Test Information
Profiles
| Test | Clinical Significance |
|---|---|
| Lytes Centrifuge specimen and refrigerate if pickup time is more than 2 hrs. | Why get tested? To detect a problem with the body’s electrolyte balance. When to get tested? As part of routine health screening, or when your doctor suspects that you have an excess or deficit of one of the electrolytes (usually sodium or potassium), or if your doctor suspects an acid-base imbalance. |
| Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP) Centrifuge specimen and refrigerate if pickup time is more than 2 hrs. | The Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP) is a group of 8 tests (or sometimes 7 tests) that is ordered as a screening tool to check for conditions, such as diabetes and kidney disease. The BMP uses a tube of blood collected by inserting a needle into a vein in your arm. Fasting for 10 to 12 hours prior to the blood draw may be preferred. The BMP is often ordered in the hospital emergency room setting because its components give your doctor important information about the current status of your kidneys, electrolyte and acid/base balance, and blood sugar level. Significant changes in these test results can indicate acute problems, such as kidney failure, insulin shock or diabetic coma, respiratory distress, or heart rhythm changes. The BMP is also used to monitor some known conditions, such as hypertension and hypokalemia (low potassium level). If your doctor is interested in following two or more individual BMP components, he may order the entire BMP because it offers more information. Alternatively, he may order an electrolyte panel to monitor your sodium, potassium, chloride, and CO2. If your doctor wants even more information, he may order a complete metabolic panel. |
| Comprehensize Metabolic Panel (CMP) Centrifuge specimen and refrigerate if pickup time is more than 2 hrs. | The Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) is a frequently ordered group of 14 tests that gives your doctor important information about the current status of your kidneys, liver, and electrolyte and acid/base balance as well as of your blood sugar and blood proteins. Abnormal results, and especially combinations of abnormal results, can indicate a problem that needs to be addressed. The CMP is used as a broad screening tool to check for conditions such as diabetes, liver disease, and kidney disease. It is also used to monitor complications of diseases or side effects of medications used to treat diseases. The CMP is routinely ordered as part of a blood work-up for a medical exam or yearly physical and is collected by inserting a needle into a vein in your arm. Usually fasting for 10 to 12 hours prior to the blood draw is preferred. While the tests are sensitive, they do not usually tell your doctor specifically what is wrong. Abnormal test results or groups of test results are usually followed-up with other specific tests to confirm or rule out a suspected diagnosis. The CMP is also used to monitor some known problems, such as hypertension, and drug therapies, such as cholesterol-lowering drugs. If your doctor is interested in following two or more individual CMP components, s/he may order the entire CMP because it offers more information. |
| Lipid Panel | The lipid profile is a group of tests that are often ordered together to determine risk of coronary heart disease. The tests that make up a lipid profile are tests that have been shown to be good indicators of whether someone is likely to have a heart attack or stroke caused by blockage of blood vessels (hardening of the arteries). |
| Liver Panel | A liver panel, also known as liver (hepatic) function tests or LFT, is used to detect liver damage or disease. It usually includes seven tests that are run at the same time on a blood sample. |
Chemistry
| Test | Clinical Significance |
|---|---|
| Albumin | INCREASED absolute serum albumin content is not seen as a natural condition. Relative increase may occur in hemoconcentration. Absolute increase may occur artificially by infusion of hyperoncotic albumin suspensions.DECREASED serum albumin is seen in states of decreased synthesis (malnutrition, malabsorption, liver disease, and other chronic diseases), increased loss (nephritic syndrome, many GI conditions, thermal burns, etc.), and increased catabolism (thyrotoxicosis, cancer chemotherapy, Cushing’s disease, familial hypoproteinemia). |
