Sexual Health Week
Sexual Health Week
September 11th-17th is Sexual Health Week
Sexual Health is a very important part of our lives, impacting on our wider physical and emotional well-being. In our relationships it is also important to act responsibly and with care – and to reduce the risk of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).
More than one million sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are acquired every day worldwide, the majority of which are asymptomatic. STIs are on the increase, and many show very little to no symptoms.
We want to break the stigma on sexual health testing. Regular testing is what keeps us safe and prevents STI’s spreading. Regular screening can aid in detecting an infection in the early stages and help to reduce the risk of further complications.
Gonorrhoea and Syphilis, which are two of the most common STIs are increasing at alarming rates.
Usually treated easily with antibiotics, many STIs can cause serious health issues if left untreated. Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea can cause infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease, while syphilis can cause serious, irreversible, and potentially life-threatening problems with your brain, heart, or nerves. Sexually transmitted infections are on the increase, many of which present little to no active symptoms.
Blood Pressure Awareness Week
4th – 10th September is this years Blood Pressure Awareness week, also known as ‘Know your numbers week.’
It is estimated that 16 million people in the UK have high blood pressure, but around a third are unware that they have it – if left untreated, it can often cause heart attacks or stroke and is also a risk factor for heart disease, kidney disease and vascular dementia.
People with High Blood often show no symptoms but awareness of it can make it easily treatable and manageable.
Your blood pressure is an essential part of the successful circulation of blood around your body. When your heart contracts, it propels blood outward with force, circulating it around all the arteries in your body.
When healthy and relaxed, your arteries are flexible and provide just the right amount of resistance to enable efficient blood flow.
But what does that mean exactly?
High blood pressure is the result of the stiffening and constriction of your arteries. These narrower, more rigid arteries cause higher resistance to blood flow, ultimately causing the heart to work harder to pump the blood to the farthest parts of you.
Over time, this additional work can cause damage to the myocardium, or heart muscle, as well as other organs like the brain and kidneys. Know Your Numbers Week, organized by Blood Pressure UK, is an annual event in September that aims to increase awareness of the dangers of high blood pressure, promote the importance of knowing your blood pressure and provide you with information on how you can help lower yours.
Home testing kits have made it easy and convenient for people to test for health concerns from the comfort of their own homes – this allows them to begin taking steps to target at-risk areas. Home monitoring is both an effective and inexpensive way to keep blood pressure under control.
With Randox Health’s easy-to-use Heart Health home testing kit you can find out your cholesterol levels from the comfort of your home. This health test is available from £29 and measures total cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol. LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides.
Our easy-to-interpret Heart Health report will provide a breakdown of your results.
Available at www.randoxhealth.com
MSc Health Data programme receives Randox scholarship
The University of Exeter’s MSc Health Data Science programme has received £25,200 from Global Diagnostics company Randox Laboratories to support two places on the programme.
The Randox Health Data Science Scholarship will enable successful applicants to gain access to world-class teaching, in an emerging field of Health Data Science at Exeter, as well as the opportunity to interact with specialists at Randox Laboratories during their masters.
The MSc Health Data Science course at Exeter is designed to equip students with innovative skills needed to tackle some of the biggest health challenges across the world. The programme also teaches the application of quantitative skills such as computing, mathematics, and statistics in the understanding of disease prevention and cure.
Exeter is one of only six UK universities to deliver the MSc Health Data Science programme.
The Scholarship is open to home students only and offers:
- Course fees (on a part-time or a full-time basis), or an equivalent contribution to living expenses.
- The opportunity to visit Randox in Belfast for two placements during the program, including a presentation to the company.
- The opportunity to partner with Randox on your dissertation project which forms an integral part of course credits.
- A Randox internship offer upon completion of studies to gain vital experience and insights into the field of diagnostics health care.
Professor Tim Frayling, programme lead for MSc Health Data Science, said: “The emerging field of data science is changing how we think about everything, including healthcare. There is huge competition for the most gifted students, and we need to encourage talented individuals to develop their skills and meet this demand.
“We are grateful to Randox for this generous donation of the scholarships to support two students who will have the opportunity to advance their knowledge in a vibrant field of health research.”
