What are laboratory screening tests?
Your Doctor may order tests to be done just for screening purposes. These tests are often done in order to identify people who are at risk for certain diseases. They are also done in order to "catch" a disease early enough for treatment to be given. Screening tests sometime will require further testing to be done in order to confirm the results of the screening test.
We will talk more about these diseases and these tests in our interaction in this blog.
Why are screening tests important.
Screening tests are important for preventative care and early treatment.
These are some of the screening tests which your Doctor may request the laboratory to do on your blood and/or urine specimens:
1. Glucose test
2. Cholesterol test
3. Thyroid function tests
4. Chlamydia and Gonorrhea tests (These are sexually transmitted infections)
5. Tuberculosis tests (aka TB)
6. Hepatitis tests (Inflammation of a liver)
7. Prostate Cancer tests (For males)
8. Tests for arthritis
9. Kidney tests
10. Liver function tests
11. HIV tests
There are other screening tests which are not done in the laboratory, such as mammograms (to check for breast cancer), colonoscopy (to check for colorectal cancer) and many more. For these test we will get expert opinion for your benefit.
Please feel free to ask questions about any of the tests mentioned above. I am here to help you.
Good day Mandisa
ReplyDeleteI would like to know if thyroid malfunction ( i am not even sure if my question make sense) can be associated with weight gain or serious weight loss? and how often must one have a thyroid test and is there any symptoms we should look out for?, your assistance will be highly appreciated.
Hi Ntombi.
ReplyDeleteYes, you do make sense :)
The short answer is yes. The tests we do as part of the thyroid function tests are called the TSH, FT4 and FT3 tests. The TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) is a hormone in your body that controls the production of the other two hormones (T4 and T3). These hormones regulate your metabolism i.e how your body breaks down food and burns fat.
The normal levels of your TSH should be about 0.46 to 4.68 mIU/L (This is a guide and it varies slightly from one laboratory to another.)
If you body produces too much of this hormone (TSH), you will have less of the other hormones that control your metabolism and therefore you will not burn fat as quickly as you should. This will likely result in weight gain.
If your body produces too little of the TSH, then you will have too much of the hormones that control your metabolism. Your body will burn fat too quickly and you will lose weigh too fast.
You can do the TSH test as part of your routine medical screens unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
Remember that weight loss or weight gain on their own do not necessarily mean that there is something wrong with your thyroid hormones. It is important to let your doctor evaluate your situation and lab results in conjunction with other medical information he has about you.
Be well...
Thank you so much
ReplyDeleteThank you so much
ReplyDelete