| Alkaline Phosphatase | INCREASED serum alkaline phosphatase is seen in states of increased osteoblastic activity (hyperparathyroidism, osteomalacia, primary and metastatic neoplasms), hepatobiliary diseases characterized by some degree of intra- or extrahepatic cholestasis, and in sepsis, chronic inflammatory bowel disease, and thyrotoxicosis. Isoenzymes determination may help determine the organ/tissue responsible for an alkaline phosphatase elevation.DECREASED serum alkaline phosphatase may not be clinically significant. However, decreased serum levels have been observed in hypothyroidism, scurvy, kwashiorkor, achrondroplastic dwarfism, deposition of radioactive materials in bone, and in the rare genetic condition hypophosphatasia.There are probably more variations in the way in which alkaline phosphatase is assayed than any other enzyme. Therefore, the reporting units vary from place to place. The reference range for the assaying laboratory must be carefully studied when interpreting any individual result. |
| ALT (SGPT) | INCREASE of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT, formerly called “SGPT”) is seen in any condition involving necrosis of hepatocytes, myocardial cells, erythrocytes, or skeletal muscle cells. |
| Amylase | Why get tested? To diagnose pancreatitis or other pancreatic diseases.When to get tested? If you have symptoms of a pancreatic disorder, such as severe abdominal pain, fever, loss of appetite, or nausea. |
| AST (SGOT) | INCREASE of aspartate aminotransferase (AST, formerly called “SGOT”) is seen in any condition involving necrosis of hepatocytes, myocardial cells, or skeletal muscle cells.DECREASED serum AST is of no known clinical significance. |
| ASO, Titer | Antistreptolysin O (ASO) titer is a blood test used to help diagnose a current or past infection with Group A strep (Streptococcus pyogenes). It detects antibodies to streptolysin O, one of the many strep antigens. This test is rarely ordered now compared to thirty years ago. For an acute strep throat infection, this test is not performed; the throat culture is used. However, if a doctor is trying to find out if someone had a recent strep infection that may not have been diagnosed, this test could be helpful. In addition, it may be used to help diagnose rheumatic fever, which occurs weeks after a strep throat infection when the throat culture would no longer be positive. |
| BUN | Serum urea nitrogen (BUN) is INCREASED in acute and chronic intrinsic renal disease, in state characterized by decreased effective circulating blood volume with decreased renal perfusion, in postrenal obstruction of urine flow and in high protein intake states. DECREASED serum urea nitrogen (BUN) is seen in high carbohydrate/low protein diets, states characterized by increased anabolic demand (late pregnancy, infancy, acromegaly), malabsorption states and severe liver damage. |
| Total Bilirubin Direct Bilibubin Indirect Bilibubin | Serum total bilirubin is INCREASED in hepatocellular damage (infectious hepatitis, alcoholic and other toxic hepatopathy, neoplasms), intra- and extrahepatic biliary hemolysis, physiologic neonatal jaundice, Crigler-Najjar syndrome, Gilbert’s disease, Dubin-Johnson syndrome, and fructose intolerance.Disproportionate ELEVATION of direct (conjugated) bilirubin is seen in cholestasis and late in the course of chronic liver disease. Indirect (unconjugated) bilirubin tends to predominate in hemolysis and Gilbert’s disease.DECREASED serum total bilirubin is probably not of clinical significance but has been observed in iron deficiency anemia. |
| BNP | Why get tested? To help diagnose the presence and severity of heart failure.When to get tested? If you have symptoms of heart failure, such as shortness of breath and fatigue, or if you are being treated for heart failure. |
| Calcium | HYPERCALCEMIA is seen in malignant neoplasms (with or without bone involvement), primary and tertiary hyperparathyroidism, sarcoidosis, Vitamin D intoxication, milk-alkali syndrome, Paget’s disease of bone (with immobilization), thyrotoxicosis, acromegaly, and diuretic phase of renal acute tubular necrosis. For a given total calcium level, acidosis increases the physiologically active ionized form of calcium. Prolonged tourniquet pressure during venipuncture may spuriously increase total calcium. Drugs producing hypercalcemia include alkaline antacids, DES, diuretics (chronic administration), estrogens (including oral contraceptives) and progesterone. HYPOCALCEMIA must be interpreted in relation to serum albumin concentration. True decrease in the physiologically active ionized form of Ca++ occurs in may situations, including hypoparathyroidism, Vitamin D deficiency, chronic renal failure, magnesium deficiency, prolonged anticonvulsant therapy, acute pancreatitis, massive transfusion, alcoholism, etc. Drugs producing hypocalcemia include most diuretics, estrogens, fluorides, glucose, insulin, excessive laxatives, magnesium salts, methicillin and phosphates. |
