Lifecare Lab (blood test clinic) update

[expatbrit]

I've had PSAs done there and seem to be accurate. I've confirmed Lifecare's work with another lab just to feel more secure.

Lifecare's prices are very attractive but I too have confirmed their work with another lab - Bangkok Hospital Pattaya in my case - and I don't go to Lifecare any more.

Just saying.

Disclaimer: I'm just an ordinary patient at BHP.

I do not care much about the price, it is free for me at home. The biggest advantage the clinics in thailand have is that they a simple and anonymous, and I gladly pay for that as long as the result are reliable.

Why would it be a bad thing if they work with bangkok hospital pattaya? why do that make you not go there? Do not follow that logic? isnt that good?

Only the basic tests are cheap.

Special tests not on their list can be very expensive in Thailand if you can do them at all.

What are these "very expensive special tests" which may not be available in Thailand .

Specific detail please.

[Inn Between]

There's a history of heart trouble in my family, and I would like to get a blood cholesterol test (any other relevant measurements) done. Does anyone know if there's a standard sort of test package that I ask for there?

[Spaniel]

There's a history of heart trouble in my family, and I would like to get a blood cholesterol test (any other relevant measurements) done. Does anyone know if there's a standard sort of test package that I ask for there?

Suggest you visit their website for details: lifecare.siam2web.com

Or give them a call: 038 488048, 081 4817180

[prk888]

they have a comprehensive list of 'packages' available - pop in and collect or as stated visit website

[Inn Between]

There's a history of heart trouble in my family, and I would like to get a blood cholesterol test (any other relevant measurements) done. Does anyone know if there's a standard sort of test package that I ask for there?

Suggest you visit their website for details: lifecare.siam2web.com

Or give them a call: 038 488048, 081 4817180

Thanks. I went to their website before posting but it wasn't at all helpful for my needs.

[Inn Between]

they have a comprehensive list of 'packages' available - pop in and collect or as stated visit website

Thanks I'll pop in as you suggest.

[EcigAmateur]

Hello,

 

But how to understand the results, do we need to go to hospital or Dr Olivier Pattaya is good enough ?

 

Thanks.

[JSixpack]

27 minutes ago, EcigAmateur said:

Hello,

 

But how to understand the results, do we need to go to hospital or Dr Olivier Pattaya is good enough ?

 

Thanks.

 

Results are given in the context of normal ranges, so you can see for yourself if any result is outside them or nearly so. If you pick up the results in person, rather than have it emailed, the tech will usually tell you which tests are normal or at least call attn to anything unusual. You'll need to explore any anomaly further w/ a specialist. Needless to say, you should get out your old checkups and look for any trends.  

[EcigAmateur]

3 hours ago, JSixpack said:

 

Results are given in the context of normal ranges, so you can see for yourself if any result is outside them or nearly so. If you pick up the results in person, rather than have it emailed, the tech will usually tell you which tests are normal or at least call attn to anything unusual. You'll need to explore any anomaly further w/ a specialist. Needless to say, you should get out your old checkups and look for any trends.  

 

Thank you. So you mean that we must check online what is normal or not (I do not have any old checkup).

Thank you for the idea to compare with the past, I think it is smarter to proceed this way than just rely on doctors. So from now on I will check yearly and explore myself.

 

[tropo]

3 hours ago, EcigAmateur said:

 

Thank you. So you mean that we must check online what is normal or not (I do not have any old checkup).

Thank you for the idea to compare with the past, I think it is smarter to proceed this way than just rely on doctors. So from now on I will check yearly and explore myself.

 

When you get your result, the result will come with a normal range for that particular test - for all the tests. Normal ranges can vary between labs, so it's better to go with the lab normal ranges than googling for them. Also, bear in mind that the units will vary from country to country. For example, in the US and Thailand (and other countries) they may use mg/dL for blood sugar tests, whereas other countries use mmol/L. I do use Google as an extra source of information though. There are some very good sites which give detailed explanations and interpretations of lab test results. There are also some good unit conversion sites.

[ThaiBob]

BHP now has it's annual healthy life promotion which I get yearly. I paid 5590, which includes blood panel, chest x-ray, ekg, abdomen ultrasound and lastly review the results with a doctor. There is a cheaper plan which excludes ultrasound.

