Point of Care testing

Your Wellbeing is Our Priority

At Remedies Pharmacies & Clinics we offer several point-of-care tests which can be defined as laboratory tests carried out to close to the site of patient care. Our team of pharmacists are well-positioned to carry out such tests, which allow them to take a greater role in patient care. POCT not only improves patient access to clinical data but also enhances disease state and medication management programs.

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Cholesterol Check-up

MANAGE YOUR HEART HEALTH

Many people have never had their cholesterol checked and consequently are not aware whether they are at risk of heart disease. Heart (cardiovascular) disease can often be prevented by taking simple steps; however, a lot of people fail to realise this. If you already know you are at risk of heart disease, then you understand the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

At Remedies, we offer a Cholesterol Check-up service. This service can help identify the extent of your risk of developing heart disease and potentially how to prevent it. Our Cholesterol check-up also aids you to ensure you are following the right steps to protect your heart and offer support with recommending any potential lifestyle changes that can be made.

The test is recommended to those who want to monitor their cholesterol levels whether they are taking medication or are making lifestyle changes and wish to track improvements. This service is also for anyone considered at increased risk of developing heart disease. The Cholesterol check-up will also help motivate you to continue to manage your heart health.Why should I have my cholesterol checked?

Cholesterol is a fatty substance and is essential for the normal functioning of the body. High cholesterol itself doesn’t usually cause any symptoms, but it increases your risk of developing serious health conditions such as heart disease and stroke. If you are concerned about your heart and, in particular, your cholesterol levels, visit us for our cholesterol check service.

Who is considered Risk of heart disease. For example:

  • Those being treated with lipid lowering medicines or have diabetes
  • Those that identified raised cholesterol
  • Those that have previously had a Cholesterol and Heart Check that identified raised cholesterol
  • Those taking supplements to lower their cholesterol and who want to track improvement

However, if you fall into one of the following categories, we strongly recommend that you visit us for a check-up:

  • You are over 40 years old
  • You are of South Asian or African Caribbean origin
  • You have any immediate family members under the age of 55 if male (e.g. brother/father) or 65 if female (e.g. sister/mother) who have/had heart disease
  • You have high blood pressure
  • You are a smoker
  • You are overweight
  • You have a family history of high cholesterol levels
  • You lead an inactive lifestyle

How it works

Step 1: Consultation – The service will be delivered in the consultation room during which you will also be asked questions about your lifestyle, including:

  • Whether you smoke
  • Your alcohol consumption
  • Your activity levels

Step 2: Results – The results of your check-up will be available immediately, and you will receive a personalised action plan highlighting the simple steps you can take to keep your heart and cholesterol levels healthy, such as:

  • Stopping smoking
  • Reducing alcohol intake
  • Reducing saturated fat intake
  • Increasing activity levels
  • Increasing the amount of fruit and vegetables you eat
  • Reaching a healthy weight (this can include gaining and losing weight)
  • Having a medicines check-up if you are taking any new medication for any other condition

Step 3: Follow-up – You may then be asked to attend a follow-up appointment to assess your progress against your action plan. If appropriate, you may be referred to your GP.

 

FAQs

The cholesterol check costs €7
To find your nearest Remedies Pharmacy which offers cholesterol tests visit our store locator. You can also ask in your nearest Remedies Pharmacy, our expert healthcare practitioners will be able to help.
No appointment is usually needed; however you may be asked to select an appointment when it is busy, or you may want to request a particular time for peace of mind. You can do this using our booking form or by contacting your nearest Remedies Pharmacy.
Checking your cholesterol levels can take 20 minutes, as our pharmacy team may be ask additional questions, and of course you can ask any questions you may have.
Online and in-store we offer a range of home cholesterol test kits which can be used alongside our check-up service or GP appointment to help check your cholesterol levels. These tests allow you to check and monitor your levels in the comfort of your own home, simply choose to pick up your test kit in store or have it delivered to your home. The kits include everything you need and instructions on how to test cholesterol.
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POYC

The Pharmacy of Your Choice (POYC) scheme is a national pharmaceutical service which provides thousands of patients suffering from chronic conditions with free pharmaceutical stock through the government, under Schedule II and Schedule V legislation through the community pharmacies.