| CEA | Why get tested? To determine whether cancer is present in the body and to monitor cancer treatment.When to get tested? When your doctor thinks your symptoms suggest the possibility of cancer and before starting cancer treatment as well as at intervals during and after therapy. |
| Cholesterol | Total cholesterol has been found to correlate with cardiovascular mortality in the 30-50 year age group. Cardiovascular mortality increases 9% for each 10 mg/dL increase in total cholesterol over the baseline value of 180 mg/dL. Approximately 80% of the adult male population has values greater than this, so the use of median 95% of the population to establish normal range (as is traditional in lab medicine in general) has no utility for this test. Excess mortality has been shown not to correlate with cholesterol levels in the >50 years age group, probably because of the depressive effects on cholesterol levels expressed by various chronic diseases to which older individuals are prone. |
| CK | Why get tested? To determine if you have had a heart attack and if other muscles in your body have been damaged.When to get tested? If you have chest pain or muscle pain and weakness; immediately after a suspected heart attack and every few hours for a total of 3 or 4 tests. |
| Creatine & Creatine Clearance | Serum creatinine level and “creatinine clearance” are different ways of determining kidney function.Creatinine is a protein produced by muscle and released into the blood. The amount produced is relatively stable in a given person. The creatinine level in the serum is therefore determined by the rate it is being removed, which is roughly a measure of kidney function. If kidney function falls (say a kidney is removed to donate to a relative), the creatinine level will rise. Normal is about 1 for an average adult. Infants that have little muscle will have lower normal levels (0.2). Muscle bound weight lifters may have a higher normal creatinine. Serum creatinine only reflects renal function in a steady state. After removing a kidney, if the donor’s blood is checked right away the serum creatinine will still be 1. In the next day the creatinine will rise to a new steady state (usually about 1.8). If both kidneys were removed (say for cancer) the creatinine would continue to rise daily until dialysis is begun. How fast it rises depends on creatinine production, which is again related to how much muscle one has.Creatinine clearance is technically the amount of blood that is “cleared” of creatinine per time period. It is usually expressed in mL per minute. Normal is 120 mL/min for an adult. It is roughly, inversely related to serum creatinine: If the clearance drops to one half of the old level, the serum creatinine doubles (in the steady state). So for an adult, serum creatinine of 2 is roughly a creatinine clearance of 60 mL/min; creatinine 3 is roughly a clearance of 30; creatinine of 4 is roughly a clearance of 15, etc. So why didn’t the creatinine rise to only 2 when a kidney was removed? The answer is that the remaining kidney “hyperfilters” and seems to work harder, therefore kidney function is not quite halved.Usually, an adult will need dialysis because symptoms of kidney failure appear at a clearance of less than 10 mL/min. Creatinine clearance has to be measured by urine collection (usually 12 or 24 hours). It is a more precise estimate of kidney function than serum creatinine since it does not depend on the amount of muscle one has. |
| CRP | Why get tested? To identify the presence of inflammation and to monitor response to treatment. [Note: to test for your risk of heart disease, a more sensitive test (hs-CRP) is used]When to get tested? When your doctor suspects that you might be suffering from an inflammatory disorder (as with certain types of arthritis and autoimmune disorders or inflammatory bowel disease) or to check for the presence of infection (especially after surgery). |
