As you or a loved one gets ready to head to college — it’s necessary to prepare for living away from home. Typical concerns are safety, health, and wellness. At Any Lab Test Now®, we’re here to help.
Making the Move
Heading to college is a big transition time for teens. They may seem excited about being on their own, but there are many unknowns, and they are most likely experiencing some stress about the next chapter in their lives. Preparation can remove some of that anxiety.
List of Must-Haves
Most colleges and universities will require a complete list of pertinent health items that will likely include the following information:
- List of medications – Include over-the-counter allergy meds and vitamins. This is important to assess any drug interactions for future medications a student may be prescribed.
- Allergies or serious health conditions – Include the names of student’s primary care provider and specialty health care providers and contact information for each.
- List of emergency contacts – This can be more than just parents or guardians. It could include friends and family members that live close to campus.
- First Aid Kit – There will always be a need for items like band-aids, hand sanitizer, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and a thermometer. Pack up any other special meds your child might need into a handy kit for their dorm room or apartment.
- Health insurance – While many students opt for student health on campus, others may still be on the family insurance policy. Make sure your child has the name and ID number for that policy. Ask them to take a photo of the front and back of the card to store on their phone for safekeeping.
- Copy of immunization records – Schools require a list of vaccines, but if you’ve lost track of those records– Any Lab Test Now® can help.
Titer Tests Can Help
Any Lab Test Now® offers titer tests, which are antibody tests that measure the presence and quantity of antibodies in the blood, confirming immunization. Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system in response to foreign substances like viruses or bacteria. A titer test can prove immunity to diseases.
Student Titer I Panel– This is a simple venous blood draw that can test for immunity for the following diseases:
- Measles – Highly contagious virus that infects cells in the lung and in the back of the throat.
- Mumps – This is a contagious viral infection that is easily spread through sneezing, coughing, talking, or by sharing items (e.g. utensils or cups).
- Rubella – Highly contagious infection characterized by fever and rash.
- Varicella – Chickenpox and shingles are caused by an infection with the varicella zoster virus (VZV.)
Answers to Health Concerns
It’s important to know how to take care of yourself away from home. Your local Any Lab Test Now® can help with any health questions one may have.
For example, we also understand that this may be the first time a young person is on their own making choices that can affect their health. Behaviors like sexual activity can have a substantial impact on current and long-term health outcomes. Problems associated with disease transmission through sexual contact has reached epidemic proportion in the U.S. according to the CDC. Cases of the sexually transmitted infections (STIs) chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis all increased between 2020 and 2021 – reaching a total of more than 2.5 million reported cases throughout the U.S.
Any Lab Test Now® is a judgment free zone. We are here to provide answers when you need them. Our new ORAL STD Panel includes testing for gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, herpes simplex virus I and II, and trichomoniasis in the oral cavity. Early detection means early treatment.
This may also be the first time one gets sick without parents there to help. If symptoms arise, Any Lab Test Now® can also test for a number of common conditions. We provide COVID / Flu / RSV and Strep Rapid Antigen tests that provide results in about 15 minutes.
Any Lab Test Now® is Your Partner in Health
It’s important for young adults or anyone looking for health information to understand the value of their health and make informed choices that support their well-being. We are here as a resource to obtain answers. Call now to schedule an appointment at one of our 230 locations.
Download an illustrated guide below.