How it works:

  1. Visit with consultant
  2. Documentation submission to POYC
  • Medicines Request Form
  • Prescription for chronic medication
  • Copy of ID Card
  • Pharmacy Registration Form
  1. Entitlement documents issued by POYC including Schedule II (Pink) or Schedule V (Yellow)
  2. Collection of free medicines from registered pharmacy
  • Patients are to collect their medicines from the pharmacy they are registered with every 28 days (1 month) for controlled drugs (GREEN prescriptions) and every 56 days (2 months) for all other medicines (WHITE prescriptions).

FAQs

Once you receive all of your entitled documents (Schedule II/V), take a photocopy of these, together with a photocopy of your ID Card and a prescription enlisting all of your medication to the pharmacy where you wish to collect your medication. Ask the pharmacist to give you a pharmacy registration form and fill in Section A of the form. Return all of the documents to the pharmacist, who will then fill in Section B of the pharmacy registration form and will forward the documentation to the Pharmacy of Your Choice Unit. Section C filled in by a doctor. Processing of such documentation will take between 2-4 days, after which you will be able to collect your medication.
If you were previously registered with another pharmacy and wish to change the pharmacy of your choice, complete the change in pharmacy form. Give the completed form to the managing pharmacist at the pharmacy and he/she will send this document to the POYC unit where your registration will be transferred.
For Controlled drugs or ‘dangerous drugs’, the consultant must fill an application form for narcotic and psychotropic substances issue a GREEN prescription. In order to collect such drugs through the POYC scheme, you would need to submit both documents, together with a photocopy of your ID Card, to the Drug Control Unit at St. Luke’s Hospital POYC section. The Drug Control Card Unit will issue a control card. Once the controlled card has been, you can collect your entitled controlled substances from the pharmacy of your choice. When collecting controlled drugs, patients are required to present:
  1. A valid a control card duly filled-in by the medical practitioner
  2. ID Card
Schedule V document expires every 10 years whilst your Schedule II document expires every 2 years. To renew your Schedule V or II document, your consultant would need to submit a new application.

Blood Test

At Remedies we provide complete health solutions for your well-being. Whether you want to do a general health check-up or need to carry out a specific medical test, our qualified healthcare team are here to assist you.

Regular blood testing is one of the most important ways to keep track of your overall physical well-being. Getting tested at routine intervals can allow you to see the way your body changes over time and empower you to make informed decisions about your health.

If you are showing concerning symptoms of any illness or long-term condition, visit your doctor for a check-up. They will conduct a physical examination and let you know what kinds of blood tests you’ll need to undergo. If you want to request a routine blood test, the most common ones to consider are:

  • complete blood count (CBC
  • basic metabolic panel
  • thyroid panel
  • nutrient tests for levels of vital nutrients, such as iron or B vitamins

Some other tests you may want include:

  • enzyme markers if you’re at risk of cancer or other conditions like cirrhosis, stroke, or celiac disease
  • sexually transmitted infection (STI) tests if you recently had sex without a barrier method or had sex with a new partner

We provide a wide range of medical tests as a means for male and female health screening according to each individual’s requirements.

This service is available by appointment.

Performed By: Nurse or Doctor

Treatment Time: 15 minutes

Cost: Depends on the test

FAQs

Results can be available within 24 hours for common blood tests how this will vary depend on the type of blood tests ordered.
How often you should get a physical exam may depend on your age, according to guidelines from a variety of clinical organizations:
  • ages 18 to 39: at least every 5 years
  • ages 40 to 49: every 2 to 3 years
  • ages 50 and older: every 1 to 2 years
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Vitamin D Test

Check your Vitamin D status.

If you don’t like being in the sun, are strict with your SPF routine, tend to cover up with clothes, have darker skin, you are at a higher risk of low vitamin D or vitamin D deficiency.

It is advised to take a vitamin D supplement in the autumn and winter months, as we naturally are exposed to less sunlight.

Although some foods are rich in vitamin D, like oily fish, our bodies only roughly absorb 10% of vitamin D from this source. The other 90% is made in our bodies, and this process requires sun exposure.

