Biometric Screenings: Frequently Asked Questions

Everything employers and employees need to know about biometric screenings, what they measure, and how the data is used.

The Basics

What is a biometric screening?

A biometric screening is a short, standardized health check that captures clinical data points known to predict the most expensive and life-altering chronic conditions. A typical screening takes about 15 minutes and is conducted by a trained clinician.

What does a biometric screening measure?

A standard screening typically includes blood pressure, total cholesterol along with HDL, LDL, and triglycerides, fasting blood glucose or A1C, body composition measurements including height, weight, BMI, and waist circumference. Some screening programs add additional markers such as cotinine for tobacco use, liver enzymes, or vitamin D, depending on the workforce.

How long does a screening take?

Most biometric screenings are completed in 15 to 20 minutes per employee.

Is this a physical?

No. A biometric screening captures specific data points but doesn't replace a comprehensive physical exam or annual wellness visit. It's a focused tool for detecting silent risk factors that often don't produce symptoms.

Why Screenings Matter

Why are biometric screenings important?

The conditions that drive most employer healthcare spending — hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, certain cancers, and obesity-related complications — develop silently for years before producing symptoms. People who have them often have no idea. A biometric screening is, for many employees, the first time anyone has identified a problem that's been quietly progressing.

How many people don't know they have a chronic condition?

Roughly one in three adults with high blood pressure doesn't know they have it. About one in five adults with diabetes is undiagnosed. More than 80 percent of people with pre-diabetes are unaware. These aren't people ignoring their doctors — they're people who feel fine and have no reason to think anything is wrong.

What conditions can biometric screenings help detect?

Screenings flag risk factors for hypertension, diabetes and pre-diabetes, high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and other conditions where early detection dramatically changes the cost and outcome of treatment.

How Results Are Used

What happens after a screening?

This is where program design matters most. Screenings without follow-through are mostly theater — an employee gets a printout, files it in a drawer, and nothing changes. Screenings connected to actual care are different: abnormal results trigger an immediate conversation with a clinician who can explain the numbers, prescribe treatment if needed, schedule follow-up, or refer to specialty care.

Will my employer see my individual results?

No. Individual screening results are confidential between the employee and the clinical team. Employers receive only aggregate, de-identified data showing population-level trends — never individual results. This is both a federal HIPAA requirement and a foundational principle of how Archer Health operates.

What does the employer see in aggregate reporting?

Employers see population-level trends — for example, what percentage of the workforce has elevated blood pressure, how those numbers compare to national benchmarks, and how the population's health is trending year over year. This data informs benefits design without compromising individual privacy.

What if I have an abnormal result?

You'll have an immediate conversation with a clinician — often the same day, onsite or virtually — who will explain what the result means, recommend next steps, and connect you to the right care. The point of the screening is to catch issues early, when they're most treatable.

Logistics

When and where do screenings happen?

Onsite biometric screening events typically happen at the workplace during work hours, usually in a private room or conference space. Employees can sign up for a time slot or walk in during the screening window. Onsite screening dramatically increases participation compared to "go to a lab on your own time" alternatives.

Do I need to fast before a screening?

If the screening includes fasting glucose or a full lipid panel, fasting for 8 to 12 hours beforehand is typically recommended. Many programs use A1C instead, which doesn't require fasting. The specific instructions depend on which markers are being measured.

How often should screenings happen?

Most employer programs run biometric screenings annually. Numbers drift over time, and a clean reading this year doesn't mean a clean reading next year. Annual screening builds a longitudinal picture of each employee's health and catches changes early.

Can dependents participate?

Yes, in many programs. Dependent participation is configurable based on the employer's plan structure and goals. Including dependents is one of the highest-value design choices an employer can make, since it captures family-level health risks that affect total plan cost.

Participation

Are biometric screenings required?

Participation is voluntary. Employers can offer incentives — gift cards, premium discounts, contributions to HSAs, or other rewards — to encourage participation, but employees can never be required to participate as a condition of employment or coverage.

What if I don't want to participate?

You don't have to. The screening is a benefit available to you, not an obligation. That said, if you've gone several years without a check-up, this is one of the easiest, lowest-friction ways to make sure you're not carrying a problem you don't know about.

What incentives drive participation?

Premium discounts, HSA or HRA contributions, gift cards, and PTO awards are all common. The most effective programs combine modest incentives with strong communication and convenient onsite access, rather than relying on incentives alone.

Privacy and Compliance

Is screening data confidential?

Yes. Individual results are protected under HIPAA and stay between the employee and the clinical team. The employer receives only aggregate, de-identified information.

Could my screening results affect my insurance premiums or employment?

No. Federal law prohibits employers from using individual health information to set premiums, make employment decisions, or discriminate against employees. Aggregate data is used to understand population health and design better benefits programs — never to target individuals.

Where is the data stored?

Clinical data is stored in HIPAA-compliant systems used by Archer Health's clinical team. The data is treated with the same security and privacy standards as any other medical record.

ROI and Program Design

Do biometric screenings actually save money?

The honest answer is that screenings save money when they're connected to follow-through care, and don't save much when they're not. A screening that ends with a printout has limited financial value. A screening that triggers a same-week conversation with a clinician — onsite or virtual — who can prescribe, refer, or coach changes the entire economics. The mechanism is early detection of conditions that get more expensive to treat the longer they go unaddressed.

What's the typical participation rate?

Onsite screening events with strong communication and modest incentives typically achieve 60 to 80 percent participation. Off-site or self-directed screening (going to a lab voucher location) typically achieves 20 to 40 percent. The convenience of onsite delivery is the single biggest variable.

How does screening fit with our broader benefits program?

Biometric screenings are most powerful when they're integrated into a broader primary care strategy — onsite or virtual care that can act on the results, chronic condition management for employees identified as at-risk, and ongoing engagement that turns one-time data points into ongoing health relationships. As a standalone activity, screenings have limited impact. As part of an integrated care model, they're one of the highest-leverage tools available.

Getting Started

How do we add biometric screenings to our benefits program?

Reach out at hello@archerhealth.com or 601-565-0075. We can design a screening program that fits your workforce, your existing benefits, and your goals — whether as part of a broader onsite clinic implementation or as a standalone offering.