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To a very large extent, the human body is designed to monitor and manage its internal metabolic processes, responding and dealing with troubles that may come illnesses and other problems. Notwithstanding, the tissues and organs the body relies on for proper functionality may become overwhelmed by bacterial and viral attacks and other deficiencies. When these happen, the body sends out warning signs and symptoms which may then make a doctor send the person for medical laboratory investigation. Here are seven vital tests to undergo, to detect and prevent illnesses.
Kidney Function Test
The kidney is the bean-shaped organ which is vital to life. The purpose of the test is to determine how well the kidneys are filtering waste from the blood, primarily using serum creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and urine albumin. These lab evaluations help find early signs of kidney damage. Serum creatinine test measures a normal muscle waste product in your blood; high levels mean poor filtering. Normal is roughly 0.6–1.1 mg/dL for women and 0.7–1.3 mg/dL for men. Estimated GFR (eGFR) is calculated from your creatinine, age, and sex. Above 90 mL/min is normal, while below 60 mL/min for three months suggests chronic kidney disease. Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) measures urea waste from protein breakdown. High levels can point to kidney trouble or dehydration.Common Urine TestsUrine Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio (uACR) checks for albumin leakage, a protein showing early filter damage. Normal is under 30 mg/g. Urinalysis uses a dipstick to quickly spot blood, extra protein, or infection in the pee.
Liver Function Test
A blood sample is required to do the liver function test (LFT), to measure specific enzymes, proteins, and bilirubin in the blood. It is primarily done to detect liver damage or disease, monitor the progression of known conditions (like hepatitis or fatty liver), and evaluate if certain medications are harming the liver. Doctors recommend an LFT if you are experiencing symptoms such as jaundice (yellowing skin or eyes), persistent fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea, dark urine, or pale stools.
The test is usually a part of routine blood work or diagnostic workups and measures several key markers to build a clear picture of your liver›s health. For this reason, the following enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP, GGT) are checked. They are proteins produced by the liver. Elevated levels in the blood generally indicate that the liver is inflamed or cells have been damaged. The liver manufactures essential proteins like albumin. Lower-than-normal levels can indicate a problem with the liver›s synthetic functions. Bilirubin is a waste product produced when red blood cells break down. High levels can point to liver disease or problems with your bile ducts.
Fasting Lipid Profile
For a person to undergo lipid profile test, such a person is expected to have fasted for the preceding 12 hours, during which only water ought to have been taken. This test is now a routine check, to measure the level of blood fats called triglyceride. Fasting is required to the clearest baseline for measuring specific types of fats and overall heart risk.
ECG for your heart
An electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG) is a quick, safe, and painless test that records the electrical signals in the heart. It helps doctors check the heart rate, find the cause of chest pain, and spot heart rhythm problems.
Glycated Heamoglobin
Glycated (or glycosylated) haemoglobin, commonly known as HbA1c or A1c is a blood test that measures average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months to help diagnose and manage diabetes. Essentially the amount of glucose (sugar) attached to haemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells. Red blood cells live for about three months. The test reflects a long-term average rather than daily ups and downs. No fasting: You do not need to fast or prepare a special diet before taking this blood test. The result ranges from normal (below 5.7%); prediabetes (5.7% to 6.4%); diabetes: 6.5% or higher.
STI screening tests for like HIV, Hepatitis B
It is necessary to screen for sexually transmitted infections such as HIV and hepatitis B. The medical laboratory test is done to check for the presence of HIV antibodies and HIV antigens (such as p24), or the genetic material (RNA) of the virus itself. HIV antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system after a person gets exposed to HIV. HIV antigens show up in the blood very early before antibodies form. Viral RNA is an actual piece of the virus›s genetic code, found using nucleic acid tests.
Cervical Cancer Screening (Women)
Cervical cancer is a major cause of death among women. Early detection goes a long way to help treat it. For this reason, women should undergo regular cervical screening tests, to check for human papillomavirus (HPV) and any abnormal cell changes on the cervix. It must be noted that this is not a test for the cancer itself. Rather, HPV test is a preventive screening meant to identify and treat precancerous cells before they can develop into cervical cancer.
The screening is done in one of two ways or even both: one way is the HPV test which looks at the cell sample for high-risk strains of HPV – the virus that causes nearly all cervical cancers.
The other is the Pap Test, which is also known as Pap Smear. In this test, the cells collected from the cervix are examined under a microscope for abnormalities or pre-cancers caused by HPV infection. These two tests are often done together using the same sample. To a large extent they are effective in detecting early cervical cancer.