Common symptoms of vitamin D deficiency include low mood, weak muscles and getting sick a lot. Stick with us to learn more about vitamin D and our health, how to test your vitamin D levels and why it is so important.

At Remedies you can check your vitamin D status with a Finger-Prick sample with results in 10 minutes.

The Importance of Sufficient Vitamin D Levels:

  • Promoting healthy bones and teeth
  • Supporting immune, brain, and nervous system health
  • Regulating insulin levels and supporting diabetes management
  • Supporting lung function and cardiovascular health

How it works:

  • Simple finger prick test – The pharmacist will take a sample of your blood with a finger stick.
  • Results in 10 minutes – The pharmacist will give you the test result within minutes, while you are still in the exam room.

FAQs

Your body needs vitamin D for the following functions:
  • Supporting the immune system
  • Muscle function
When your body is low in vitamin D, it can show in a variety of ways, including:
  • Joint and bone aches
  • Growth problems
  • Constipation
  • Gum disease
  • Insufficient absorption of sunlight
  • Breastfed babies
  • Older adults
  • People with limited sun exposure
  • Dark-skinned people

Other groups of people who may struggle to make enough vitamin D in their bodies include:

  • People with conditions that limit fat absorption, e.g. Chron’s disease, cystic fibrosis and liver disease
  • People who have had gastric bypass surgery
  • Obese individuals
  • Vegans and vegetarians (only if they don’t get enough sun!)
Your symptoms will be taken into consideration and your doctor will likely order you a vitamin D deficiency test (blood test) to explore any suspicions.
You should consider checking your vitamin D levels if you have been experiencing some of the symptoms and/or are in one of the at-risk groups.
Vitamin D home test kits are available, so you test your vitamin D test at home.
  • Elderly
  • Vegetarians and vegans
  • Those of a dark complexion
  • Those who do not get much exposure to sunlight
  • Those who wear sunblock daily
  • Patients with disease of malabsorption (ceoliac, crohn’s disease, short bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis).
  • People over the age of 65
  • Chronic treatment with certain medications: ketoconazole, corticosteroids, antiretrovirals, antiepileptics.
  • Those with autoimmune disease
  • Those with allergy
  • Those with metabolic disease (diabetes, lipid disorders, obesity).
The price for the Vitamin D test is €10.

Prices Starting From

€10 Book an Appointment

Urine Testing

A urine test or urinalysis is a test of your urine. This test is used to detect and manage a variety of disorders of the urinary tract such as infections, kidney disease and diabetes.

The test involves checking the appearance, concentration, and content of urine. In a urinary tract infection, for example, urine may appear cloudy as opposed to clear. Elevated levels of protein in the urine may be indicative of kidney disease.

Any unusual results obtained from a urinalysis often require further testing to identify the underlying problem. At Remedies we offer urine testing in all our pharmacies. The test is performed by one of our pharmacists and is completely confidential. There is no need to book an appointment for this service and it only takes a few minutes.

How it works:

  1. Collect your urine sample in a sterile urine container
  2. Visit your nearest Remedies Pharmacy 
  3. Consultation with the pharmacist
  4. The pharmacist tests the sample by dipping a test strip into the urine container
  5. Results are available within 60 seconds 
  6. The pharmacist will analyse the test strip to identify any parameters which are out of range. 
  7. The pharmacist will interpret the results and give advice accordingly

How to Prepare:

  • Drink plenty of water (1-2 glasses extra) before the test so you can give an adequate urine sample. Avoid excess however since it may cause inaccurate results. 
  • You can eat and drink before the test.
  • Use the first urine in the morning (first-void urine) for the sample
  • Do not eat foods that can change the colour of your urine such as beetroot, blackberries and rhubarb
  • Avoid heavy exercise before the test
  • Inform the pharmacist of any medications or vitamins you are taking as some medications and supplements can affect the result

FAQs

Urinalysis is often used: prior to surgery as a preemptive screening during a pregnancy checkup as part of a routine medical or physical exam Your doctor may also order this test if they suspect that you have certain conditions, such as: diabetes kidney disease liver disease urinary tract infection If you already have a diagnosis for any of these conditions, your doctor may use urinalysis to check on the progress of treatments or the condition itself. Your doctor may also want to do a urinalysis if you experience certain symptoms, including: abdominal pain back pain blood in your urine painful urination
€2.50

Prices Starting From

€2.50 Book an Appointment

Blood Pressure Monitoring

High Blood Pressure or hypertension is often asymptomatic and consequently goes unnoticed. If left untreated hypertension can increase your risk of serious heart problems such as heart attack and stroke. The only way to test for hypertension is through blood pressure monitoring.

