Long Covid Profile

Age restriction on blood tests

We're unable to offer blood tests for those under the age of 18 unless it is part of a routine GP appointment and the clinician believes it suitable.

What biomarkers are tested in the Long Covid Profile Test?

The Long COVID Profile assesses biomarkers such as liver health profile, iron status profile, blood count, pancreatic health, heart health profile, CRP, D-dimer, vitamin D, CK, CK-MB, myoglobin, kidney health, and glucose levels.

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Heart health profile

• HDL and LDL cholesterol: HDL (good) and LDL (bad) cholesterol are measured to assess cholesterol levels.
• Triglycerides: a measure of the actual fat in your blood.

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Full Iron status

• Ferritin: A biomarker reflecting iron levels in the body. The test measures ferritin levels to diagnose iron deficiency or excess, monitor treatment, and evaluate conditions like anaemia and liver disease.
• Serum Iron: Measures the amount of iron in the blood.
• Total Iron-Binding Capacity (TIBC): Measures the blood's ability to bind iron. The test helps diagnose and monitor conditions related to iron metabolism and anaemia. TIBC reflects the body's iron-carrying capacity, aiding in evaluating iron deficiency or overload.
• Transferrin: A protein that transports iron in the blood. Transferrin test measures its levels to assess iron status and diagnose conditions like anaemia. It helps evaluate iron deficiency and monitor response to treatment.
• Transferrin saturation (TSAT): Measures the amount of iron bound to transferrin in the blood. This test assesses iron metabolism and helps diagnose iron deficiency or overload. TSAT provides insights into iron status and guides treatment decisions.

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Kidney health

• Creatinine: A waste product produced by muscles from creatine. It helps assess kidney function and muscle health. The biomarker indicates creatinine levels, aiding in detecting and monitoring kidney diseases and evaluating renal function.
• Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR): A calculation of kidney function by measuring the rate at which the kidneys filter blood. The biomarker assesses renal function, helps diagnose and monitor kidney disease, and guides medication dosing.
• Cystatin C: Cystatin C is a protein produced by the cells in your body. When kidneys work well, they keep the level of cystatin C in your blood just right. If the level of cystatin C in your blood is too high, it may mean your kidneys are not working well.

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Liver health profile

• Alanine transferase (ALT): An enzyme in the liver that is elevated in people with liver disease, heavy drinkers, and those taking certain medications.
• Albumin: A protein the liver produces that helps transport substances in the blood. Low levels can indicate liver damage or disease.
• Alkaline phosphatase (ALP): An enzyme found in the liver and bone. Elevated levels can indicate liver disease or bone-related conditions.
• Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST): An enzyme found in various organs, primarily the liver and heart. The AST test measures its levels in the blood, helping to diagnose liver damage or diseases.
• Bilirubin: A yellowish pigment produced during the breakdown of red blood cells. High levels can indicate liver disease or a blocked bile duct.
• Gamma-GT (GGT): An enzyme in the liver that is elevated in people with liver disease, heavy drinkers, and those taking certain medications.

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Pancreatic health

• Lipase: An enzyme that breaks down fats into fatty acids and glycerol. It aids in digestion and nutrient absorption. The biomarker measures lipase levels and helps diagnose pancreatitis and other pancreatic disorders affecting fat digestion.

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Full Blood Count

• Lymphocytes: A white blood cell that plays a key role in the body's immune system, fighting viral infections and cancers.
• Eosinophils: A white blood cell that plays a role in the body's immune response to allergies and parasitic infections.
• Monocytes: A white blood cell that plays a role in the immune system by engulfing and digesting foreign particles, such as bacteria and viruses.
• Neutrophils: A white blood cell that fights bacterial infections.
• White cell count: A count of the total number of white blood cells in the blood, which can indicate infection or inflammation in the body.
• Platelet count: The total number of platelets in the blood responsible for clotting and preventing bleeding.

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Thyroid health

• Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) - This biomarker measures the level of TSH produced by the pituitary gland. It stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones. Abnormal levels of TSH can indicate thyroid disease, which can cause fatigue.

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Infection and inflammation

• C-reactive protein (CRP): This biomarker measures the level of inflammation in the body. Elevated levels of CRP can indicate an underlying inflammatory condition that may contribute to fatigue.
• D-dimer: A biomarker that measures the presence of blood clot breakdown products. Indicating abnormal clotting activity helps diagnose or rule out conditions like deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE).

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Nutritional health

• Vitamin D: A vital fat-soluble vitamin that supports bone, muscle, and immune system health. Our bodies can produce most of the Vitamin D they need through exposure to sunlight. Still, we can also obtain it from specific foods and supplements.

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Diabetes health

• Glucose: Vital energy source for the body. Raised glucose levels can detect insulin resistance.

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Muscle and  joint health

• Creatine Kinase (CK): An enzyme found in various tissues, particularly in muscles. It helps assess muscle damage or injury. The biomarker indicates CK levels, aiding in diagnosing and monitoring muscle disorders, heart attacks, and physical exertion-related muscle damage.
• Creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB): An enzyme found primarily in the heart muscles. It helps diagnose and monitor heart damage, specifically myocardial infarction (heart attack). The biomarker indicates CK-MB levels, aiding in detecting and assessing cardiac injury or stress on the heart.
• Myoglobin: A protein found in muscles that stores oxygen. It aids in oxygen transport and storage within muscle tissues. The biomarker indicates myoglobin levels, assisting in diagnosing muscle damage, such as heart attacks or skeletal muscle injuries.
• Troponin-T: Troponin is a protein that's found in the cells of your heart muscle. Normally, troponin levels in blood are so low that only the most sensitive types of tests can measure them. But if your heart muscle is damaged, troponin leaks into your bloodstream, and your troponin blood levels will rise.

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