Wellness Panel
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Screening Tests
Regular blood testing is an important way to keep track of your overall physical well-being. Getting tested at routine intervals can allow you to see the way your body changes over time and empower you to make informed decisions about your health.
Screening tests are used to measure or examine cells, chemicals, proteins, or other substances in the blood. Blood testing, also known as blood work, is one of the most common types of lab tests. By measuring components in your blood, the wellness panel screening may reveal issues that need further evaluation by a medical provider.
Testing Options
- Option One: Order your own tests. If you have no symptoms, you don’t need to see a medical provider. Use Health e-Messenger to schedule a time to go to the lab.
- Option Two: Make an appointment with a provider. Call 831-459-2500 for an appointment.
What is Included
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
- White Blood Cells (WBC): play an important role in immune response
- Red Blood Cells (RBC): contain hemoglobin which transports oxygen through the body
- Hemoglobin: oxygen carrying protein
- Hematocrit: percentage of blood that consists of red blood cells
- Platelets: cell fragments that promote clotting
Lipid Panel: helps assess your risk for cardiovascular disease
What gets tested?
- Cholesterol: builds cells and hormones
- High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C): the “good cholesterol”
- Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C): the “bad cholesterol”
- Triglycerides: stores unused calories
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
What gets tested?
- Glucose: human cell’s primary source of energy
- Calcium: mineral essential for muscle, nerve, and heart function, as well as bone formation
- Albumin: small protein made by the liver that makes up 60% of blood protein
- Total Protein: the building blocks of all cells and tissues
- Electrolytes (Sodium, Potassium, CO2, Chloride): helps move nutrients and waste to and from cells and stabilize the body PH
- Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) and Creatinine: waste product filtered from cells by the kidneys
- Liver Enzymes (ALP, AST, ALT): enzymes helpful in detecting diseases of the heart, liver, bone and kidney
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
- Why this test? A TSH helps monitor the thyroid gland which plays an important part in the metabolism.
Hemoglobin A1c (HgbA1c)
- Why this test? A HgbA1c equates to an average of the last 3 months of glucose measurements. This test helps monitor diabetes.
Ferritin test
What gets tested?
A ferritin test measures the amount of ferritin in the blood. Ferritin is a blood protein that contains iron. This test can be used to find out how much iron the body stores.
How to Order Your Own Wellness Panel
Fees
- For students with UC SHIP the self-ordered wellness panel has no out of pocket fees.
- For students with CruzCare or who have waived UC SHIP, there will be a fee for the wellness panel tests. Fees are posted to your student account.
- If you need support around off campus insurance, contact the Insurance department at insure@ucsc.edu.
Complete the order form
- Go to your Health e-Messenger, click Messages on the menu, select new message, select self-ordered Wellness Panel.
- Complete the questionnaire and submit.
- Schedule your Wellness Panel Test:
Reminder:
- Schedule an appointment with a provider if you have symptoms or questions.
- Be patient: our lab is busy and sometimes patients with serious health problems will be called into the lab before someone who is waiting for self-ordered testing.
