A comprehensive test to show whether you are infected, have been infected or, where appropriate, have built immunity to a wide range of viruses.
Overview
What is a virus?
Viruses grow within living cells. They are one of the major causes of disease.
Which viruses are tested?
This test identifies a wide range of viruses, from measles to mumps, flu to chlamydia. You can find a full list of viruses checked by this test below.
How do I know whether I’m infected?
Whether you experience symptoms of a viral infection or not (not every virus makes you unwell) your body releases antibodies to fight the infection. Checking for antibodies tells us whether you are or have been infected.
How do I get tested?
Book a simple blood test now.
Did You Know?
Viruses can infect anything that is alive – even bacteria.
Why is it important to test for viral infection?
When you fall ill, the culprit is usually one of three infection types: bacterial, fungal or viral. Each has distinct characteristics. Bacterial infections, for example, usually respond to antibiotics; viral infections don’t.
For this reason, it’s important to know precisely what sort of infection you have before you attempt to treat it. If you don’t, the treatment could be ineffective. What is a viral infection?
Viruses are a form of microscopic parasite that live within (or live off) cells. Estimates suggest that around 320,000 viruses affect mammals, although not all viruses affect each mammal (including humans) in the same way. Our bodies have evolved to use many viruses in a way that benefits us, but some can make us ill.
When our bodies are infected by a virus to which we have not adapted, our immune systems fight back. They do this by releasing antibodies, packs of proteins created by the body to attack specific viruses.
What does viral infection testing look for?
Your body releases different types of antibody at different times during a viral infection. One type of antibody is typically released early in the infection. One is released later in infection and can, depending on the virus, create immunity against ever catching that virus again.
Depending on whether one, the other, or both types of antibody are present we can tell whether an infection is fresh, is in its later stages, or has passed (and whether it has left you with immunity).
How can this test help me?
It’s not always easy to tell a viral infection from a bacterial one. Lots of infections have several variants, some viral, some bacterial and some fungal. Even within viruses, many of the symptoms experienced can be similar from one virus to the next.
Many viruses don’t create any symptoms within the host, so you can carry a virus that poses no threat to you, but which may pose a threat to others, including unborn babies (e.g. CMV).
Whilst viruses cannot be "cured", their symptoms can be treated and alleviated, but unless you know whether you have an infection - and which infection you have - you won’t know which treatment is the right one, you won’t know what to do to avoid spreading it, and you won’t know the precise risk posed to yourself or others.
Comprehensive viral antibody screening checks for a wide range of viruses, so whether you have symptoms of a viral illness or not, you’ll be able to know for sure whether you’re carrying one or more of more than a dozen viruses.
Which viruses does this test identify?
This test checks for the following viruses:
- Influenza A CFT
- Influenza B CFT
- Measles IgG
- Measles IgM
- Mumps IgG
- Mumps IgM
- Mycoplasma pneumonia
- Adenovirus CFT
- Chlamydia CFT
- Q fever CFT
- CMV
- HSV 1
- HSV 2
How do I get tested?
To get tested please contact Better2Know your Body on the number above or click book now.