[KittenKong]

2 hours ago, ThaiBob said:

BHP now has it's annual healthy life promotion which I get yearly. I paid 5590, which includes blood panel, chest x-ray, ekg, abdomen ultrasound and lastly review the results with a doctor. There is a cheaper plan which excludes ultrasound.

 

A more extensive package is available at Phyathai Sri Racha for a couple of thousand Baht less, but the packages there do vary from month to month so some attention needs to be paid to exactly what is included. For example, as a male of a certain age I like to have a package that includes a PSA test, and I like to have the ultrasound, so I wait for those to come round. I paid 3,500B for that package recently.

 

A contender for the world's nastiest American breakfast is included in that price. Or you can have the shrimp fried rice which is much better.

[ThaiBob]

Here are the promotions for Phyathai Sriracha through December 5.

 

 

CK_NOV.pdf

[craigt3365]

3 hours ago, ThaiBob said:

Here are the promotions for Phyathai Sriracha through December 5.

 

 

CK_NOV.pdf

I've done this a few times. A good deal for the price.

[tropo]

15 hours ago, ThaiBob said:

BHP now has it's annual healthy life promotion which I get yearly. I paid 5590, which includes blood panel, chest x-ray, ekg, abdomen ultrasound and lastly review the results with a doctor. There is a cheaper plan which excludes ultrasound.

My goodness! Talk about expensive. The orange and blue packages don't even include bilirubin, one that I would consider very important and available at most labs for about 100 baht... and they are saving SGOT for the blue package, a test that costs about 50 baht and always should be done with SGPT. Neither of them includes BUN, another important and cheap test...And they are trying to fool us into thinking that the "regular price" of package A is 6300 baht. That's a joke for a group of test that shouldn't cost over 1000 baht.

[KittenKong]

31 minutes ago, tropo said:

And they are trying to fool us into thinking that the "regular price" of package A is 6300 baht. That's a joke for a group of test that shouldn't cost over 1000 baht.

 

Well, that probably would be the regular price for those items individually at BPH. It is surely the most expensive hospital in Pattaya.

[whitemouse]

PSA alone  costs 700 baht at Lifecare. 15  basic tests for 500 baht package is still offered at Lifecare.

Last year I did testosteron level test at Lifecare, that was 500 baht. I was not pleased with the testo levels tho. But it seems lot of sports med people agree that testo is impossible to measure in a single blood test, so single blood test isn't useful. I came in at dissapointing 5, in a  1 to 10 scale. 

[EcigAmateur]

2 hours ago, tropo said:

My goodness! Talk about expensive. The orange and blue packages don't even include bilirubin, one that I would consider very important and available at most labs for about 100 baht... and they are saving SGOT for the blue package, a test that costs about 50 baht and always should be done with SGPT. Neither of them includes BUN, another important and cheap test...And they are trying to fool us into thinking that the "regular price" of package A is 6300 baht. That's a joke for a group of test that shouldn't cost over 1000 baht.

 

Thank you for your knowledge. So this promotion is crap ?

What about the one at Siracha ?

 

And can you confirm that what you are talking about is included in the 2500 package of lifecare clinic ?

 

Thanks again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ThaiBob]

6 hours ago, EcigAmateur said:

 

Thank you for your knowledge. So this promotion is crap ?

What about the one at Siracha ?

 

And can you confirm that what you are talking about is included in the 2500 package of lifecare clinic ?

 

Thanks again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Absolutely not crap but a good value whether you chose a promotion at BHP or Phyathai, it depends which promotions are available at the time. During the promotion you can add a test or procedure at a discounted rate, for example, a colonoscopy for 16,000.  I add a BUN test. Whether you use BHP or Phyathai they are substantially cheaper than the big private hospitals in Bangkok (colonoscopy at Bumrungrad, 28,000).  If you visit Dr Olivier let's say you will pay 700+ just to say Hello. Here is the price list at Lifecare. 

http://lifecare.siam2web.com/?cid=1209618

 

I get the BHP package annually and have graphical reports for the last 5 years so I see trends. The ultrasound looks at the prostate too which is of far more value than a PSA test. Many HMOs in USA have dropped the PSA test because of inconclusive results. As a side note, just the ekg, ultrasound and x-ray would cost on average 370, 400 and 75USD in USA or about 28,000 for an uninsured PATIENT. So you can see why many take advantage of these promotions and why Thailand is a medical tourism hub. 

[oldcarguy]

is there a place in BKK that you can get the blood test without the full check-up

 

and how long for results.......

