Health Visits FAQ

The wristband has been specially prepared to measure environmental contaminants that absorb into the pores of the silicone material. Once you mail your wristband back to us, our local lab cuts your wristband into smaller pieces for storage. Chemists can then extract and measure environmental contaminants from these wristband pieces. 10,000 Families Study is currently using the wristbands to measure PFAS (per and polyfluoroalkyl substances, sometimes referred to as “forever chemicals”). 

You do not need to wait for your phlebotomist visit to wear and return your wristband. There is a return mailer for your family’s wristbands in your kit. Your family can wear the wristbands whenever you wish, so long as they are all returned together in the provided mailer. 

Yes. You can and should wear your wristband during any activity. 

We expect that you will get a phone call within 7 days of receiving your kit. If you have not heard from them within a week, you can call the scheduling office at 651-731-2949. 

It is preferable for all members of the family to be present at the time of the appointment, however we realize that for some families this is too challenging. In these cases, family members unable to be at an appointment can schedule their own mobile visit. You may be required to provide additional contact information to Exam One, so that they can be in contact directly with the family member that needs to schedule their own appointment. For example, if you and your partner cannot be present at the same appointment, you may need to provide your partner’s phone number to the Exam One scheduling office so that they can connect with them directly about scheduling their own appointment time. 

Storing your urine in the refrigerator helps to limit the number of bacteria that is in your specimen. Place your urine cup in the biohazard bag that is in your kit before putting in the refrigerator.  This will provide an extra layer of protection from potential spills. 

Please collect your urine sample before the phlebotomist arrives. 

DNA is material in our bodies that contains genes. Currently, we are storing saliva and blood samples for future DNA extraction. In the future, we may examine your DNA to learn whether genes and gene products can help us understand the risk of diseases in adults, particularly cancer, heart disease, stroke, brain function, lung disease, and others.