Dr. Helena Murray, Randox R&D Manager and programme lead for Health Data Science said: “We are in no doubt of the critical importance of Health Data Science as healthcare organisations seek earlier and reliable diagnosis from multiple health data points – many more than can be processed reliably at an individual level. This science offers the opportunity to both greatly improve healthcare outcomes and reduce the burden on healthcare services. There are clearly significant career opportunities in this field.
“We congratulate Exeter University on their Health Data Science programme and look forward to engaging with the successful candidates.”
Randox scholarships are additionally available to prospective eligible MSc Health Data Science students, according to the OfS criteria. The deadline for applications is August 14th 2023.
World’s first Xylazine assay
Randox’s newly established ELISA for xylazine is the first immunoassay test in the world for this drug
Xylazine is an analgesic drug primarily used within the veterinary industry as a tranquilizer.
It has not been approved for human use, however, in recent years it has been linked to the USAs illicit drug supply. The United States Drug Enforcement Authority (DEA) recently published a Public Safety alert about xylazine. Its primary use is as a sedative and analgesic in veterinary medicine for horses, cattle, and other large animals. However, xylazine has been reported as an adulterant in an increasing number of illicit drugs mixtures and detected in a growing number of overdose deaths in the USA, according to the DEA.
A report released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on June 30th 2023 found that “Among 21 jurisdictions, the monthly percentage of illicitly manufactured fentanyl-involved deaths with xylazine detected increased 276% from January 2019 (2.9%) to June 2022 (10.9%).” However, they note that because of inconsistent testing, detection is still likely underestimated.
According to the CDC researchers “Medical Examiners and Coroners might differ regarding whether they consider xylazine to increase fatal overdose risk, or they might be unfamiliar with xylazine and therefore not list it on death certificates. This variation highlights the importance of collecting postmortem toxicology data on all drugs detected in overdose deaths, rather than just those listed on the death certificate.”
The CDC advises that “Expanded postmortem testing for xylazine is needed to clarify prevalence in drug supplies” and that “Routine toxicology testing for xylazine in suspected overdose cases is critical for accurate surveillance”.
Studies continue to see the drug reported as an adulterant in an increasing number of illicit drug mixtures. Commonly encountered in combination with fentanyl but xylazine has also been detected in mixtures containing cocaine, heroin, and a variety of other drugs.
Unlike fentanyl, xylazine is not an opioid, naloxone (Narcan) does not reverse its effects. As such this dangerous combination of toxic drugs can lead to fatal accidental overdoses in users.
The severity of its side effects remain a concern: depressed breathing, blood pressure, heart rate and body temperature to critical levels.
Available now on the Evidence MultiSTAT!
Randox Toxicology continue to lead in new test development within the ever-changing drugs of abuse market. Our newly established test for xylazine is the first immunoassay test in the world for this drug of abuse.
Simultaneously screen two samples for up to 29 drugs of abuse, including xylazine, on our ToxPlex Array in just 31 minutes!
About Randox Toxicology
With over 40 years’ experience in the diagnostic market, Randox Toxicology is dedicated to advancing forensic, clinical and workplace toxicology.
Placing a heavy focus on new product R&D has led to the development of technology at the forefront of advanced global diagnostics.
A market leader in the development of new assays and technology in the field of toxicology, Randox aim to minimise laboratory workflow constraints whilst maximising the scope of quality drug detection.
With the world’s largest toxicology test menu, screening for over 600 drugs and drug metabolites, our range of versatile analysers provide toxicology solutions for both high and low throughput laboratories.
For more information, contact Randox Toxicology at info@randoxoxicology.com.
Randox Health partners with Team Gb ahead of Paris 2024
The British Olympic Association (BOA) has announced that Randox Health will be the Official Diagnostic Health Partner of Team GB ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Following the success of their previous partnership, which saw Randox provide Team GB with Covid-19 testing services for Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022, the new partnership will see the two organisations work to change the way the nation thinks about health.
Together with Team GB, Randox will encourage people to be proactive about their health by using comprehensive diagnostic screening and data to support prevention and early diagnosis of conditions, while Team GB’s athletes will have access to Randox’s in-clinic and home testing services to help them be in the best possible shape for Paris 2024.
For further information, please visit TeamGB.com
Randox acquires microfluidic tools and impedence flow cytometer developer, Cellix Limited.
