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.
ESR Erythrocyte sedimentation rate) - CRP (C- reactive protein)
Both tests are not specific enough to diagnose a particular disease; they do however serve as general markers for infection and inflammation. CRP is a marker of infection and inflammation, which can alert medical professionals that further testing and treatment may be necessary. High sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) is another marker related to risk factor evaluation of ischemic heart disease.
Iron levels
Low iron can cause anaemia, and is usually due to long-term or heavy bleeding, pregnancy, or rapid growth (in children); rarely is it due to poor diet. A high iron level can be due to a genetic condition, extensive blood transfusions, or rarely due to ingestion of an overdose of iron (usually in children).
Glucose
Blood glucose levels are also known as blood sugar.
Test is required if there are symptoms suggesting hyperglycaemia (high blood glucose) or hypoglycemia, or if you are diabetic. Also requested during pregnancy.
Glycosylated Haemoglobin (HbA1c)
Glycosylated haemoglobin. To aid diagnosis and monitor a person’s diabetes and to help treatment decisions.
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.
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.
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.
Albumin, Globulin, Total Protein
Albumin, Globulin and Total Protein are used to screen for liver disonders and nutritional deficiencies. Their levels may also be altered in Kidney disease.
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.
Total bilirubin
When red blood cells are broken down the pigment giving them their characteristic red colour, haemoglobin, (whose role is to carry oxygen to the tissues) is converted to unconjugated bilirubin. Only small amounts of bilirubin are normally present in the blood. In the liver, each unconjugated bilirubin molecule has a sugar molecule attached to it to form water soluble conjugated bilirubin. This is secreted into bile and carried to the intestine where bacteria break it down, eventually producing the brown pigment that colours normal stools. This metabolic process taking place in the liver is the reason that bilirubin can be used as a marker for liver disease such as cirrhosis.
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.
Creatinine Kinase (CK)
Creatinine kinase serum levels are used to detect and monitor muscle damage and to help diagnose conditions associated with muscle damage. CK is an enzyme found in the heart, brain, skeletal muscle and other tissues. Increased amounts are released into the bloodstream when there is muscle damage.
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.
Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH), T3, T4
TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone, thyrotropin) blood test which screens for and diagnoses thyroid disorders; monitors treatment of hypothyroidism/hyperthyroidism.
T3 and T4 are hormones produced by the thyroid gland . The thyroid gland is found in the neck, in front of the windpipe. T3 makes up less than 10% of what we call thyroid hormone, while T4 makes up the rest. T3, however, is about four times as strong as T4, and is thought to cause most, if not all, the effects of thyroid hormones.
Thyroid hormones help regulate the body’s metabolism (how the body functions) and are also related to fertility.
Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)
PSA is a protein produced mainly by cells in the prostate gland and can be a useful indicator of prostate cancer. This protein can be found in all males. Elevated levels do not always indicate cancer men whose levels are increased may have an infection of the prostate gland (prostatitis) or prostate enlargement. In blood, PSA is present both as free PSA and as complexed PSA bound to other blood proteins.
Faecal Occult Blood (FOB)
Faecal occult blood is used to detect blood in stools that could arise from intestinal inflammation or tumours that may also cause anaemia. It is used as a screening rest for bowel cancer.