Making an informed choice

Finding something you weren't looking for

Sometimes a test shows something you weren't looking for. This is called an incidental finding. Here you can read which tests this applies to, how often it happens and what you choose yourself.

In short

Not expected with most tests
You choose whether you want to know
Follow-up goes through your GP

Explanation

What is an incidental finding?

An incidental finding is a result about a different condition than the one the test is for. If you have your blood count tested because you feel tired, you are looking for anaemia. A result that points to a blood disorder is then an incidental finding.

What a test normally looks at is not an incidental finding, even if it is inherited. A very high cholesterol is simply the result of a cholesterol test, even if it runs in the family.

An incidental finding is an indication, not a diagnosis. Your GP decides whether further tests are needed.

Which tests

Not expected with most tests

We assessed every analysis we offer. Most cannot show an incidental finding; the analyses below can. None of our tests is intended to detect such diseases. Each test page shows which incidental findings may apply.

a blood disorder (such as leukaemia)
With a blood count: white blood cells, platelets or haemoglobin.
RareTreatable or can be monitored
an abnormal protein in the blood (M-protein, as in MGUS)
With antibodies (immunoglobulins) or total protein in the blood.
RareTreatable or can be monitored
carrying an inherited blood disorder (such as thalassaemia)
With a blood count that includes red blood cell size (MCV, MCH).
OccasionalNo health risk for yourselfAlso relevant for family
an inherited lung risk (alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency)
With a protein electrophoresis.
RareTreatable or can be monitoredAlso relevant for family
a rare hormone-producing growth
With adrenaline or noradrenaline in urine, or with hCG.
RareTreatable or can be monitored

Your choice

You choose what you want to know

With every order you choose in the consent step what you want to hear.

Whether you want to hear about an incidental finding about yourself that can be monitored or treated.
Whether you want to hear about an incidental finding that matters for your children or family, such as being a carrier.
We do not normally report a serious incidental finding that cannot be treated. Only if not reporting it would seriously harm you or others do we contact you anyway.
You have the right not to know. Want to change your choice after ordering? Email info@bloedcheckup.nl and we will record your new choice in your file.

What we do

If we see an incidental finding

If it also concerns your family, you decide whether to tell them. We do not contact your family ourselves.

A notifiable infectious disease is reported to the public health service (GGD). Read more about notifiable infectious diseases.

01When we send your result, we check whether a value points to an incidental finding. We also read the laboratory's comments.
02We check what you chose when you ordered.
03If you want to know, we contact you, tell you what was measured and refer you to your GP. If you don't want to know, we record that we deliberately did not inform you.
04We record every incidental finding in your file. How often they occur and with which tests is analysed every year in our quality report.

More about your test

WhatsApp+31 (0)412 23 69 61 E-mailinfo@bloedcheckup.nl

Weekdays 09:00 to 17:00

What is an incidental finding?

What a test normally looks at is not an incidental finding, even if it is inherited. A very high cholesterol is simply the result of a cholesterol test, even if it runs in the family.

An incidental finding is an indication, not a diagnosis. Your GP decides whether further tests are needed.

Finding something you weren't looking for

What is an incidental finding?

Not expected with most tests

a blood disorder (such as leukaemia)

an abnormal protein in the blood (M-protein, as in MGUS)

carrying an inherited blood disorder (such as thalassaemia)

an inherited lung risk (alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency)

a rare hormone-producing growth

You choose what you want to know

If we see an incidental finding

What this is based on

More about your test

Finding something you weren't looking for

What is an incidental finding?

Not expected with most tests

a blood disorder (such as leukaemia)

an abnormal protein in the blood (M-protein, as in MGUS)

carrying an inherited blood disorder (such as thalassaemia)

an inherited lung risk (alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency)

a rare hormone-producing growth

You choose what you want to know

If we see an incidental finding

What this is based on

More about your test