Description
The Hemoglobin A1c test is used in diabetics to show how well you’ve controlled your blood sugar during the preceding 3-month period. Red blood cells live about 3 months before they die off and are replaced by new ones. During their life span, they carry glycated hemoglobin with them. By measuring the amount of Hemoglobin A1c you will get an average of what your blood sugar has been over that period of time.
The higher the Hemoglobin A1c the higher the average blood sugar and the more chance you will experience complications from your disease. This test can also serve as a warning sign that you may be diabetic if you do not already have the disease. To assist with control of blood glucose levels, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) has recommended glycated hemoglobin testing (HbA1c) twice a year for patients with stable glycemia, and quarterly for patients with poor glucose control. Interpretative ranges are based on ADA guidelines.
CBC (includes Differential and Platelets) - A complete blood count is used as a screening test for various disease states to include: anemia, leukemia and inflammatory processes. It is usually ordered as part of a routine health exam and measures the levels of red and white blood cells and platelets. The Complete Blood Count (CBC) test gives an overall view of general health by measuring the health of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. These cells, respectively, provide oxygen to various tissues and organs, help the immune system fight off infections, and assist in the formation of blood clots and the regeneration of new tissues.
This test includes WBC, RBC, Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW, Platelet Count, MPV and Differential (Absolute and Percent - Neutrophils, Lymphocytes, Monocytes, Eosinophils, and Basophils).If abnormal cells are noted on a manual review of the peripheral blood smear or if the automated differential information meets specific criteria, a full manual differential will be performed.Platelet Count - Identifies the amount of platelets in the blood. Platelets are used to help form blood clots and regenerate new tissue.
Differential (Absolute and Percent – Neutrophils, Lymphocytes, Monocytes, Eosinophils, and Basophils)
Hepatitis C is a virus that attacks the human liver. It causes damage and, over time, destroys the liver by killing off healthy cells. The virus leaves tough scar tissue behind which keeps the liver from working properly. Hepatitis C Antibody with Reflex to HCV, RNA, Quantitative, Real-Time PCR - Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is a major cause of hepatitis. The clinical symptoms of an HCV infection are variable. Infection with HCV results in a chronic infection in 50 to 80% of cases.
The "window" between HCV acquisition and seroreactivity is highly variable; up to six months. Immune system makes special proteins when harmful foreign microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses enter your body. These special proteins are called antibodies. The human body makes millions of different antibodies. Each one is tailored to fight a particular microorganism you’ve been exposed to. The antibodies try to neutralize or destroy the foreign invader before it can do harm. Hepatitis C antibodies are made by white blood cells and attack only the hepatitis C virus. They bind to the virus and set it up for attack by other parts of the immune system. The hepatitis C antibody test is a blood test that looks for hepatitis C antibodies in the bloodstream.
A positive result usually means that you’ve been exposed to the hepatitis C virus. A positive result can occasionally be a false positive. A negative result means that no antibodies have been detected in your bloodstream. This could indicate that there is no infection or you were exposed so recently that not enough antibodies have built up yet to be detectable. Or it could be a false negative.
Prothrombin Time with INR blood test determines how quickly your blood clots. It measures how many seconds it takes to clot after substances (reagents) are added. This is a screening test for abnormalities of coagulation factors that are involved in the extrinsic pathway. Also used to monitor effects of Warfarin therapy and to study patients with hereditary and acquired clotting disorders. It’s often used to help detect a bleeding disorder or clotting disorder and can help a doctor determine the cause, if present. It may sometimes be used before surgery or other invasive procedures to determine if excessive bleeding or clotting problems may be likely to occur.
In order for blood to clot, a certain sequence of activities called the coagulation cascade occurs. The clotting cascade depends on proteins called clotting factors, which activate each other in a step-by-step process. For blood to clot properly, there needs to be enough of each coagulation factor and they need to function properly. A problem with any of them can affect your body’s ability to form a clot.
The clotting cascade happens through two pathways— the intrinsic pathway and the extrinsic pathway. Each pathway involves certain factors, and while each pathway is separate, they interact with each other and finish in what’s called the common pathway.
The Comprehensive Metabolic Panel test is a group of 17 specific tests designed to provide an overview of the functioning status of our vital organs and bodily fluids. It evaluates the status of your kidneys, liver, and electrolyte and acid/base balance, as well as of your blood sugar and blood proteins. The Comprehensive Metabolic Panel test is useful in helping to diagnose certain conditions like diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease and hypertension. The Comprehensive Metabolic Panel test aids in determining how the liver and kidneys are functioning and where glucose, calcium, protein, sodium, potassium, and chloride levels stand.
Individual tests as part of Comprehensive Metabolic Panel test are Albumin, Albumin/Globulin Ratio (calculated), Alkaline Phosphatase, ALT, AST, BUN/Creatinine Ratio (calculated), Calcium, Carbon Dioxide, Chloride, Creatinine with GFR Estimated, Globulin (calculated), Glucose, Potassium, Sodium, Total Bilirubin, Total Protein and Urea Nitrogen. The Comprehensive Metabolic Panel is a type of test that looks at your blood and measures its glucose levels, the balance of electrolytes and fluid, the kidney function, and the liver function.
The Comprehensive Metabolic Panel test can be used to diagnose diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease, liver disease, hypertension, or it is often just used as part of a regular health examination. Doctors generally recommend that a Comprehensive Metabolic Panel test be included as part of one’s annual health checkup in order to keep tabs on one’s overall health and any red flags that could indicate a new or developing health condition.
HIV-1/2 Antigen and Antibodies, Fourth Generation, with Reflexes - This test is used to help diagnose HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection, including acute infection, and to differentiate HIV-1 from HIV-2. It is consistent with the HIV diagnostic algorithm proposed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It can be used in adults, including pregnant women, and in children at least 2 years old.
This test allows detection of acute HIV-1 infection based on the presence of p24 antigen, before seroconversion occurs, allowing for earlier diagnosis than with previous tests. It can also detect HIV-1 and HIV-2 post-seroconversion, based on antibodies. If the HIV-1/HIV-2 antigen/antibody test is positive, an antibody-based HIV-1/HIV-2 test is done (at additional charge) to confirm infection and identify whether it is caused by HIV-1 or HIV-2. However, the HIV-1/HIV-2 differentiation test will be negative during acute infection (prior to development of specific antibodies). If the antibody-based HIV-1/HIV-2 test is negative, the blood specimen will be reflex-tested for the presence of HIV-1 RNA (at additional charge) to identify patients with acute HIV-1 infection.
The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends HIV screening for all pregnant women, and for individuals between 15 and 65 years of age who live in regions with an HIV prevalence of 0.1% [2]. In addition, antigen/antibody-based HIV testing is recommended for high-risk individuals who want to begin pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) therapy, because HIV-positive patients who start PrEP without knowing their HIV status face an elevated risk of antiretroviral resistance.
Because 40% of new HIV infections are transmitted unknowingly by people unaware of their HIV status, early diagnosis is important to reduce HIV transmission.5 Antigen/antibody-based HIV screening assays have 99.7% sensitivity and 99.3% specificity for HIV infection and can identify most (80%) acute infections that would otherwise require nucleic acid testing for detection.
