For now, though, Nigel takes us as quickly as he can according to the regular rules of the road to Kettering General, which relies on a specialist testing laboratory in Birmingham for some critical tests.
Identifying viruses currently necessitates screening with a wide panel of immunological or molecular probes and may be best done by a specialist testing service.
But mass testing is expensive and often does not make sense for those at low risk of a disease: last month, a report in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) by a group of bowel-cancer experts questioned the British government's policy of having anyone suspected of having the disease sent to a specialist for tests within two weeks.
This should be guided by a specialist team, as should genetic testing.
At a consultation in April, 2006, the specialist tested her for lupus and porphyria, both of which can cause extreme light sensitivity.
Every 14-28 days performers are tested for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia, mostly through specialist testing agencies.
Nineteen percent of participants saw medical specialists once a week for an average of 5 weeks, and 17% were referred for pathology or other specialist tests.
It took a visit to a specialist and more tests before the injury was accurately diagnosed.
Spirent Communications, a specialist in telecoms testing equipment, ended 1.3p higher at 160.5p despite problems at one of its customers, Blackberry maker Research in Motion.
I urged her to see a specialist to undergo testing, perhaps even a colonoscopy; but she brushed aside my suggestions, preferring instead to ask for my professional opinion on foods that might help her gain weight and treatments she could obtain over the counter.
