Biolab News Update
Biolab provides poster presentations for The Association for Clinical Biochemists
Biolab was very pleased to provide a number of poster presentations at the annual national meeting of the Association for Clinical Biochemists in Glasgow from 11th-13th May 2010 - details below:
Erythrocyte niacin co-enzymes as a measure of vitamin B3 status. Miller. N.J., Burr. R.J.D., Saffu. P, Poster presented at the FOCUS Association for Clinical Biochemistry National Meeting, Glasgow, May 2010. Poster
ICPMS-derived reference intervals for nutritional trace elements in plasma, whole blood and red cells. Miller. N.J., Cole. N.N., Saffu. P, Poster presented at the FOCUS Association for Clinical Biochemistry National Meeting, Glasgow, May 2010. Poster
Erythrocyte tocopherol isomers in the investigation of vitamin E deficiency. Miller. N.J., Worrell. PC, Jasniewicz. K.P. Poster presented at the FOCUS Association for Clinical Biochemistry National Meeting, Glasgow, May 2010. Poster
Biolab workshop recordings and handouts
Audio and DVD recordings of the Biolab Workshop, held on 6th March in London, will be available within the next few weeks. Please contact us directly to order either of these.
10th March 2010
New Biolab brochure for clinicians
Biolab brochure for clinicians - December 2009
Plasma Minerals Profile Update (December 2009)
We are pleased to announce significant improvements to our plasma mineral screen. The analysis is now performed in our new analytical laboratory by inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) providing improved sensitivity and specificity.
For further details follow the links below or contact us directly:
Plasma Element Analysis test update details
Hair Element Analysis Update (November 2009)
We are very pleased to announce the launch of our new and improved hair element analysis.
For further details follow the links below or contact us directly:
Hair Element Analysis test datasheet
Hair Element Analysis sample report
Biolab Workshop CDs - September 2009
Audio CDs of our latest workshop for doctors and practitioners are now available for £25 per set with copies of handouts: - E-mail: Workshop recordings
We are also planning an "Introduction to Biolab" workshop for doctors and practitioners to be held in London in February 2010 (details to be confirmed). Please E-mail us to be included on the mailing list for this workshop. info@biolab.co.uk
Biolab newsletter - Summer 2009
Our latest newsletter for doctors and practitioners, which includes details of new and updated tests, can be downloaded here:
Gut Permeability Profile (July 2009) - New and improved profile.
We are very pleased to announce the launch of our new and improved gut permeability profile A copy of the test datasheet and a sample report can be downloaded here, but please don't hesitate to contact us directly for further information or to order test kits (info@biolab.co.uk)
Gut permeability test datasheet
Sample report - Gut Permeability Profile
Gut Permeability - patient instructions
See also www.biolab.co.uk/gut.html
UPDATE - Health Risk Profile (July 2009)
We have added a number of tests to our Health Risk Profile in the last few months and have recently improved the reporting format. For further details please see our summer newsletter (link above), or folow these links:
Sample report - Health Risk Profile
D-Lactate - New test for investigating gut dysbiosis (July 2009)
The presence of D-Lactate (D-lactic acid) in the blood is a reflection of bacterial overgrowth in the gastro-intestinal tract. D-lactate is not metabolised by mammals and its elimination from the body depends mainly on renal excretion.
D-lactate is produced from non-absorbed carbohydrates by colonic bacteria (which may also proliferate in the ileum) and our test is specific for the presence of D-lactate-producing bacteria in the gut (probably Enterococcus and Streptococcus spp.).
Biolab Workshop announcement
The next Biolab workshop for doctors and practitioners will be held in London on Saturday 5th September 2009 followed by a reception to celebrate Biolab's 25th Anniversary. To ensure you are included on our mailing list please submit your details to info@biolab.co.uk.
British Association for Applied Nutrition and Nutritional Therapy CPD awarded (4.5 hours)
Download programme and application form
Ethanol metabolism and consumption - new datasheet (June 2009)
Nutritional biochemical monitoring of the damaging effects of excess alcohol consumption can help both the patient and the physician to appreciate the pathological process that is taking place and to take remedial action to avoid the establishment of alcoholic liver disease. A fully referenced datasheet looking at the biochemical pathways for ethanol metabolism and considering the effects on laboratory tests is available at: Ethanol metabolism datasheet.
