1. Blood clots normally only form to stop bleeding that has occurred as a result of injury to the tissues. The clotting process is complicated and begins when platelets clump together at the site of damage and produce chemicals that activate clotting factors in the blood. Clotting factors are proteins that are produced by the liver. Vitamin K is essential for their production Warfarin works by preventing the vitamin K dependent production of the clotting factors.

Warfarin prevents the production of these clotting factors by inhibiting the action of vitamin K. Without these clotting factors fibrin cannot be converted into fibrinogen and blood clots are therefore less likely to occur. Warfarin has a low therapeutic index and its ability to prevent blood clots depends on many factors e.g. diet etc. Its levels have to be monitored so that the dose can be titrated to achieve the desired effect.

The HemoSense INRatio system is designed for use by both professional and patients at home. Its unique feature is that two QC tests are performed simultaneously with the test ensuring that accurate and precise results are obtained every time

2. Anaemia is a lack of red blood cells, which can lead to a lack of oxygen-carrying ability, causing unusual tiredness. The deficiency occurs either through the reduced production or an increased loss of red blood cells. These cells are manufactured in the bone marrow and have a life expectancy of approximately four months. Having adequate red blood cell volume is particularly important in pregnancy. To produce red blood cells, the body needs (among other things) iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid. If there is a lack of one or more of these ingredients, anaemia will develop.

The StatSite Hb system is a portable, hand-held device that can be used at the patient bed-side to help determine the patient’s RBC levels. The test is rapid, accurate and inexpensive

3. Infections of the urinary tract can affect just the bladder (cystitis). Infections of the kidney(s) cause back and loin pain as well. However, one or both kidneys may become infected (pyelonephritis). The symptoms of cystitis are pain or burning on passing urine, and having to pass urine more often (frequency). There may be some blood in the urine. Fever usually only occurs with pyelonephritis, rather than cystitis.

Urinary infection is due to germs entering the urinary tract. The most usual route is up through the urethra and into the bladder. The most usual germs are those found in the bowel which spread to the groins and then up the urethra. Once the germs are in the urinary tract they can be difficult to get rid of if the urinary tract is abnormal in some way. Urinary infection can then recur even after a course of antibiotics. If a Urinary Tract Infection is left untreated, many episodes of cystitis get better on their own, provided a lot of fluid is drunk.

Because urinary infection may be the first sign that there is something wrong with the urinary tract, failure to have tests may lead to kidney damage. If the infections of reflux nephropathy are not treated, particularly in children, then further scarring of the kidneys will occur, making the kidney function worse.

Medi-Test urinalysis tests allow the detection of UTI.