Randox are pleased to announce the acquisition of Cellix Limited, a Dublin-based company that develops microfluidic tools and impedance flow cytometers for cell analysis.
This acquisition expands Randox’s technical capabilities into the benchtop flow cytometry space aligning with their commitment to personalised medicine and improved preventative healthcare.
Dr. Peter FitzGerald, Managing Director of Randox Laboratories:
“The acquisition of Cellix complements and broadens Randox’s offerings by making flow cytometry more accessible to a wider audience of scientists and clinicians.”
“We are looking forward to bringing together Cellix’s expertise in cytometry with our dedication to diagnostics and believe this combination will enable us to streamline workflows resulting in better outcomes for patients.”
Vivienne Williams, CEO of Cellix:
“Our team is very excited to be joining forces with Randox to scale access to our technology in the broader scientific community.
“Cellix’s dedicated team has worked hard developing impedance-based cytometry for cell analysis supported through programs including the Disruptive Technology Innovation Fund. With Randox’s strong global presence and dedication to R&D, we are looking forward to continuing development of our technology and expanding our customer footprint.”
Randox Health – helping people reach the peak of their fitness.
Sam Cairns has completed what seemed to be the impossible – overcoming physical and mental hurdles to stand on top of the world. Cairns, from Aviemore, which is situated within the Cairngorms National Park in the Highlands of Scotland, successfully summited Mount Everest with help from County Antrim based, Leading Diagnostics company, Randox Health.
Ex Team-GB biathlete, Cairns is also the founder of Fitnessat58° and the cofounder of the Lunchbox boys. To Cairns climbing Mount Everest represented the pinnacle of all his aspirations, a true test of his physical capabilities.
He successfully reached the summit on Thursday, May 18th, at 4:45 am.
He also faced elemental dangers on his journey – facing multiple avalanches along the treacherous route. Undeterred by the different physical and mental obstacle he faced along the way Cairns pressed on to complete his self-assigned challenge, defying all the odds stacked against him to accomplish the end goal of reaching the top.
In preparation for this challenge Cairns’ training regimen encompassed 3-hour conditioning sessions, 50km ultra runs, and multiple ascents of Ben Nevis within a remarkable time frame.
Cairns worked closely with Randox Health throughout his training, utilizing the use of Randox’s health kits and Everyathlete health program to optimize his training and nutrition through data-driven insights.
“I’ve worked closely with Randox Health, whose team played a huge role in this process.
“Using their health kits, I gained key insights to ensure my health was where it needed to be, allowing me to optimize my training and nutrition for maximum performance with the Everyathlete health program.
“It has over 80 data points linked to nutrition, muscle, joint, hormonal health, and body composition; I used repeat testing to monitor changes in my health data. Randox Health also generously made a financial donation towards the expedition.”
The Everyathlete health program, which aided Cairns in his training helps optimize training, as noted, and nutrition for maximum performance. Over 80 data points linked to nutrition, muscle, joint, hormonal health, and body composition measured are included to help athletes keep on track, stay motivated and monitor your health data.
For Male Athletes, there is an option to include PSA is available during booking. The Everyathlete programme is perfect for anyone who wants to be proactive about their health, establish their health baseline prior to training and track their health data throughout training.
It not only helps people reach the peak of the world but also the peak of their fitness.
Biomedical Science Day 2023
This 8th June, Randox is celebrating Biomedical Science Day and our vital role in pro-active healthcare through our Randox Health Clinics.
Biomedical Science Day celebrates the vital role biomedical scientists play in patient care through the diagnosis of infections and diseases. It is a national event organized by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS), the professional body for biomedical scientists and laboratory support staff. The awareness day aims to inform the public and empower patients by telling them about practices in biomedical science and celebrating a profession that is #AtTheHeartOfHealthcare.
Biomedical science is practiced in healthcare laboratories to identify, research, monitor and treat diseases. As one of the broadest areas of modern science, it focuses on the complexity of the human body and underpins much of modern medicine.
Here at Randox we continuously celebrate all our laboratory staff on a global scale – our team consists of over 650 research scientists and engineers who work in four jurisdictions across three continents!
For over forty years, Randox laboratory staff have been contributing to our work in preventative healthcare and research into diagnostics.