| High Sensitivity CRP | Why get tested? May be helpful in assessing risk of developing heart disease.When to get tested? No current consensus exists on when to get tested; the test is most often done in conjunction with other tests that are ordered to assess risk of heart disease, such as lipid profiles. |
| DLDL | To help determine your risk of developing heart disease and to monitor lipid lowering lifestyle changes and drug therapies. To accurately determine your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level when you are non-fasting. |
| Ferritin | The test is done to learn about your body’s ability to store iron for later use. You should get tested when your doctor suspects you may not have enough iron or too much iron in your system. |
| Vitamin B12 | Why get tested? To help diagnose the cause of anemia or neuropathy (nerve damage), to evaluate nutritional status in some patients, to monitor effectiveness of treatment for B12 or folate deficiency.When to get tested? When you have large red blood cells, when you have symptoms of anemia and/or of neuropathy. When you are being treated for B12 or folate deficiency. |
| Folate | Why get tested? To help diagnose the cause of anemia or neuropathy (nerve damage), to evaluate nutritional status in some patients, to monitor effectiveness of treatment for B12 or folate deficiency.When to get tested? When you have large red blood cells, when you have symptoms of anemia and/or of neuropathy. When you are being treated for B12 or folate deficiency. |
| Glucose | Why get tested? To determine whether or not your blood glucose level is within normal ranges; to screen for, diagnose, and monitor diabetes, pre-diabetes, and hypoglycemia (low blood glucose).When to get tested? As part of a yearly physical and when you have symptoms suggesting hyperglycemia (high blood glucose) or hypoglycemia, or if you are pregnant; if you are diabetic, up to several times a day to monitor glucose levels. |
| Hemoglobin A1C (Glycohemoglobin) | Why get tested? To monitor a person’s diabetes and to aid in treatment decisions.When to get tested? When first diagnosed with diabetes and then 2 to 4 times per year. |
| Iron | Iron is needed to help form adequate numbers of normal red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout the body. Iron is a critical part of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that binds oxygen in the lungs and releases it as blood travels to other parts of the body. Iron is also needed by other cells, especially muscle (which contains another oxygen binding protein called myoglobin). Low iron levels can lead to anemia, in which the body does not have enough red blood cells. Other conditions can cause you to have too much iron in your blood.Serum Iron level measures the level of iron in the liquid part of your blood. |
| Immunoelectrophoresis | Why get tested? To help diagnose and monitor multiple myeloma and a variety of other conditions that affect protein absorption, production, and loss as seen in severe organ disease and altered nutritional states.When to get tested? If you have an abnormal total protein or albumin level or if your doctor suspects that you have a condition that affects protein concentrations in the blood and/or causes. |
| LD | Why get tested? To help identify the cause and location of tissue damage in the body, and to monitor its progress; historically, has been used to help diagnose and monitor a heart attack, but troponin has largely replaced LDH in this role.When to get tested? Along with other tests, when your doctor suspects that you have an acute or chronic condition that is causing tissue or cellular destruction and he wants to identify and monitor the problem. |
| Lipase | Why get tested? To diagnose pancreatitis or other pancreatic disease.When to get tested? If you have symptoms of a pancreatic disorder, such as severe abdominal pain, fever, loss of appetite, or nausea. |
| Magnesium | Why get tested? To evaluate the level of magnesium in your blood and to help determine the cause of abnormal calcium and/or potassium levels.When to get tested? If you have symptoms (such as weakness, irritability, cardiac arrhythmia, nausea, and/or diarrhea) that may be due to too much or too little magnesium or if you have abnormal calcium or potassium levels. |
| Phosphorous | Why get tested? To evaluate the level of phosphorus in your blood and to aid in the diagnosis of conditions known to cause abnormally high or low levels.When to get tested? As a follow-up to an abnormal calcium level, if you have a kidney disorder or uncontrolled diabetes, and if you are taking calcium or phosphate supplements. |
