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Lithium Blood Test

 


Lithium Blood Test

Trustpilot
£120.00 - £120.00
£120.00
£120.00 - £120.00
£120.00

Lithium is a medication commonly prescribed to treat bipolar disorder, particularly for stabilising mood and reducing the frequency and severity of condition.

  • Biomarkers: 1
  • Estimated turnaround: 10 days

Simple and accurate blood test from a laboratory you can speak to.

STEP 1 - CHOOSE YOUR SAMPLE COLLECTION OPTION

CLINIC APPOINTMENT

£29.00 is the fee for our nurse to take blood from your vein, in our clinic.

  • No waiting. Same or next working day appointment - book your date and time during checkout.
  • Rapid results - samples go straight to our laboratory.
  • Our own nationwide clinics and full time nurses. 
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About the test

Lithium has a narrow therapeutic range, meaning the difference between an effective dose and a toxic dose is small. This blood test helps ensure that the lithium levels remain within this safe and effective range. 

High levels of lithium in the blood can lead to toxicity, which can be dangerous and lead to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, confusion, and in severe cases, seizures, kidney damage, or even death. Regular monitoring helps prevent these adverse effects.

1 Biomarker

  1. METALS

    - Lithium

  2. UPGRADE

    Need more biomarkers? Check out our Electrolytes Blood Test

  1. TURNAROUND TIME

    We are extremely fast, with some results available within hours and others within a working day or less, from the time your sample is in our lab. However, this is not a guarantee and should not be taken as such. This is the guideline turnaround time that can be shorter or longer.


    THIS IS NOT A GUARANTEED TURNAROUND TIME.


    We are extremely proud of our very short turnaround times and a very efficient laboratory processes, you will start receiving results as soon as they are available and have completed clinical validation.


    Whilst we accommodate the shortest of time scales, with some results available within hours, for this particular test the usual turnaround time is: 10 working days.

DOCTOR'S COMMENTS

Hi, I am Dr. Adam Staten and here's my view on this test as a GP and Clinical Director at One Day Tests.

Lithium primarily affects the central nervous system by altering neurotransmitter release and modulating the activity of certain signaling pathways, such as those involving inositol and glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3). This modulation is believed to contribute to its mood-stabilizing effects in treating bipolar disorder.

In terms of toxicity, lithium can disrupt electrolyte balance, particularly by affecting sodium channels in cells. Lithium and sodium ions are similar in size, so lithium can enter cells through sodium channels, especially in the kidneys. This can lead to sodium depletion and, if lithium levels become too high, cause lithium toxicity, which manifests in neurological symptoms such as tremors, confusion, seizures, and even coma.

Red flag symptoms for the Lithium Blood Test

Please get in touch with your GP if you are experiencing any symptoms related to lithium supplementation.

Your Results and Health Dashboard

The results of your Lithium Blood Test will be emailed to you as a secured PDF file, ready for your GP and will also be uploaded to our Health Dashboard area of the website. It’s a unique and powerful tool, powered by our in-house clinical analysis research, to match your biomarkers across test panels and symptoms, as well as provide clinical commentary on all individual biomarkers you tested for.

The health dashboard will also provide "panel level" commentary - a birds eye view of the biomarkers that were tested. This feature allows you to view your test results and clinical commentary, and compare them to previous results, giving you a clear understanding of how your health is progressing.

By using the Health Dashboard, you can identify changes in your biomarkers and make necessary adjustments to your lifestyle. This added value is immense, as it empowers you to monitor your health and make informed decisions about your well-being.

It's free and is available with all of our tests.

Save on continuous monitoring with our subscription plan

The best way to look after your health is to do so regularly. This is easy to do with our continual monitoring plans which give you a discount on future blood tests. You choose the frequency and we'll do the rest.

When you purchase a subscription, we will deliver your home test kits or allow you to book appointments in line with your chosen frequency. You will be able to track your biomarkers over time in our powerful Health Dashboard, where results will be automatically updated for you. There is a minimum of 3 tests with any subscription, after which you can pause/restart/cancel at any time.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

Hi, I am Stefania Brown, I am the Laboratory Manager at One Day Tests and here are the lab's special requests for the Lithium Blood Test.

