FAQs
Here's a little bit more information about the test, how it works, and how we measure your sample.
About your test
Your test kit includes a full set of instructions. Please follow these instructions carefully to make sure we have what we need to test your urine sample.
Freezing your urine sample stabilises the metabolites, so it’s not to keep it ‘fresh’. Freezing improves the viability of your sample for testing for a longer period, and improves the screening process – it can ‘see’ more metabolites when samples are correctly stored.
Yes – as soon as you have collected your sample, place it into the clear plastic bag, together with the swab pad, then place it into a freezer straight away. This helps to stabilise the metaboltites in the sample.
Providing you freeze your sample on the day you take it, you can store your sample for a few weeks if you need to before arranging for it to be collected.
A first morning urine sample is more likely to include metabolites of any of the chemicals your body has broken down while you’ve slept. The concentration of your sample will be adjusted for by our laboratory, but it must be at least 10ml in volume.
No – there’s no need to change your routine. The test screens to detect any recent exposure to the 27 chemicals included in our test, so there’s no need to do anything differently in your usual routines.
Don’t worry, it’s expected that your sample will begin to thaw when it’s posted back to us. We re-freeze it to make sure the metabolites are stabilised prior to testing in our laboratory,
If for any reason your sample is spoiled, for example due to spillage, damage to the sample cup, or your freezer isn’t working properly, you can contact us to request another sample cup free of charge.
No problem – take your sample on a day when you’re not working and are awake during daylight hours and sleeping at night. Place your sample into a freezer until you are ready to send it back to us.
How your urine is tested
Your sample is screened using LC-MS/MS technology (Liquid Chromatography + Advanced Mass Spectrometry) by our accredited laboratory. It is a highly sensitive and selective analytical technique that combines the separating power of liquid chromatography with the mass analysis capability of mass spectrometry.
Your urine sample is screened by our partner laboratory, Mosaic Diagnostics LLC. It is fully compliant with the federal Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) law in the United States.
Broadly, it could mean that either mean that you have not recently been exposed to any of the 27 chemicals tested, or that your body is working well to get rid of toxins, including chemicals. Some researchers think it’s possible that some people might hold onto some toxins in their fatty tissue, and store them as a body burden.
When we receive your sample we will check it to make sure there is enough volume and re-freeze it prior to shipping to our lab, where it’s checked again prior to testing. If there are any problems, we will notify you and request a further sample.
Your test results are quality-checked at every step along the way of the testing process, but in the unlikley event of there being any problem with your sample, we will provide you with another test, free of charge.
How to return your sample
Postage is included in your purchase, but we ask you to let us know when your sample is ready so we can book a free-of-charge collection for you. To do this, log in to ‘Your account’ when you’re ready to send your sample back to us.
Royal Mail will notify us when your kit has been collected, but if for any reason it’s not collected, please contact us on email at info@lastinghealth.com and we’ll re-book it.
What to expect when you get your results
We will send you an email with information about how to securely log in to ‘Your account’ where you will be able to see your results.
From receiving your urine sample it usually takes 3-4 weeks for your test results to come back.
Yes. Once tested, your sample will be destroyed by our laboratory.
Understanding your results
Your scores are benchmarked against population data averages from NHANES, the principal source of information for health and nutritional status of the public in the US. For example, a low score means that the level of a metabolite detected is below the population average, and a high score is above the population average.
There’s a lot of information to take on board about the 27 chemicals we test, but don’t worry. Your results include a report with information about all the chemicals screened – where they’re used, and how you may have been exposed to them. You can also visit our ‘Full list of chemicals’ page and take a closer look the chemicals screened in your test.
A high score indicates that a higher-than-average level of a metabolite vs the population has been detected in your sample, and suggests a higher-than-average level of exposure. It might also suggest that your body is already efficiently getting rid of chemicals following exposure, but this is not proven yet.
Broadly, it could mean that mean either that you have not recently been exposed to any of the 27 chemicals tested, or that your body is working well to get rid of toxins, including chemicals. Some researchers think it’s possible that some people might hold onto some toxins in their fatty tissue, and store them as a body burden.
This is very unlikely as most people’s scores will indicate recent exposure to some of the chemicals included in our test. But it is possible. If it was the case, we will check your results with our laboratory and contact you to discuss a future re-test.
Our tests measures what your body gets rid of following an exposure to everyday chemicals. We cannot tell you the exact amount of each chemical you were exposed to, but your score indicates your exposure relative to other people in the data population.
No. The test does not predict any specific health conditions. Our tests measures the metabolites of any chemicals your body has been getting rid of following recent exposure to the 27 different chemicals included in our test. The information on our website should not be used as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or other professional healthcare provider. If you have any specific questions about any medical matter, you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider.
Metabolites are the bi-products of metabolic processes where the body breaks down substances, including chemicals. They can tell us what your body has been exposed to.
Each metabolite has a parent compound to help you understand where you may have been exposed to chemicals in your everyday environment.
Your result shows the urine concentration measurement of micrograms of each metabolite detected per gram of creatinine (a waste product from your kidneys) in your urine, a waste product from your kidneys. It is shown as ug/g creatinine.
Helpful guidance and re-testing
This is entirely your choice. For example, if your first test results revealed some high exposure scores, you may wish to get re-tested to see if your scores have improved within a year. By following our guidance on how to reduce your exposure to everyday chemicals, you might see some changes in your scores, which you may find reassuring.
No, our test is suitable only for adults age 18 or above.
Customer service
You can contact us by email if you have any further queries, please drop us a line at info@lastinghealth.com
If for any reason you change your mind about taking the test, you can return your test kit to us a full refund within 30 days of making your purchase.
No problem, you can re-set your password at any time by following the steps on our website.
How we protect your data
Your data is securely stored, encrypted, and protected on our database. We will share your name and DOB with our laboratory to track your order.
Your results are securely stored and protected on our database, and by our laboratory. We will retain the results for future reference should you ever wish to repeat the test and draw comparisons between the results.
In the future, we may use your anonymised results to help us build a lastinghealth database of chemical exposure scores. If you do not wish us to include your scores in this database, please let us know by emailing info@lastinghealth.com
No, we will never share your data without asking your permission first.