Scl70 test is a test used to detect scl 70 antibodies in your blood. It is used to evaluate certain immune system disorders such as, systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) and systemic lupus erythematosus. Scl 70 antibodies are more common in patients with extensive cutaneous involvement and interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, and are considered a poor prognostic sign.
This lab test measures the levels of proteins called globulins in the fluid (serum) part of a blood sample. Globulins are a group of proteins within the blood. They are divided into three main groups: alpha, beta, and gamma. They are produced by the liver and the immune system. Globulins have multiple different functions; the group includes immunoglobulins, enzymes, carrier proteins and complement. Low level of globulin is a sign of several serious health conditions. Renal disease, hepatic dysfunction, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), acute hemolytic anemia, agammaglobulinemia and hypogammaglobulinemia can cause the globulin levels to drop. This is also a sign that proteins taken in by the digestive system are not being broken down or absorbed properly. Increased level of globulin may indicate acute infection, bone marrow cancer and chronic Inflammatory Bowel disease, Rheumatic Arthritis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosis.
Protein electrophoresis is used to evaluate, diagnose, and monitor a variety of diseases and conditions. Electrophoresis is a technique used to separate different elements (fractions) of a blood sample into individual components. Serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) is a screening test that measures the major blood proteins by separating them into five distinct fractions: albumin, alpha1, alpha2, beta, and gamma proteins. Protein electrophoresis can also be performed on urine. It can be used for these purposes because the levels of different blood proteins rise or fall in response to such disorders as cancer, intestinal or kidney protein-wasting syndromes, disorders of the immune system, liver dysfunction, impaired nutrition, and chronic fluid-retaining conditions.
This test measures the amount of sodium (salt) in blood. Sodium testing is a part of the routine lab evaluation of most patients. It is one of the blood electrolytes, which are often ordered as a group. The most common group of blood electrolytes is sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate (total CO2). These electrolytes are also included in the basic metabolic panel, a larger group of tests widely used when someone has non-specific health complaints. High serum sodium levels (hypernatremia) occur at sodium concentrations over 145 mM, with severe hypernatremia over 152 mM. Hypernatremia is usually caused by diseases that cause excessive urination. In these cases, water is lost, but sodium is still retained in the body. The symptoms include confusion and can lead to convulsions and coma. Low serum sodium levels (hyponatremia) are below 130 mM, with severe hyponatremia at or below 125 mM. Hyponatremia often occurs with severe diarrhea, with losses of both water and sodium, but with sodium loss exceeding water loss. Hyponatremia provokes clinical problems only if serum sodium falls below 125 mM, especially if this has occurred rapidly. The symptoms can be as mild as tiredness but may lead to convulsions and coma.
This test measures the amount of zinc in blood. Zinc is one of the essential minerals which is needed for the body's defense (immune) system to properly work. It plays a role in cell division, cell growth, wound healing and the breakdown of carbohydrates. Zinc is also an essential component of around 200 enzymes that are involved in a range of actions within the body and is needed for the senses of smell and taste too. Zinc depletion occurs in burn patients who lose zinc in the exudates from their burn sites. Hepatic cirrhosis causes excess loss of zinc by enhancing renal excretion. Other diseases that cause low serum zinc are ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, regional enteritis, sprue, intestinal bypass, neoplastic disease, and increased catabolism induced by anabolic steroids. The conditions of anorexia and starvation also result in low zinc levels.
This test measures the level of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in your blood. SHBG is a protein made by your liver. It binds tightly to three sex hormones found in both men and women: estrogen; dihydrotestosterone, or DHT; and testosterone. SHBG carries these three hormones throughout your blood. SHBG and testosterone levels may be ordered on an adult male to help determine the cause of infertility, a decreased sex drive, and erectile dysfunction, especially when total testosterone results are inconsistent with clinical signs.
In women, small amounts of testosterone are produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands. Even slight increases in testosterone production can disrupt the balance of hormones and cause symptoms such as lack of menstruation (amenorrhea), infertility, acne, and male pattern hair growth (hirsutism). These symptoms and others are often seen with polycystic ovarian syndrome, a condition characterized by an excess production of androgens. SHBG and testosterone testing may be useful in helping to detect and evaluate excess testosterone production and/or decreased SHBG concentrations.
This test measures the amount of copper in blood. It is used to check for a deficiency or toxic level of copper in the body. This test is also used when disorders of copper metabolism, such as Wilson's disease, are suspected. Wilson’s disease is an autosomal recessive disease due to accumulation of copper in the body in toxic amounts. It presents usually at age 5–20 with unexplained liver disease, neurological or psychiatric symptoms. There is an increased excretion of urine copper, but reduced serum copper. This is because ceruloplasmin, the protein which transports copper in serum, is reduced in Wilson’s disease even though the total body load of copper, and its urinary excretion, are markedly elevated. Copper test are ordered along with ceruloplasmin when someone has signs and symptoms that may be due to Wilson disease, excess copper storage, copper poisoning, or due to a copper deficiency.
The ferritin test measures the level of ferritin in the body. Ferritin is a protein in the body that binds to iron; most of the iron stored in the body is bound to ferritin. Ferritin is found in the liver , spleen , skeletal muscles, and bone marrow. Only a small amount of ferritin is found in the blood. The amount of ferritin in the blood shows how much iron is stored in your body.The ferritin test is ordered to assess a person's iron stores in the body. The test is sometimes ordered along with an iron test and a TIBC to detect the presence and severity of iron deficiency or iron overload.