This service is available at all our pharmacies without the need for an appointment.

How it works: 

  1. Visit your nearest Remedies Pharmacy 
  2. Consultation with the pharmacist
  3. The pharmacist will check your BP 
  4. The result will be recording in the patient monitoring card
  5. The pharmacist will give advice based on the results

How you prepare:

  1. Do not smoke, exercise or drink caffeinated beverages for 30 minutes to an hour before the test. …
  2. Consider wearing a short-sleeved shirt so that the blood pressure cuff can be placed more easily around your arm.
  3. Relax in a chair for at least five minutes before the test.
  4. Advise the pharmacist about the medications you take as there may be medications that affect your blood pressure.

FAQs

Blood pressure is recorded with 2 numbers. The systolic pressure (higher number) is the force at which your heart pumps blood around your body. The diastolic pressure (lower number) is the resistance to the blood flow in the blood vessels. They're both measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg). As a general guide: high blood pressure is considered to be 140/90mmHg or higher (or 150/90mmHg or higher if you're over the age of 80) ideal blood pressure is usually considered to be between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg Blood pressure readings between 120/80mmHg and 140/90mmHg could mean you're at risk of developing high blood pressure if you do not take steps to keep your blood pressure under control. Everyone's blood pressure will be slightly different. What's considered low or high for you may be normal for someone else.
High blood pressure usually has no warning signs or symptoms, and many people do not know they have it. Measuring your blood pressure is the only way to know whether you have high blood pressure.
If your blood pressure is too high, it puts extra strain on your blood vessels, heart and other organs, such as the brain, kidneys and eyes. Persistent high blood pressure can increase your risk of a number of serious and potentially life-threatening health conditions, such as: heart disease heart attacks strokes heart failure peripheral arterial disease aortic aneurysms kidney disease vascular dementia If you have high blood pressure, reducing it even a small amount can help lower your risk of these health conditions.
The only way of knowing whether you have high blood pressure is to have a blood pressure test. All adults over 40 are advised to have their blood pressure checked at least every 5 years. Getting this done is easy and could save your life.
It's not always clear what causes high blood pressure, but there are things that can increase your risk. You might be more at risk if you: are overweight eat too much salt and do not eat enough fruit and vegetables do not do enough exercise drink too much alcohol or coffee (or other caffeine-based drinks) smoke do not get much sleep or have disturbed sleep are over 65 have a family history are of black African or black Caribbean descent Making healthy lifestyle changes can sometimes help reduce your chances of getting high blood pressure and help lower your blood pressure if it's already high. What lifestyle changes can reduce blood pressure? These lifestyle changes can help prevent and lower high blood pressure: reduce the amount of salt you eat and have a generally healthy diet cut back on alcohol lose weight if you're overweight exercise regularly cut down on caffeine stop smoking Some people with high blood pressure may also need to take 1 or more medicines to stop their blood pressure getting too high.
€2.50

Prices Starting From

€2.50 Book an Appointment

Diabetic Check-up

Diabetes is a common chronic condition in Malta. 

Knowing your blood sugar levels helps you manage your diabetes and reduces your risk of having serious complications. 

At Remedies we offer blood glucose testing using a finger-prick test which measures the blood sugar level at that moment in time. This service can be used to monitor blood glucose levels in diabetic individuals or as a screening service to test whether you are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. It’s completely confidential and just takes a few minutes. The service will be carried out in a private consulting room by one of our pharmacists.

What is Type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is a condition characterised by what is known as insulin resistance.

