Learn What Blood and Urine Tests You Need for Life Insurance

Blood and Urine Test

Blood and urine tests are two physical examinations you need to undergo for life insurance. A blood test is ordered to help make a medical diagnosis as a urine test does. Your blood sample will be taken to examine if you are healthy enough. Your blood may be drawn from a vein or an artery with a needle or through a finger prick. Like a urine test, a blood test can identify and detect abnormalities in your body.

A urine test is required to check some different components of urine, which is a waste product from the kidneys. The urine test can result in some information regarding your health. The urine contains numerous substances for different types of disease you may have.

Why Does Life Insurance Need Blood and Urine Tests?

When it comes to applying for life insurance, you will be required to take physical examinations like blood and urine tests. Life insurance blood and urine tests can detect the presence of diseases such as diabetes, cholesterol, or hepatitis. Most life insurance companies will have you examined to determine the premium rate. If your test results do not show any abnormality, then you might get premium rate you have chosen. However, once your test results discover a medical problem, then you might be offered with a higher premium rate.

What Blood and Urine Tests Do You Need for Life Insurance?

Below is a list of some blood and urine tests in which life insurance might require.

Nicotine (Cotinine)

Life insurance blood and urine tests include a urine and/or blood sample that is taken at any time of the day. A blood sample is collected by drawing blood from a vein. These tests will also display whether you smoke or have been exposed to secondhand smoke. Once you smoke, you breathe in the addictive chemical known as nicotine. Byproduct of nicotine is cotinine. The liver will metabolize nicotine into more than twenty compounds. The kidneys then discharge nicotine through the urine. Nicotine is very lethal in large amounts.

Life insurance uses nicotine or cotinine testing to qualify if you deserve the premium rate because tobacco products can affect your health significantly. Nicotine can lead to some dangerous diseases like cardiovascular disease or hypertension. No wonder life insurance companies impose higher premium rates to smokers.

HIV Antibody Test

Life insurance blood and urine tests may require HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) test. The test is to determine whether or not you are infected with HIV, which can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). HIV/AIDS will damage your immune system and allow your body to be vulnerable to various infections. The HIV antibody test is performed by taking blood sample or urine sample.

HIV is not curable, but early diagnosis can help suppress levels of virus in the body. If you test positive when you apply for life insurance, you must disclose your HIV positive status to the life insurance company unless they will decline you.

Glucose

Glucose or sugar in the blood refers to an important energy source the tissues and cells of human body need. A fasting blood sugar test can measure the amount of glucose in blood after you have fasted for at least eight hours or overnight.

You should have a level of 60 to 99 mg/dl, which is the normal range for fasting glucose. If you have a level higher than 100, you have to be alert of being diabetic. Nevertheless, further tests must be performed to decide whether or not you suffer from diabetes.

Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) and Creatinine

BUN can measure the amount of urea nitrogen in the blood in addition to testing your kidney function. A blood sample is taken from a vein in the arm. You have a normal range of BUN when you have a level of 7 to 20 mg/dl. When it comes to having a higher result, you might have renal problems.

Creatinine detects the functions of your kidneys. A blood sample or a urine test is taken to perform creatinine test. The creatinine level will increase if the renal function is in trouble.

SGOT, SGPT, and Gamma Glutamyltransferase (GGT)

Life insurance companies will require SGOT, SGPT, and GGT tests to ensure your liver works normally. The liver produces enzymes like SGOT, SGPT, and GGT, which can indicate liver problems if those enzymes have higher levels.

Total Bilirubin

Total Bilirubin test is performed to find any symptoms of liver damage, liver disease, or bile duct blockage. Life insurance companies will need to know about this blood test.

Resources

WebMD.com: Urine Test - https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/urine-test

Labtestonline.org: Nicotine/Cotinine - https://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/nicotine/sample.html

Labtestonline.org: HIV Antibody - https://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/hiv_antibody/glance.html

Term-Life-Online.com: Life Insurance Blood Test - https://www.term-life-online.com/life-insurance-blood-test.html

Scumdoctor.com: What Do Life Insurance Do Urine Test for? - https://www.scumdoctor.com/senior-care/checkup/urine-test/What-Do-Life-Insurance-Do-Urine-Test-For.html

Scumdoctor.com: Glucose Blood Test Results - https://www.scumdoctor.com/senior-care/checkup/blood-test/Glucose-Blood-Test-Results.html

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