Point-of-Care Diagnostic Tests

These are bedside (point-of-care) tests run and interpreted in the consulting room, giving you a result and a doctor's explanation in a single short visit rather than waiting for an external lab. Medicas Brno offers a CRP test to gauge inflammation or infection, a finger-prick blood-glucose check, an INR test for people on blood-thinning medication, a simple urinalysis, a resting ECG, and a faecal occult-blood screen used to look for hidden bleeding in the bowel. Each is available to self-payers at a fixed price, with a lower rate for patients registered with the practice. They are useful when you want a quick, specific answer — for example to check whether an illness is bacterial, to monitor anticoagulation, or to screen for bowel-cancer risk.

Point-of-care diagnostics are tests that are performed in the consulting room and read within minutes, so the general practitioner can interpret the result and act on it during the same appointment. Medicas Brno offers a focused menu of these on a self-pay basis, each priced individually with a reduced rate for patients registered with the practice. The CRP (C-reactive protein) test measures a marker of inflammation and is widely used to help judge whether an infection is likely bacterial — and might warrant antibiotics — or viral, where they would not help. The blood-glucose test gives an immediate reading useful for spotting or monitoring diabetes and for assessing symptoms such as excessive thirst or fatigue. The INR test measures how quickly blood clots and is essential for anyone taking warfarin-type anticoagulants, so the dose can be kept in the safe range. A simple urinalysis screens for protein, glucose, blood and signs of urinary infection. A resting twelve-lead ECG records the heart's electrical activity to check rhythm and rate and to look for signs of strain. The faecal occult-blood test screens for blood that is invisible to the eye in a stool sample, an established way of detecting early bowel disease and a recommended part of colorectal-cancer screening. Most of these tests need little or no preparation. A glucose reading is most informative when the doctor knows whether you have eaten, so follow any fasting instruction given when you book. For the faecal occult-blood test the practice provides a sampling kit and instructions to collect the sample at home and bring it in. The urinalysis is most reliable from a clean midstream sample. The ECG simply requires a few minutes lying still while small electrodes are attached to the chest, arms and legs; it is painless and non-invasive. The finger-prick or small blood-sample tests involve only a brief pinprick. These tests suit people who want a fast, specific answer without the turnaround of an external laboratory: someone unwell who wants to know whether an infection is bacterial, a patient on anticoagulation due for an INR check, anyone monitoring blood sugar, or an adult wanting to take part in bowel-cancer screening. Because the results are available immediately, the GP can explain what they mean, put them in the context of your symptoms, and advise on any next step — reassurance, treatment, repeat testing or referral. The tests are low-risk; the only minor discomfort is the pinprick or, for the ECG, the cool feel of the electrodes.