| Potassium | Why get tested? To diagnose levels of potassium that are too high (hyperkalemia) or too low (hypokalemia).When to get tested? As part of a routine medical exam or to investigate a serious illness, such as high blood pressure or kidney disease. |
| Prostatic Specific Antigen (PSA) | Why get tested? To get screened for — and to monitor — prostate cancer.When to get tested? There is some debate over this (see prostate cancer screening). Generally, for men over 50, as recommended by your physician (may be annually or less frequently); annually starting at age 45 for African-American men and men with a family history of prostate cancer. |
| Rheumatoid Factor | Why get tested? To help diagnose rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Sjögren’s syndrome.When to get tested? If your doctor thinks that you have symptoms of RA or Sjögren’s syndrome. |
| Transferrin | Why get tested? To learn about your body’s ability to transport iron.When to get tested? When your doctor suspects you may have too much or too little iron in your body because of a variety of conditions; the test also helps to monitor liver function and nutrition. |
| Total Protein | Why get tested? To determine your nutritional status or to screen for certain liver and kidney disorders as well as other diseases.When to get tested? If you experience unexpected weight loss or fatigue or if your doctor thinks that you have symptoms of a liver or kidney disorder. |
| Uric Acid | Why get tested? To detect high levels of uric acid, which could be a sign of the condition gout.When to get tested? When your doctor thinks that you might have gout or when monitoring certain chemotherapy or radiation therapies for cancer. |
Urine Chemistry
| Test | Clinical Significance |
|---|---|
| Microalbumin | Why get tested? To get screened for a possible kidney disorder.When to get tested? Annually after a diagnosis of diabetes or hypertension. |
| Cortisol | Why get tested? To help diagnose Cushing syndrome or Addison disease.When to get tested? If your doctor suspects damage to the adrenal gland. |
| HCG Qualitative and Quantitative | Why get tested? To confirm and monitor pregnancy or to diagnose trophoblastic disease or germ cell tumors.When to get tested? As early as 10 days after a missed menstrual period (some methods can detect hCG even earlier, at one week after conception) or if a doctor thinks that your symptoms suggest ectopic pregnancy, a failing pregnancy, trophoblastic disease, or germ cell tumors. |
| Folicicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) | Why get tested? To evaluate your pituitary function, especially in terms of fertility issues.When to get tested? If you are having difficulty getting pregnant or are having irregular menstrual periods or if your doctor thinks that you have symptoms of a pituitary or hypothalamic disorder. |
| Luteinizing Hormone (LH) | Why get tested? To evaluate your pituitary function, especially in terms of fertility issues.When to get tested? If you are having difficulty getting pregnant or are having irregular menstrual periods or if your doctor thinks that you have symptoms of a pituitary or hypothalamic disorder. |
| Prolactin | Why get tested? To determine whether or not your prolactin levels are higher (or occasionally lower) than normal.When to get tested? When you have symptoms of an elevated prolactin, such as: galactorrhea and/or visual disturbances and headaches, as part of a workup for female and male infertility, and for follow up of low testosterone in men. |
| Testosterone, Total | Why get tested? To determine if your testosterone levels are abnormal, which may help to explain difficulty getting an erection (erectile dysfunction), inability of your partner to get pregnant (infertility), or premature or delayed puberty if you are male, or masculine physical features if you are female.When to get tested? If you are male and your doctor thinks that you may be infertile or if you are unable to get or maintain an erection; if you are a boy with either early or delayed sexual maturity; if you are a female but have male traits, such as a low voice or excessive body hair, or are infertile. |
| Throid Stimulating hormone (TSH) | Why get tested? To screen for and diagnose thyroid disorders; to monitor treatment of hypothyroidism.When to get tested? For screening: There is no consensus within the medical community as to at what age adult screening should begin or whether it should even be done; however, newborn screening is widely recommended. For monitoring treatment: as directed by your doctor. Otherwise: as symptoms present. |
