Plac Activity A2 (Lp-PLA2) Test

Because your health matters.

A PLAC blood test is a beneficial test that can be used to determine your risk of heart disease and other cardiovascular conditions. Referred to as a PLAC A2 (LP-PLA2) test, this simple blood test helps to detect a buildup of plaque in the arteries. Accumulation of plaque on the arterial walls can increase the risk of developing certain heart problems.

Our private PLAC Test is a quick, easy and accurate way to check on your heart health and assess your risk of heart disease. The PLAC (LP-PLA2) test can be added to and carried out as part of our full body health check packages.

Explore our packages and book your PLAC Activity Test today.

USPs

USPs
  • 1.

    Fast, accurate results

  • 2.

    Competitively priced testing within 20 minutes of your home

  • 3.

    Detailed, personalised Results Report

  • 4.

    Access to our 24/7 GP service with all test packages

How it

works

How it works
  • 1.

    Select and book your package

    View our health test packages and book a full body private health check. All our individual tests can be added to any of our private health check packages. Just call our team on 0800 652 2183 before your appointment to add an extra test.

  • 2.

    Make an appointment

    Choose the venue, date and time that suits you. With over 2000 appointments available nationwide every week, you're sure to find a convenient time, date and venue.

  • 3.

    Attend your appointment

    A trained healthcare professional will carry out your assessment. The whole process only takes around 20 - 30 minutes.

  • 4.

    Fast, accurate results

    Your results will be available 24/7 through our online dashboard, My Wellness. You will receive an email notification as soon as your results are ready for viewing. Processing times vary by test, with some results accessible on the dashboard in as little as three days. The online dashboard also provides easy access to a downloadable PDF, making it simple to share your results with your GP.

What is a PLAC Activity

Test?

A PLAC Activity Test gives you an insight into the health of your circulatory system without the need for invasive procedures. This simple blood test measures the amount of A2 (LP-PLA2) enzyme in the blood in order to assess stroke or heart disease risk.

The A2 (LP-PLA2) enzyme is seen as a marker for inflammation in the blood vessels indicating a possible increase in plaque in the arteries. Plaque is a buildup of cholesterol, fatty substances, and cellular waste that can line the artery walls. The plaque then hardens, which can restrict blood flow, but it can also rupture. Either way, it is important to monitor plaque buildup and evaluate heart disease risk, so that you can act now and prevent disease progression.

The PLAC Activity Test differs from other heart health tests, such as cholesterol tests and blood pressure checks, as it measures the amounts of an enzyme which provides specific information about arterial plaques. Combining the A2 (LP-PLA2) test in conjunction with blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose testing will offer a comprehensive overview of your cardiovascular health.

Why take a PLAC Activity

Test?

If you are concerned about your arterial health and would like to find out if you are at risk of heart disease, a PLAC Test can provide peace of mind or identify issues. PLAC Tests are a non-invasive way to assess whether you need to make diet and lifestyle changes in order to protect your cardiovascular system.

Signs of plaque can start to appear in individuals as early as in their 20s or 30s. Though at this stage plaque is unlikely to cause any issues. As the plaque builds up this can develop into the disease atherosclerosis. This disease is a narrowing of the arteries, which impairs blood flow and increases risk of heart attack and stroke.

Here are a few common risk factors involved in the buildup of plaque and development of atherosclerosis:

  • High blood pressure
  • Diabetes
  • Metabolic syndrome
  • High cholesterol levels
  • Unhealthy diet
  • Physically inactive
  • Smoking
  • Drinking alcohol (more than the recommended number of units)
  • Genetics (an inherited cholesterol disorder increases the risk)
  • Age (risk increases after the ages of 45-55)

Taking a private PLAC blood test could help to uncover potential heart health problems such as narrowing of the arteries and heart disease risk. Identifying plaque build- up in its initial stages can lead to early intervention and better health outcomes.

What does a PLAC Test

involve?

A PLAC Test involves taking a sample of blood, which is then analysed to measure the levels of the enzyme A2 (LP-PLA2). Raised A2 (LP-PLA2) levels are typically an indicator of inflammation and increased risk of heart disease and stroke.

Prior to the PLAC Test, you should inform the healthcare practitioner if you are currently taking any blood thinning medication. They will get in touch to provide you with any additional information you may need before the test.

Depending on your A2 (LP-PLA2) levels, after receiving your PLAC test results, you can then make the necessary diet and lifestyle changes or seek further testing to fully investigate your heart health.

Private Health Checks for complete peace of

mind

A PLAC Test is a non-invasive way to assess the health of your arteries and cardiovascular system. With plaque buildup occurring as early as in your 20’s and 30’s and heart disease risk increasing with age, a PLAC blood test is a worthwhile test for most adults.

If you want to assess your heart disease risk, you can book your PLAC Activity A2 (LP-PLA2) Test today and avoid a lengthy waiting time for an appointment. Additionally, with 350+ venues across the UK, we offer accurate and reliable private testing with no invasive procedures, no long travel times or busy waiting rooms.

A private PLAC test can be added to one of our full body private health assessments or booked as an individual test. Just call us before your appointment to add an extra test.

Need help? Call free on 0800 652 2183 to speak to one of our team.

FAQs

Trained health assessment specialists carry out our PLAC Test in one of our venues across the UK. We only carry out in-person tests as this guarantees the accuracy of your test results and enables us to get your samples to the laboratory for testing quickly. With over 350 venues across the UK, you can access one of our testing sites within 20 minutes of your home, and you are guaranteed no long waiting times.
A PLAC Activity Test is available as an individual test and can be added to any of our health assessment packages.
Full preparation instructions will be provided in writing when you book your appointment.
There is no need to fast prior to the PLAC Test. We have upgraded our range of tests so you can continue to eat and drink normally before your assessment takes place, but full preparation instructions will be provided in writing when you book your appointment.
Your results will be given a ‘flag’ of a different colour: green, amber or red. Green results are within the recommended range for your age and sex; amber results are slightly outside what we'd normally expect; and red results are further outside the norm. Where a result is amber or red, we'll give follow-up advice on what to do next - whether that's making lifestyle changes, simply monitoring the result, or visiting your doctor for further investigation. If there are any critical results discovered by our laboratory, we will contact you immediately, so you won’t need to wait for your full results report to arrive to take appropriate action.