s*xual partner. Because HPV often causes no symptoms, someone can unknowingly pass it to others.

HPV can be grouped into high risk and low risk depending on their association with development of cervical cancer.

The most important ones to note are HPV 16 and 18, which together cause around 80% of cervical cancers. The rest of cancers are caused by 11 other high risk groups.

The low risk HPV types (like HPV 6 and 11) don’t cause cancer but are associated with other conditions such as genitial warts.

The mere presence of high risk HPV does not cause cancer, because the body often clears the infection naturally within about 1–2 years.

Cervical cancer develops when high-risk HPV infection persists and causes abnormalities in cervical cells over many years. These can progress from mild changes to more serious pre-cancerous conditions and, if untreated, eventually to cancer.

Not all HPV detections mean a new infection — in some cases it can be the reappearance of a previously acquired virus that was below detectable levels.

Cervical screening plays a crucial role in prevention as it tests for the presence of high risk HPV. If high risk HPV is found, further checks can be done to see if there are any abnormal cell changes which can be treated to help prevent cervical cancer from developing.

02/01/2026

Bowel cancer screening saves lives, and understanding how the test works can reduce unnecessary fear while encouraging the right follow-up.

The bowel cancer screening test is called a quantitative faecal immunochemical test (QFIT). Its purpose is to detect tiny amounts of blood in your poo — something that isn’t visible to the naked eye.

Importantly, blood can be present for several reasons, not just bowel cancer. That’s why a positive result does not automatically mean cancer is present.

That said, the QFIT test is still highly reliable. It has an accuracy of just over 84% in detecting bowel cancer. Research from Edinburgh University also found that completing two QFIT tests two weeks apart increased accuracy to nearly 97%. This makes it a very effective screening tool.

A positive QFIT result may also be linked to:
•Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
•Peptic ulcer disease
•Haemorrhoids
•Gastritis

If you are experiencing symptoms suggestive of IBD, it’s important to be assessed. IBD often requires treatment to control inflammation and prevent complications if left unmanaged.

It’s also worth noting that IBD is different from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), although symptoms can appear similar. This is why positive results should always be followed up with further investigations to identify the true cause. These often include more specific diagnostic tests.

Screening doesn’t provide final answers — it provides vital direction.
Taking part in bowel cancer screening, and following up results appropriately, remains one of the most effective ways to protect long-term bowel health.

Share this post to help others understand bowel cancer screening and reduce unnecessary fear around test results.