A comprehensive list of recommended disease related Biolab profiles is available at: Disease related profiles
June 2009 - Breath hydrogen home test kits now available
We are very pleased to announce that we can now supply home testing kits for our breath hydrogen and methane tests for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, and for lactose and fructose intolerance tests. For further information see Breath hydrogen and methane testing
April 2009 - Vacutainer blood collection tube update:
Please note that as of April 2009 we are replacing our navy blue top clotted (serum) tubes with navy blue top EDTA (plasma) tubes. In the short-term the tubes supplied from Biolab will have a lavender band around the tube indicating that it has EDTA added. This web site and the latest version of our laboratory guide (v9.5) specify where this sample type is preferred for our tests, but if you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact us directly (tel: 020 7636-5959 or e-mail: info@biolab.co.uk)
Further details: Trace element free, EDTA, blood collection tubes
Biotin (update March 2009)
We have introduced new methodology for biotin status providing better specificity and sensitivity than the earlier method. Red cell pyruvate carboxylase activity is measured in patients’ samples before and after the addition of excess biotin. An activation index is then reported as a functional, intracellular test of biotin status (see Test datasheet).
For details of our vitamin tests see: Vitamins
MELISA (metals sensitivity) price increases (23rd February 2009)
Due to the recent fluctuation in exchange rates the test fees for the metals sensitivity tests we send to the MELISA Diagnostics laboratories in Germany have increased with immediate effect. However if only 1-3 metal sensitivities are requested we will now send these to the Belgium MELISA laboratory and we have been able to reduce the price slightly.
Our charge for the TNT European courier for these samples has been increased to £30 (from £27.57) per patient to cover increasing courier costs.
For further details and to download request forms and a sample report: Click here
Glutathione reductase (February 2009)
Glutathione reductase datasheet
Paraoxonase (February 2009) - Serum paraoxonase datasheet
Updated test datasheets:
Red cell glutathione (February 2009) - Glutathione datasheet
Health Risk Profile (February 2009) - Health Risk Profile datasheet
Glutathione peroxidase (new method) (January 2009) -
GSH-Px datasheet
Tocophorol - vitamin E (7th January 2009) -
Tocopherol datasheet
Food & Inhalant allergy screens (IgE) - December 2008
We are very pleased to announce that we are now providing the IgE allergy screen service previously run by Professor Jonathan Brostoff at King's College Hospital, London and now offer independent food and inhalent allergy screens, as well as a combined profile.
Further details are available at
Allergy tests and downloadable datasheet at Allergy Panels
Please contact us directly for further details: info@biolab.co.uk, or telephone (+44) 020 7636-5959.
New tests (October 2008)
We are very pleased to announce the availability of the following new tests at Biolab:
Homocysteine (further details)
Biomer test (
Other recently introduced tests include:
Urine iodine (further details)
Vitamin D profiles (further details)
Serum phosphate (further details)
Breath hydrogen & methane measurements for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (further details)
Serum selenium (further details)
For further details of any of these tests please contact us directly (info@biolab.co.uk).
Newsletter for doctors
Details of our new laboratory, and updated Biolab tests & prices (September 2008)
www.biolab.co.uk/docs/news0808.pdf
Updated Laboratory Guide (September 2008, effective October 2008)
Our Laboratory Guide has been updated to include all available tests and the latest prices and can be downloaded here (hardcopies available to practitioners on request)
Updated literature:
For copies of the most recent releases of our test datasheets (project in progress), laboratory guide and request forms please click here:
Datasheets & other documentation
New tests at Biolab:
Vitamin D Profile
We are delighted to announce the introduction of a vitamin D profile at Biolab which includes 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 (derived from sunlight exposure and consumption of animal meats) and 25-hydroxy vitamin D2 (from plants and nutritional supplements).
The test fee is £40 and we require a single SST (clotted blood tube) which should reach Biolab within 24 hours of collection.
Full details are included in the test datasheet:
Vitamin D profile sample report
Niacin (vitamin B3) status
We have reintroduced our niacin test for B3 status utilising a new method enabling us to report the NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) to NADP (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate) ratio, which is considered the optimal marker of niacin status.
The test fee is £40 and we require a full 7ml heparin blood tube for each request (to reach Biolab within 24 hours of collection).
Breath hydrogen measurements for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
From Tuesday 27th May 2008 we will be introducing a new and improved method for breath hydrogen measurements. We will adopt the internationally recognised “Rome” protocol and will report breath hydrogen and methane levels at 20 minute intervals for 3 hours. Patients should fast for 12 hours prior to the test and only drink water. Appointments will be available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and the test fee will be £70.
A variation on this test can also be used for diagnosing lactose intolerance (hourly measurements following lactose ingestion) – test fee £40.
If you would like to discuss these tests, or require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us directly (info@biolab.co.uk).
CD audio recordings for "Biolab Workshop for Doctors & Practitioners" now available (request at info@biolab.co.uk)
October 2007 - London Clinic Pathology Test Price Increases
Please note that the prices of most London Clinic pathology test prices were increased on 1st October. For full details see www.biolab.co.uk/otherlab.html
Biolab test prices remain unchanged.