| T4 Draw in a plain red top tube, the gel in the gold tops cause interference | Why get tested? To diagnose hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism in adults; to screen for hypothyroidism in newborns.When to get tested? Usually is ordered in response to an abnormal TSH test result. Commonly performed on newborns. |
| Urinalysis Specimen good for 8 hours refrigerated or 1 hour at room temp. | Why get tested? To screen for metabolic and kidney disorders.When to get tested? Regularly on admission to a hospital; in a work-up for a planned surgery; as part of an annual physical exam; or when evaluating a new pregnancy. May be done if you have abdominal pain, back pain, frequent or painful urination, or blood in the urine. |
Hematology / Coagulation
| Test | Clinical Significance |
|---|---|
| Hemoglobin / Hematocrit (H&H) Clotted specimens have to be rejected | Why get tested? If you have anemia (too few red blood cells) or polycythemia (too many red blood cells), to assess its severity, and to monitor response to treatment.When to get tested? As part of a complete blood count (CBC), which may be ordered for a variety of reasons. |
| Platelet Count Clotted specimens have to be rejected | Why get tested? To diagnose a bleeding disorder or a bone marrow disease.When to get tested? As part of a regular complete blood count (CBC) or to diagnose/monitor a bone marrow/blood disease. |
| Complete Blood Count (CBC) Clotted specimens have to be rejected | Why get tested? To determine general health status and to screen for a variety of disorders, such as anemia and infection, as well as nutritional status and exposure to toxic substances.When to get tested? As part of a routine medical exam or as determined by your doctor. |
| Complete Blood Count with Differential (CBCD) Clotted specimens have to be rejected | Why get tested? To diagnose an illness affecting your immune system, such as an infection.When to get tested? As part of a complete blood count (CBC), which may be ordered for a variety of reasons. |
| ESR (Sedimentation Rate) Specimen can be held for 12 hours if refrigerated | Why get tested? To detect and monitor the activity of inflammation as an aid in the diagnosis of the underlying cause.When to get tested? When your doctor thinks that you might have a condition that causes inflammation and to help diagnose and follow the course of temporal arteritis or polymyalgia rheumatica. |
| Prothrombin Time (PT) Prothrombin Tims is good for 24 hours refrigerated. Tube must be filled completely. | Why get tested? To check how well blood-thinning medications (anti-coagulants) are working to prevent blood clots; to help detect and diagnose a bleeding disorder.When to get tested? If you are taking an anti-coagulant drug or if your doctor suspects that you may have a bleeding disorder. |
| Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT) PTT must be run within 4 hours. Tube must be filled completely. | Why get tested? As part of an investigation of a bleeding or thrombotic episode. To help evaluate your risk of excessive bleeding prior to a surgical procedure. To monitor heparin anticoagulant therapy.When to get tested? When you have unexplained bleeding or blood clotting. When you are on heparin anticoagulant therapy. Sometimes as part of a pre-surgical screen. |
| White Blood Cell Count (WBC) | Why get tested? If your doctor thinks that you might have an infection or allergy and to monitor treatment.When to get tested? As part of a complete blood count (CBC), which may be ordered for a variety of reasons. |
| D-Dimer | Why get tested? To help diagnose or rule out thrombotic (blood clot producing) diseases and conditions.When to get tested? When you have symptoms of a disease or condition that causes acute and/or chronic inappropriate blood clot formation such as: DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis), PE (Pulmonary Embolism), or DIC (Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation), and to monitor the progress and treatment of DIC and other thrombotic conditions. |
Serology
| Test | Clinical Significance |
|---|---|
| Anti-Nuclear Antibody (ANA) | Why get tested? To help diagnose systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and drug-induced lupus and rule out certain other autoimmune diseases.When to get tested? If your doctor thinks that you have symptoms of SLE or drug-induced lupus. |
