Haemochromatosis is an inherited disorder of excessive body accumulation of iron. It is common among the white population, affecting approximately 1:400 individuals of European ancestry.
Haemochromatosis patients are believed to absorb excessive amounts of iron from the diet. Since the human body has limited ways of eliminating the absorbed iron, the iron accumulates over time in the liver, bone marrow, pancreas, skin, and testicles. This accumulation of iron in these organs causes them to function poorly.
Patients with early haemochromatosis have no symptoms, and are unaware of their condition. The disease may then be discovered when elevated iron blood levels are noted by routine blood testing. In males, symptoms may not appear until 40-50 years of age. Iron deposits in the skin cause darkening of the skin. Since females lose iron through menstrual blood loss, they develop organ damage from iron accumulation 15- 20 years later than men on average.
A specially labelled blood sample collection kit containing everything needed by a nurse or doctor to take the blood sample. The kit will be unique and coded specifically to you.
A Medical History & Lifestyle questionnaire is included with this test. It covers important areas such as illness, injuries, medical conditions, medication, family health history and much more.
The Medical History & Lifestyle questionnaire provides us with vital information which can affect how your results are interpreted and what advice you receive.
You will have secure online access to your medical reports and results held on our secure web servers. If required, we will also send you a hard copy by post.
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Phlebotomy
