A biometric screening, sometimes referred to as a biometric health screening, biometric assessment, or biometric testing, is a clinical evaluation of key health measures. The results may be used to identify certain health conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, or to indicate an increased risk for these conditions.

A biometric screening is an important part of a health and wellness program. A screening may be conducted at an employer health fair, at a commercial laboratory, at a provider’s office, or at home using a kit. Most employers offer a variety of options to allow all employees, and sometimes spouses, to participate in the screening program.

Screenings are used to:

·       Identify participants who would benefit from health coaching

·       Provide validated data for results-based incentive programs

·       Measure program outcomes over time

·       Help participants make the right health choices

Screening results are often combined with data from health assessment questionnaires on lifestyle behaviors and health status to provide a detailed assessment of an individual’s health.

Blood Draw or Finger Stick

A biometric screening usually includes some body measurements and collection of a small blood sample. The blood sample may be collected by venous blood draw or finger stick. For a blood draw, samples are processed at a central laboratory, which allows more tests to be performed but introduces a lag of 7 to 10 days before results are available. For a finger stick, samples are processed onsite, and the participant can be given immediate feedback. A finger stick is also usually faster than a blood draw and is considered by many participants to be less invasive.

Screening Measures

The screening measures collected are determined by the goals of the health and wellness program and the characteristics of the population being tested.

Body measurements may include:

·       Height and weight – to calculate body mass index as a measure of obesity

·       Body fat percentage – an alternative measure of obesity

·       Waist – a measure of abdominal obesity and an indicator of diabetes risk

·       Hip –to calculate waist-to-hip ratio, a measure of abdominal obesity

·       Neck – to calculate sleep apnea risk

·       Blood pressure – to calculate cardiovascular disease risk

Tests using the blood sample may include:

·       Lipids (HDL, LDL, total cholesterol, triglycerides) – to calculate cardiovascular disease risk

·       Blood glucose – to calculate diabetes risk

·       Cotinine – to detect tobacco use

Data Collection

A big challenge for health and wellness programs is collecting data from all the different screening sources, verifying eligibility, consolidating results, managing exceptions, and providing timely feedback to participants.

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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on February 20, 2015 and updated September 2, 2022.

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