Low levels of ferritin are indicative of iron deficiency, which causes anemia. High levels of ferritin can indicate an iron storage disorder, such as hemochromatosis, or It could also point to liver disease, rheumatoid arthritis, other inflammatory conditions or hyperthyroidism.
A folic acid test measures the amount of folic acid in the blood. Folic acid is a water-soluable vitamin belonging to the B-complex group of vitamins. These vitamins help the body break down complex carbohydrates into simple sugars to be used for energy. Folic acid works together with vitamin B12 and vitamin C to metabolize protein in the body. It is important for the formation of red and white blood cells. It is necessary for the proper differentiation and growth of cells and for the development of the fetus. It is also used to form the nucleic acid of DNA and RNA. It increases the appetite and stimulates the production of stomach acid for digestion and it aids in maintaining a healthy liver. Source-Folic acid is found in leafy green vegetables, beans, peas and lentils, liver, beets, brussel sprouts, poultry, nutritional yeast, tuna, wheat germ, mushrooms, oranges, asparagus, broccoli, spinach, bananas, strawberries. Folic acid deficiency can result in a type of anemia called megaloblastic anemia. Folate deficiency is commonly encountered as a result of dietary deficiency or increased demand for this vitamin.(eg: pregnancy)
A vitamin B12 level test measures the amount of B12 in your blood. Vitamin B12 is a B complex vitamin that is necessary for normal blood cell formation, tissue and cellular repair and DNA synthesis. Source-Vitamin B12 is found in animal products such as meat, shellfish, milk, cheese, and eggs. Why it is done- It helps to diagnose the cause of certain type of anemia such as megaloblastic anemia.It also helps to find the cause of dementia or other nervous system symptoms, such as tingling or numbness of the arms or legs (peripheral neuropathy). To See if vitamin B12 deficiency anemia is present after a person has been diagnosed with atrophic gastritis.
The fecal occult blood test (FOBT) is a lab test used to check stool samples for hidden (occult) blood. Occult blood in the stool may indicate colon cancer or polyps in the colon or rectum. Typically, occult blood is passed in such small amounts that it can be detected only through the chemicals used in a fecal occult blood test. If blood is detected through a fecal occult blood test, additional tests may be needed to determine the source of the bleeding. The fecal occult blood test can only detect the presence or absence of blood — it doesn't indicate potential sources of bleeding. Positive tests ("positive stool") may result from either upper gastrointestinal bleeding or lower gastrointestinal bleeding and warrant further investigation for peptic ulcers or a malignancy. Why it is done-(1) If you're age 50 or older and at average risk of colon cancer, your doctor may recommend a fecal occult blood test every year to screen for colon cancer. (2) To Evaluate possible causes of unexplained anemia- Anemia is a condition in which there aren't enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to your tissues. Sometimes a fecal occult blood test is used to determine whether bleeding in your digestive tract — such as a bleeding ulcer — is contributing to anemia.
This test measures the amount of triglycerides in blood. It is typically included as a part of the lipid panel which also checks total cholesterol, HDL, VLDL and LDL levels to help determine the risk of developing heart disease. It is generally seen that people with high triglycerides often have a high total cholesterol level, including a high LDL (bad) level and a low HDL (good) level. Triglycerides are a storage form of lipid found in blood. High levels of triglyceride are considered as a risk factor for ischemic heart disease. Commonly seen in cases of diabetes, pancreatitis, hyperthyroidism and hypoproteinemias. Elevated levels of triglycerides are mainly due to obesity, physical inactivity; cigarette smoking, excess alcohol consumption and a diet very high in carbohydrates. Hence it is generally seen that high triglycerides are mainly a lifestyle-related risk factor.
The triple test, also called triple screen, the Kettering test or the Bart's test, is an investigation performed during pregnancy in the second trimester to classify a patient as either high-risk or low-risk for chromosomal abnormalities (and neural tube defects). The triple marker screen test analyzes how likely an unborn baby is to have certain genetic disorders. It is also known as a multiple marker test. The exam measures the levels of three important substances in the placenta: alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), and estriol. The results of the triple marker screen test show the likelihood of an infant having a genetic disorder such as Down syndrome or spina bifida.
A troponin test measures the levels troponin T or troponin I proteins in the blood. Troponins are specific proteins found in heart muscle. Troponin testing is done to diagnose heart attacks (myocardial infarctions). Troponin tests are primarily ordered to evaluate people who have chest pain to see if they have had a heart attack or other damage to their heart. The more damage there is to the heart, the greater the amount of troponin T and I there will be in the blood. Troponin tests are sometimes ordered along with other cardiac biomarkers, such as CK–MB or myoglobin.
This test uses a microscope to detect bacteria called acid-fast bacilli in fluid or tissue samples. This test is used to manage mycobacterial infections such as tuberculosis. A sample of sputum, bronchial samples, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, urine, stool, or other body fluids or tissues may be collected for this test. An acid-fast Bacillus (AFB) culture refers to the process of detection, growth, isolation, identification, and antibiotic susceptibility testing of Mycobacteria that cause pulmonary tuberculosis and other infections such as those of the skin, abdomen, and may widely spread throughout many organs. It has become important in the identification of other acid-fast AFB such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. leprae, M. avium complex (MAC), M. bovis, and M. africanum. They are used to help determine whether the TB is confined to the lungs (pulmonary disease) or has spread to organs outside the lungs (extrapulmonary disease). AFB cultures can also be used to monitor the effectiveness of treatment and can help determine when a patient is no longer infectious.