If you need the clarification of any prices please do not hesitate to contact us directly (www.biolab.co.uk/address.html).
News Bulletin for Doctors
Full details of changes at Biolab can be found in our News Bulletin for Doctors released on 8th May 2007 which can be downloaded here:
www.biolab.co.uk/docs/news0507.pdf
New Request Form (May 2007)
The latest version of the Biolab request form will shortly be available directly from Biolab, in the mean time copies can be downloaded here:
Biolab Pathology Request Form download
New information leaflet (May 2007)
We are very pleased to announce the release of a new information leaflet suitable for patients and doctors new to Biolab, offering an introduction to our work and summaries of our main profiles. Your feedback and comments on this would be very welcome.
Kelmer test suspension (January 2007)
Following several reports of adverse reactions to the DMSA used for our Kelmer test, we have suspended this test. Please contact the laboratory for further information. We regret any inconvenience this may cause.
Links to third-party web sites and interesting articles (November 2006)
We are pleased to provide a page of links to external web sites we have found of interest and to articles relevant to our work which you may not have seen in the mainstream medical journals or national press.
If you would like to suggest other sites or articles we would be pleased to consider these for inclusion.
Vacutainer blood collection tube update (July 2006)
Beckton Dickinson have replaced their Vacutainer, glass, red speckled top, blood collection tubes with a "gold" top (dark shade of yellow!) plastic tube. The red speckled top tube can still be used as before, but we will now be supplying the new Gold top tubes as an alternative. All of our documentation, including this web site, has been updated accordingly. Please contact us if you are a regular user of Biolab and would like to be sent some of the new tubes.
Sample handling fee (July 2006)
For doctors wishing to use Biolab phlebotomy services to collect samples for other laboratories we have had to increase our sample handling fee from £10 to £15 with effect 3rd July 2006. We acknowledge that this is a 50% increase, but this is the first time this fee has been increased in over 15 years. We hope that you will agree this is still excellent value for the work involved (reception, nurses and preparation of samples in our laboratory).
For patients having Biolab tests, there is no additional charge for collecting samples on behalf of other laboratories.
Doctors' newsletter (June 2005)
Continuing the occasional series of brief comments from Dr John McLaren Howard, Laboratory Director, on medical and general news items together with Biolab tests that may be useful in the investigation of these areas of concern.
Test price increase (effective 1st October 2004)
Biolab test prices are to increase by 5% on 1st October 2004 (all prices on this web site have now been updated accordingly). This is the first increase in our test prices since 1997 and has been made now to cover increase costs from our suppliers and to ensure that we can continue our innovative development work for the benefit of patients in the future.
Most of our test prices have only increased by between £1 and £3 and we hope that you still consider our services to be good value.
We welcome feedback from doctors and patients on this decision.
Click here to download a new Biolab price list (Microsoft Excel).
Gastrogram no longer available (May 2004)
We regret to announce that the Gastrogram will not be available after Friday 14th May 2004 because it would be prohibitively expensive and time-consuming to seek and obtain compliance with the latest EU regulations (EU Directive 98/79EC on in vitro diagnostic medical devices).
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all doctors who have referred their patients for this test over the last 15 years and for all the feedback they have provided during that time.
Doctors' newsletter (March 2004)
Brief comments from Dr John McLaren Howard, Laboratory Director, on medical and general news and comments on relevant Biolab tests.
Doctor's newsletter (September 2003)
Continuing the occasional series of brief comments from Dr John McLaren Howard, Laboratory Director, on medical and general news items together with Biolab tests that may be useful in the investigation of these areas of concern.
24 hour urine FIGLU test suspension (1st May 2003)
We are very sorry to announce that due to a world wide shortage of purified FIGLU transferase we are no longer able to offer the 24 hour urine FIGLU test. We are continuing to search for a source of this enzyme and we are also investigating alternative methods.
Measurements of methylmalonic acid levels in 24 hour urine (for vitamin B12) are unaffected by this and can still be requested.
We hope this does not cause too much inconvenience. If you have any questions or comments regarding this please contact us (info@biolab.co.uk)
Doctor's newsletter (March 2003)
An occasional series of brief comments by Dr John McLaren Howard, Laboratory Director, on medical and general news items together with Biolab tests that may be useful in the investigation of these areas of concern.
A CD-ROM is now available containing copies of Biolab request forms, information leaflets, workshop handouts, test instruction sheets, publications and our laboratory guide (not suitable for Apple Macs). Please contact us directly for a copy. Cost £5.
If you require further details about these news items or or any further information about Biolab please contact us directly: info@biolab.co.uk