This is where the body does not effectively respond to the insulin produced, as a result blood sugar levels become too high. It can be managed by taking tablets such as Metformin and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Signs & Symptoms 

  • Blurred vision
  • Drowsiness and increased tiredness
  • Fruity-smelling breath
  • Increased thirst
  • Itchiness around the genital area or regularly contracting thrush (a type of yeast infection)
  • Loss of weight and muscle bulk (more common in type 1)
  • Needing to urinate more, especially during the night
  • Slow healing wounds

 

What increases my risk of developing type 2 diabetes?

  • Your age
  • Your height, weight and waist measurement
  • Your level of daily activity
  • Your diet, in particular how many fruit and vegetables you eat
  • If you use high blood pressure medication
  • If you have ever had a high blood glucose reading
  • If any family member has diabetes

 

How it works:

Step 1: Visit your nearest Remedies Pharmacy

Step 2: Consultation – In a private consulting room, the pharmacist will ask some questions to understand your risk of developing type 2 diabetes

Step 3:  We take a random blood glucose level by taking a very small finger prick sample of blood.

Step 4: The pharmacist will interpret the results and provide advice accordingly

FAQs

No appointment is usually needed, however you may be asked to select an appointment when it is busy, or you may want to request a particular time for peace of mind. You can do this using our booking form or by contacting your nearest Remedies Pharmacy
A random blood glucose test is a blood sugar test that is taken without you needing to fast beforehand.
A payment of €5 for the service will be taken in the pharmacy at the time of your test.
The consultation will only take 15 minutes, but our pharmacy team will take as long as necessary to answer any questions you may have.
Measure, monitor or test for diabetes at home with our test kits Browse through our latest diabetes range, including home blood glucose monitors, test strip refills and other products to manage diabetes from day to day. *link to online store*
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INR

For Warfarin Patients

An INR test measures the time for the blood to clot. It is also known as prothrombin time, or PT. Prothrombin is a protein produced by your liver. It is one of many factors in your blood that help it to clot appropriately.

Most often, the prothrombin time is monitored if you are taking the blood-thinning medication warfarin. In this situation, the prothrombin time is expressed as an international normalized ratio (INR). The INR can also be used to check if you have a blood clotting problem. Your doctor may recommend a prothrombin time test prior to surgery if there is any concern about your blood’s ability to clot. If your doctor suspects you have other health issues, such as liver problems or a bleeding disorder, you might need additional testing to confirm your condition.

In healthy people an INR of 1.1 or below is considered normal. An INR range of 2.0 to 3.0 is generally an effective therapeutic range for people taking warfarin for disorders such as atrial fibrillation or a blood clot in the leg or lung. In certain situations, such as having a mechanical heart valve, you might need a slightly higher INR.

When the INR is higher than the recommended range, it means that your blood clots more slowly than desired, and a lower INR means your blood clots more quickly than desired.

At Remedies our INR Testing service provides fast, reliable results. 

 

How it works:

  • Simple fingerstick test – The pharmacist will take a sample of your blood with a finger stick.
  • Accurate INR results in one minute – The pharmacist will give you the test result within minutes, while you are still in the exam room. 

 

Clotting too slowly

Blood that clots too slowly can be caused by:

  • Blood-thinning medications
  • Liver problems
  • Inadequate levels of proteins that cause blood to clot
  • Vitamin K deficiency
  • Other substances in your blood that hinder the work of clotting factors

Clotting too fast

Blood that clots too quickly can be caused by:

  • Supplements that contain vitamin K
  • High intake of foods that contain vitamin K, such as liver, broccoli, chickpeas, green tea, kale, turnip greens and products that contain soybeans
  • Estrogen-containing medications, such as birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy

FAQs

The INR test costs €10
In healthy people an INR of 1.1 or below is considered normal. An INR range of 2.0 to 3.0 is generally an effective therapeutic range for people taking warfarin for disorders such as atrial fibrillation or a blood clot in the leg or lung.
A high INR level can happen when you take warfarin. Warfarin helps prevent blood clots. To do this, it slows the amount of time it takes for your blood to clot. This raises your INR level.
Home testing kits are available for people who take blood thinners for long periods and who have been trained in taking blood samples and testing them.

Price

€10 Book an Appointment