 

thanks for info.....

[KittenKong]

16 minutes ago, ThaiBob said:

The ultrasound looks at the prostate too which is of far more value than a PSA test.

 

This is true. I always pick a package that includes both.

 

 

17 minutes ago, ThaiBob said:

As a side note, just the ekg, ultrasound and x-ray would cost on average 370, 400 and 75USD in USA or about 28,000 for an uninsured PATIENT.

 

A full abdomen ultrasound taken on its own at PIH actually costs more than the entire check-up package, including ultrasound, at Phyathai.

[tropo]

18 hours ago, EcigAmateur said:

 

Thank you for your knowledge. So this promotion is crap ?

What about the one at Siracha ?

 

And can you confirm that what you are talking about is included in the 2500 package of lifecare clinic ?

 

Thanks again.

3

I don't know anything about Sriracha.

 

I do think it's promotional crap aimed at getting punters to buy the expensive packages. Why else would the skip regular, important and CHEAP tests such as SGOT - 60 baht, BUN - 60 baht, Bilirubin (total and direct) - 120 baht for both (prices at Lifecare). 

 

I checked the LifeCare Program 5 for 2500 baht. That's definitely much better the value than the BPH package (orange). BUN, SGOT and bilirubin are all included. The only things missing that you get in the orange BPH package is HbA1c and Chest X-ray. I wouldn't concern yourself with the HbA1c test unless your FBS is over (or near) to 100 mg/dl. An HbA1c test at LifeCare is 350 baht. I don't know what Chest x-rays at hospitals cost.

[KittenKong]

2 hours ago, tropo said:

I do think it's promotional crap aimed at getting punters to buy the expensive packages. Why else would the skip regular, important and CHEAP tests such as SGOT - 60 baht, BUN - 60 baht, ....

 

These are included at Phyathai.

[tropo]

17 hours ago, KittenKong said:

 

This is true. I always pick a package that includes both.

 

 

 

A full abdomen ultrasound taken on its own at PIH actually costs more than the entire check-up package, including ultrasound, at Phyathai.

I wonder how much it would cost at a hospital such as Pattaya Memorial? A minor procedure on a small toe was going to cost 20,000 at PIH, which we ended up doing at Memorial for under 2000 baht... and that was after already paying over 1000 baht to see a doctor and a specialist and opting out of the blood pressure check. They wanted to use general anaesthetic with an overnight stay for a minor operation on a small toe. The most annoying part of all was how long it took to get the quote from the cashier. You'd really think that at the prices they charge for everything they would have better customer service.

[ThaiBob]

Pattaya Memorial is nearly expensive as BHP and Pattaya International compounded with long wait times. A better option might be Pattaya City hospital. 

[ThaiBob]

5 hours ago, tropo said:

I wonder how much it would cost at a hospital such as Pattaya Memorial? A minor procedure on a small toe was going to cost 20,000 at PIH, which we ended up doing at Memorial for under 2000 baht... and that was after already paying over 1000 baht to see a doctor and a specialist and opting out of the blood pressure check. They wanted to use general anaesthetic with an overnight stay for a minor operation on a small toe. The most annoying part of all was how long it took to get the quote from the cashier. You'd really think that at the prices they charge for everything they would have better customer service.

An ultrasound package at Pattaya Memorial is 10,500, they also include a few other tests that others don't (HIV). 

 

http://www.pattayamemorial.com/Default.aspx

[EcigAmateur]

2 hours ago, ThaiBob said:

An ultrasound package at Pattaya Memorial is 10,500, they also include a few other tests that others don't (HIV). 

 

http://www.pattayamemorial.com/Default.aspx

 

Sorry but i'm confused now between memorial and international ?! Where are they located ?

 

 

[ThaiBob]

1 hour ago, EcigAmateur said:

 

Sorry but i'm confused now between memorial and international ?! Where are they located ?

 

 

Both are located off Pattaya 2nd Rd. 

PM - Turn right just before reaching Pattaya Central Rd. 

PI - Turn left on Soi 4

They are well marked with signs. 

[KittenKong]

6 hours ago, ThaiBob said:

An ultrasound package at Pattaya Memorial is 10,500,

 

I think I paid about 4000B for a one-off ultrasound at PIH, but that was a few years ago.

[balo]

AllI am interested in is a PSA test and a few other blood tests I do yearly. Then talk to a doctor about the results if needed. Much cheaper than any of these packages .