  1. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR TAKING THE LITHIUM BLOOD TEST.

    There are no special instructions for this test. Please stay hydrated and drink plenty of water before coming in for the test.


Venepuncture appointment - how to prepare

If you are coming into one of our clinics for the test, this is what you need to do before you arrive:

  • Drink plenty of water about an hour before the appointment.
  • Avoid coffee/tea/energy drinks. Water is good!
  • That’s it! We’ll do the rest.

Home test kit for Lithium Blood Test - how it works

Our blood test kits are simple and convenient.

The most important step in doing a blood test at home is to read the instructions very carefully. The process is very simple, but there are a few pitfalls you need to be aware of - you will save yourself a lot of time if you do it right the first time around!

  • Full printed instructions will arrive with your kit - please read them carefully.
  • Drink plenty before taking the sample and warm your hands up in the sink with warm water for a few minutes. This will make your blood flow much better.
  • Fill the tubes to the top line. We don’t need much blood; filling tubes to the top line is about 15 drops of blood.
  • Post the samples on the same day you take them, before midday, Monday to Thursday. If you post it any other time it might get to us late or be stuck at a sorting office over the weekend. You will then have to do it again.
  • Package the sample in the same box the kit came in. Otherwise, Royal Mail or DPD will reject it. The sample tubes go into a pouch, then into a cardboard box, and then into a return envelope. All of this is provided in the kit: please use it.

We look forward to receiving your sample in our lab!

How the finger prick home blood test kit for Lithium Blood Test works - from Dr. Adam Staten

Follow our step by step instructions on how to take your sample quickly and easily using the blood sample collection finger prick test.

WHY CHOOSE US?

Hello! My name is Dr. Vinesh Mistry, I am part of the GP team here at One Day Tests and here is why you should trust us to test your blood.

  1. QUICK AND ACCURATE RESULTS, DIRECT FROM A LABORATORY.

    We run our own regulated laboratories and our own accredited clinics. We manufacture our own approved home sample collection kits. Your results are looked after by our fantastic clinical governance team and our super-talented biomedical science team.


    When you book your test with us - you book directly with the lab. This means accuracy and responsible duty of care, direct access to the provider and extremely fast turnaround times.


    Finally, our customer services rock! You can ask the lab a question any time or you can speak to a real human. You can email us on hello@onedaytests.com or give us a call on 0127 309 2844.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Hi, I am Lana Nela, Lead Nurse, and here is what we are frequently asked about this test.

What is lithium's normal or therapeutic range?

Lithium has a narrow therapeutic range, meaning the difference between an effective dose and a toxic dose is small. The blood test helps ensure that the lithium levels remain within this safe and effective range. The therapeutic range is generally between 0.6 to 1.2 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L), though this can vary slightly depending on the individual and clinical circumstances.

WHY TAKE THE TEST?

Hi, I am Nader Eldarf, I am a Biomedical Scientist in our laboratory and here is why it's important to take this test.

  1. WHY TAKE THE LITHIUM BLOOD TEST?

    Lithium toxicity can have severe symptoms, such as organ failures, tremors, confusion, or frequent urination, so a lithium blood test can help determine whether these are related to lithium levels, guiding the need for dosage adjustment or further investigation.

IS THIS TEST RIGHT FOR YOU?

Hi, I am Sandeep Patel, I am the Laboratory Director at One Day Tests. Here are the symptoms that you may wish to address with this test.

  1. IS THE LITHIUM BLOOD TEST RIGHT FOR YOU?

    If you are supplementing lithium for your conditions, it is essential to monitor this. Long-term lithium use can affect kidney and thyroid function. Regular blood tests help monitor these functions and ensure that lithium is not causing harm.

  1. SYMPTOMS AND TAGS

    Make your own test panel

WHY ARE BLOOD TESTS IMPORTANT?

Health monitoring is very important, you are in charge of your health - look after it.