Laboratory Exams
Complete Blood Count
The complete blood count is the calculation of the cellular (formed elements) of blood. These calculations are generally determined by specially designed machines that analyze the different components of blood in less than a minute.
A major portion of the complete blood count is the measure of the concentration of white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets in the blood. The complete blood count (also called CBC) is generated by testing a simple blood sample.
Microbiologic Stool Exam
This is a test to determine the presence of a parasite or worm-like infection of the intestine from stool analysis. Ova refers to the egg stage of the parasite life cycle. Some parasites are single-cell organisms such as amoeba, Giardia, and Trichomonas, while others have a worm-like appearance.
Coombs Test
An agglutination test used to detect proteins and especially antibodies on the surface of red blood cells.
Direct Coombs Test
The direct Coombs' test measures the presence of antibodies on the surface of red blood cells.
Indirect Coombs Test
The indirect Coombs' test measures the presence of antibodies to red blood cells in the blood.
Widal Test, Febrile Serology
The Widal test is used to demonstrate rising titres of antibodies to flagellar (H), somatic (O) antigens in typhoid and paratyphoid fever.
An increasing O antibody level signifies acute infection, whilst a raised H antibody level may indicate the serotype of the infecting organism.
Widal's test is of limited use because H and O antibody levels may rise non-specifically due to cross reactions with other enterobacteriacea.
The interpretation of the serology thus requires consideration of factors such as previous immunization, the stage of the illness and the effect of any antibiotic treatment, etc. Widal's test and particularly its interpretation requires an expert.
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, ESR
A sedimentation rate is common blood test that is used to detect and monitor inflammation in the body. The sedimentation rate is also called the erythrocyte sedimentation rate because it is a measure of the red blood cells (erythrocytes) sedimenting in a tube over a given period of time. Sedimentation rate is often abbreviated as sed rate or ESR.
Venereal Disease Laboratory Test, VDRL
This is the screening test for syphilis in its primary and secondary stages, and also confirms primary or secondary syphilis in the presence of infected lesions or sores.
Liver Function Tests
Liver function tests represent a broad range of normal functions performed by the liver. The diagnosis of liver disease depends upon a complete history, complete physical examination, and evaluation of liver function tests and further invasive and noninvasive tests.
Lipid Profile
The lipid profile is a group of tests that are often ordered together to determine risk of coronary heart disease. The tests that make up a lipid profile are tests that have been shown to be good indicators of whether someone is likely to have a heart attack or stroke caused by blockage of blood vessels ("hardening of the arteries").
The lipid profile includes total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol (often called good cholesterol), LDL-cholesterol (often called bad cholesterol), and triglycerides. Sometimes the report will include additional calculated values such as HDL/Cholesterol ratio or a risk score based on lipid profile results, age, sex, and other risk factors.
TORCH screen
This is a blood test that screens for several infections that may be present in the newborn, including Toxoplasmosis, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, Herpes simplex and HIV (hence the name), and other infections. Sometimes the test is spelled TORCHS, where the extra S stands for Syphilis.