What is bioburden testing? Well, when a doctor orders blood tests to find problems with your health, he is ordering a blood test called a bioburden test. The purpose of these tests is to measure the burden that you have on your body from being sick. In other words, if you have a high burden of illness or disease then doctors can predict how likely you are to develop or do damage to your body and this can help them treat you more effectively.
The bioburden of disease is different for everyone. It is measured by the amount of time that it would take for you to live a normal life if you did not have that illness or disease. If you are getting older, you are at an increased risk of getting ill or suffering from a debilitating disease and the cost of treating that disease could be enormous. So doctors look to see how long we are going to have to live before we start to suffer some form of medical problem.
The bioburden of disease can vary according to age. For example, if you are 70 then the expected amount of time you will have to live without any illness or accident before you die is five years. But, if you are young and healthy then that could be fifteen to twenty years. The type of illness or disease also varies. Some diseases only affect certain parts of the body and these are called common carriers or risk factors.
Age is one of the common carriers and so doctors will ask for a bioburden test to estimate how long you might have to live. So, how is bioburden testing done? Usually you will be asked to fill in some personal information about yourself such as when you were born, your gender, where you live etc. You will also be asked to list the types of illnesses or conditions you are currently suffering from.
A medical professional will then collect a sample of your blood to test for the virus or disease you have. This is known as a drawn blood sample. It is normally drawn at home but in some cases samples are taken to a local hospital for storage. These samples are then sent off to a laboratory for analysis
Once all the required bioburden testing has been completed, your doctor will provide you with a report of what you have been tested for and what the results of the tests. You should now be able to understand the details and the level of risk you are considered to be. The doctor will then discuss with you the next steps that are necessary to try and lower your risk of suffering from this particular disease or illness. Your bioburden levels will need to be adjusted accordingly.
If your bioburden levels are high, it is likely that you will not live past the age of 65. In this case you will have to work to reduce the risk of contracting this disease or illness. In many cases it is possible to do this by undertaking a regular exercise regime and avoiding stressful situations. There is also the option to partake in special voluntary therapies to try and improve your health.
If your bioburden testing results reveal a high level of disease risk, you may well be given treatment. Treatment options will depend on your individual circumstances. They could involve a combination of medication, exercises and lifestyle changes. The overall aim is to try to remove any excess burden so that you can live a normal life. If you feel that your life is being affected by the disease or illness you could talk to your doctor about a way forward. There are also support groups who can offer support in dealing with this condition.