Full Blood Count (FBC)
Full blood count determines general health status. It is used as a screen for a variety of disorders, such as anaemia and infection, inflammation nutritional status and exposure to toxic substances.
Total Cholesterol
Total cholesterol and it’s sub groups HDL, LDL and Triglycerides (TG) are used in evaluating heart disease risk.
These tests are useful in the assessment of healthy individuals as well as in patients who have heart disease or have other risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure or diabetes. They are also used to monitor treatment with lipid lowering drugs.
Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)
Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme found in high levels in bone and liver.
This is the reason it is used to screen for or monitor, treatment for a liver or bone disorder and is part of the liver function test profile.
Liver function tests
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), and bilirubin
These tests together as a group are refer to them as 'liver function tests'.
They detect liver damage or an inherited liver disorder.
Gamma GT
Gamma GT is used to screen for liver disease or alcohol abuse; and to help your doctor tell whether a raised concentration of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the bloodstream is due to liver or bone disease.
Urea and Creatinine
Urea and Creatinine in blood or urine, test for normal kidney function; also utilised in monitoring treatment for kidney disease. They are a part of a basic metabolic panel.
Uric acid
Uric acid is produced by the breakdown of nitrogen-containing compounds found in the body in substances such as nucleic acids (DNA, RNA). They enter the circulation from digestion of certain foods, drinks (alcoholic beverages like beer and wine) or from normal breakdown and turnover of cells in the body. Most uric acid is removed by the kidneys and disposed of in the urine.
Excess uric acid can cause the condition called gout – an inflammation that occurs in joints when crystals derived from uric acid form in the joint fluid. Excess uric acid can also lead to kidney disease, as a result of deposition in the kidneys or kidney stone formation, as a result of increased urinary excretion.
Electrolytes
Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg) Calcium (Ca) and others are part of basic metabolic panel. Their imbalance may be related to metabolic disorders and creates a multitude of symptoms from tiredness and muscle weakness to potentially fatal cardiac arrhythmias in some patients