| HIV | Why get tested? To determine if you are infected with HIV.When to get tested? Three to six months after you think you may have been exposed to the virus. |
| H. Pylori Antibody Screen | Why get tested? To diagnose an infection with Helicobacter pylori.When to get tested? If you have gastrointestinal pain or symptoms of an ulcer. |
| Mono Screen | Why get tested? To get screened for mononucleosis.When to get tested? If you have symptoms of mononucleosis, including fever, sore throat, swollen glands, and fatigue. |
| Flu A&B | Why get tested? To determine whether or not you have the influenza A or B; to help your doctor make rapid treatment decisions; and to help determine whether or not the flu has come to your community.When to get tested? When it is flu season and your doctor wants to determine whether your flu-like symptoms are due to influenza A or B, or to other causes. Within 48 hours of the onset of your symptoms, to help determine treatment options. |
Microbiology
| Test | Clinical Significance |
|---|---|
| Urine Culture | Why get tested? To diagnose a urinary tract infection (UTI).When to get tested? If you experience symptoms of a UTI, such as pain during urination. |
| AFB Culture | Why get tested? To help identify a mycobacterial infection, to diagnose tuberculosis (TB), to monitor the effectiveness of treatment.When to get tested? When you have symptoms, such as a chronic cough, weight loss, fever, chills, and weakness, that may be due to TB or due to another mycobacterial infection. When your doctor suspects that you have active TB. When your doctor wants to monitor the effectiveness of TB treatment. |
| Herpes Culture | Why get tested? To screen for or diagnose infection with the herpes simplex virus.When to get tested? If you have symptoms of an infection with the herpes simplex virus, such as blisters or sores around your mouth or in the genital area. |
| Rapid Beta Screen | Why get tested? To determine if a sore throat (pharyngitis) is caused by a Group A streptococcal bacteria (“strep throat”).When to get tested? If you have a sore throat and fever and your doctor thinks it may be due to an upper respiratory infection. |
| Chlamydia Screen | Why get tested? To screen for or diagnose chlamydia infection.When to get tested? If you are sexually active, pregnant, have one or more risk factors for developing chlamydia, or have a cervical infection; depending on your risk factors, may be annually. |
| GC Screen | Why get tested? To screen for Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which causes the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea.When to get tested? If you have symptoms of gonorrhea or are pregnant. |
| MRSA Screen | The goal of laboratory testing for staph wound infections is to identify the presence of S. aureus, to determine whether it is a MRSA strain, and to evaluate the staph’s susceptibility to available antibiotics. If an infection is due to MRSA, it should be investigated to determine where it came from and how it was acquired. This is especially important in CA-MRSA to prevent further cases from occurring. |
| VRE Screen | VRE are specific types of antimicrobial-resistant staph bacteria. While most staph bacteria are susceptible to the antimicrobial agent vancomycin some have developed resistance. VRE cannot be successfully treated with vancomycin because these organisms are no longer susceptible to vancomycin. However, to date, all VRE isolates have been susceptible to other Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drugs. |
Fecal Analysis
| Test | Clinical Significance |
|---|---|
| Blood | Why get tested? To screen for gastrointestinal bleeding, which may be an indicator of colon cancer.When to get tested? As part of a routine examination, annually after age 50 (as recommended by the American Cancer Society and other major organizations), and as directed by your doctor. |
| C Difficile Toxin | Why get tested? To detect the presence of Clostridium difficile toxin.When to get tested? When a patient has acute diarrhea that persists for several days, abdominal pain, fever, and/or nausea following antibiotic therapy. |
| Giardia Specific Antigen | This test detects protein structures on the giardia parasite. It is more sensitive and specific for this particular parasite than the O&P microscopic exam. |
| WBC’S | Stool WBC (white blood cells) may be present in the stool when there is a bacterial infection. |