Randox has many departments which all work collectively to produce results. Our laboratory and R&D scientists are continuously researching new biomarker discovery. With a driven commitment to improving health worldwide, Randox reinvest up to 25% of turnover into developing disruptive innovations in diagnostics and healthcare – providing earlier diagnosis, prognosis, and improved patient risk to reduce current invasive diagnostic methods.
Dementia Action Week 2023
Dementia Action Week is a national event that sees people across the UK taking action to improve the lives of people affected by dementia, as organized by the Alzheimer’s Society.
Dementia is an umbrella term for a range of progressive conditions that affect the brain.
Each type of dementia stops a person’s brain cells (neurons) working properly in specific area and affecting their ability to remember, think and speak cohesively.
It is estimated that one in three people born this year nationwide will develop some form of Dementia at some point in their lives.
A cure for Dementia has unfortunately not yet been developed. However, in the pursuit of a cure, there is things that have the potential to vastly improve the quality of life for those living with these conditions.
Here at Randox, there is a focus on preventative healthcare. Which is why it made sense when Randox partnered with Race Against Dementia for their nominated charity of 2023.
Race Against Dementia is a global charity founded by three-times Formula 1 World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart, OBE – with the aim of funding much needed pioneering research into the prevention and cure of Dementia.
Also, in our work of towards diagnosis and treatments for those living with Dementia conditions, Randox Laboratories have launched a CE marked Alzheimer’s Disease Risk Array.
Alzheimer’s is one of the most common forms of Dementia and is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder, in which parts of the brain are damaged over time.
Randox Laboratories’ Alzheimer’s Disease Risk Array can be used for the direct determination of ApoE4 status from plasma, eliminating the need for genetic testing, assisting in clinical research and personalized medicine strategies.
At Randox, we believe the importance of measuring ApoE4 protein expression in plasma is the way forward to screen those individuals at increased risk of Alzheimer Disease, as new beta amyloid-targeting therapies for this condition are being expected.
For further information about the Randox Alzheimer’s Array please email info@randoxbiosciences.com
Alzheimer’s Disease Array | Disease Markers | Randox Laboratories
Randox Health partners with REVIV
Randox Health have entered into an exciting new partnership with REVIV
Randox Health Clinics are pioneering preventative health care, bringing the world’s most advanced and personalized health programs directly to the public – with the goal of harnessing the power of testing and data to shift healthcare away from sickness management and towards a more proactive approach.
This partnership with REVIV, who championed commercialised IV therapy, will allow people to see real-time results from taking steps to protect their health and to experience the future of wellness.
The IVD drip therapies include:
- The Megaboost, that was designed with wellness in mind this infusion is packed with B vitamins, Vitamin C, Antioxidants and minerals to accomplish restoration of the body’s essential nutrients in one drip.
- The Miniboost, similar to its larger counterpart, the Megaboost, this Miniboost is not to be underestimated! Containing B Vitamins, Vitamin C and antioxidants, it can support energy levels and the immune system whilst aiding protection against cell-damaging free radicals.
- The Royal Flush which supercharges recovery and nutritional balance by providing the ingredients you need directly into your bloodstream. This all-in-one infusion has been directly designed to rehydrate, decreame inflammation and aid detoxification.
- The Hydromax IV which aims to replenish your body’s salts and water.
- The Vitaglow can support detoxification of free radicals that accumulate in the body from exposure to pollutants, daily stresses and chemicals including pesticides.
- The Ultraviv and The Ultraviv pro, both recovery infusions. The Ultraviv can be used to aid recovery against the common cold, sore throats and even the after effects of alcohol. The Ultraviv pro combines a number of prescribed medications with essential vitamins and nutrients delivered alongside the maximum of hydration.
A full list of all REVIV drip therapies and IM booster shots will be available in the Randox Health clinics.
On REVIV partnering with Randox, David Ferguson, Chief Operating Officer, said: “Over the past few years, we’ve seen a dramatic change in people’s behaviours as they seek to understand their health and wellbeing better. At Randox Health, we provide a range of specialised health packages that enable you to take control of your health.
“Our innovative diagnostic technologies can deliver hundreds of results to give you a comprehensive overview of your health and help detect the earliest signs of illness. Collaborating with REVIV is a natural next step, combining our world-class diagnostic services with REVIV signature IV therapies to help our customers protect their current and future health.”