All Blood Tests

If you are pregnant, you will be offered prenatal screening tests to check for spina bifida and other birth defects. These tests are not perfect. Even if the results are negative, there is still a small chance that spina bifida is present, and many mothers who have positive blood tests have normal babies. Speak with your doctor about prenatal testing, its risks and how you might handle the results. Prenatal testing is a personal choice.

Following are methods used to check for spina bifida during pregnancy:

* Blood tests. The primary test used to check for myelomeningocele is the maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) test. In this procedure, your doctor draws a blood sample to be sent to a laboratory, where it’s tested for alpha fetoprotein (AFP), a protein that’s produced by the fetus. It’s normal for a small amount of AFP to cross the placenta and enter the mother’s bloodstream, but abnormally high levels of AFP may indicate that the fetus has a neural tube defect. Varying levels of AFP can be caused by factors including a miscalculation in fetal age or multiple fetuses. If this occurs, your doctor may order a follow-up blood test for confirmation. If the results are still high, you will need further evaluation, including an ultrasound examination.
* Ultrasound. Many obstetricians use ultrasonography to screen for spina bifida. If blood tests indicate high AFP levels, your doctor will suggest an ultrasound exam to determine why. Ultrasound exams bounce high-frequency sound waves off tissues in your body to form black and white images on a small video monitor. The information these images provide can help establish whether there is more than one fetus and can help confirm gestational age – factors that can alter AFP levels. An advanced ultrasound can also detect signs of spina bifida, such as an open spine or particular features in your baby’s brain that may indicate spina bifida. Ultrasound today is quite effective in detecting spina bifida and assessing its severity. This procedure is safe for both mother and baby.
* Amniocentesis. If a blood test shows high levels of AFP in your blood and the ultrasound is normal, your doctor may offer an amniocentesis. During an amniocentesis, your doctor uses a needle to remove samples of fluid from the amniotic sac that surrounds the fetus. The analysis indicates the level of AFP present in the amniotic fluid. A small amount of AFP is normally found in amniotic fluid, however the amniotic fluid contains an elevated amount of AFP when an open neural tube defect is present because the skin surrounding the baby’s spine is gone and AFP leaks into the amniotic sac. A second test can be done on the same sample to confirm that a neural tube defect is present. However, an amniocentesis cannot indicate the severity of spina bifida. This test does have a risk to the developing fetus – about one in 200 to one in 500 pregnant women miscarries after an amniocentesis.

Everyone’s getting more educated and informed nowadays. They know heart attacks, strokes and cancer are the major killers. They also know it is possible to detect certain conditions early, hence making it potentially treatable. Breast cancer would be a good example. Mammograms have been able to pick up the disease at such an early stage that it is potentially curable. There is a good chance now that if it is detected early, the patient is more likely to die of some unrelated cause. Early detection of other conditions, for example diabetes, allow treatment , so preventing further complications of the disease.

In the old days, people only went to see the doctor when they felt sick. Now they are starting to see the doctor even when they feel well. They want to know if they have any risks for diseases , or if they are in the early stages of some diseases, where early treatment can result in a cure. Hence, the birth of health screening as an industry. In some countries, it’s a business. You can buy health screening packages, where tests are done on every part of you – blood samples, urine samples, stool samples can all be taken, and a scope can be stuffed into practically every orifice. Everything can be seen nowadays. Unfortunately, not all conditions can be detected early. And not all tests are equally good at detecting conditions. Some tests sold as part of a complete health check-up may not necessarily exclude a condition, or reduce one’s chances of dying if picked up. In fact, over-investigation may even lead to unnecessary further tests, procedures and a lot of anxiety.

So who should do health screening ?

People with family histories of certain medical conditions should go before they develop symptoms. eg, a strong family history of heart attacks, certain cancers. Most people above 40 should consider getting themselves checked at least once, and then maybe 3 yearly if no problems are detected.

Companies use health screening to determine if potential employees are suitable for the job. Others use it to determine if their employees are still fit on the job. Some jobs can be dangerous for people with certain medical conditions ( would you really want a truck driver to have a history of uncontrolled fits?) , and other jobs can be dangerous for the worker’s health ( eg. industries with machines that produce loud noises would need to regularly screen their workers for hearing problems).

So what about otherwise well people who are just worried and want to get tested, just to make sure ?

There are no hard and fast rules. In some countries, you pay the money, you get the test. No problem right ? Well, there are some things you may want to look out for before deciding to do the test.

Is the test safe ? Will it harm me ?
Colonoscopy ( a scope inserted up your rear end to check the large intestine) has a small risk of perforation or bleeding. Your doctor needs to determine the risks versus the benefits of the test.
A CT coronary angiogram ( a scan of the heart arteries to see if they are blocked) has small risks when done on patients with certain medical conditions like kidney disease or asthma.

Is the test easy to do ?
Testing blood for high cholesterol or high sugar, is easy. So is a Pap smear for cervical cancer.

Is the test accurate ?
No use doing a test if the results don’t give you a good answer. eg. the blood test for the cancer marker for colon cancer may go up in other medical conditions, or not be raised in early cancer. So a “normal” result doesn’t mean anything. Neither does a “raised” result.

Pap smears, mammograms, tests for blood pressure, blood sugar and blood cholesterol are reasonably accurate.

Does the test make a difference?
Mammograms do detect breast cancer early enough for treatment. Pap smears detect cervical cancer in its pre-cancerous stage. Cure rates are high. So the tests are worth doing.

What is the test trying to look for ?
Some people just want to have their whole body scanned in the hope of detecting some small tumour. It doesn’t work that way. Perfectly healthy people may have variations in their organs, or benign cysts and growths. We don’t all look the same inside. This may lead to unnecessary further tests, even operations, not to mention the terrible stress the patient has to undergo while waiting for results.

So before you go for health screening, ask you doctor about the tests you are going to do. It’s good to have more knowledge about your own body. And it helps if you can take steps today to prevent diseases. But you do need to understand what you are going to do.

If you want to know the level of cholesterol in your blood, you have to go through cholesterol blood test. This test would give you a good estimate of how much cholesterol is present in your system. It is also the test that doctors use as a guide so that they can provide the right type of medications for you. Cholesterol blood test can be performed in most clinics that have the necessary equipments. With the many health centers in operation today, getting your cholesterol tested becomes as easy as buying fruits from a grocer.

And it gets even better still. Right now, there are cholesterol blood test kits that can be bought from pharmacies. These tests can reveal your cholesterol count in a matter of minutes. These at-home tests allow patients to test their cholesterol level whenever they want and where they want, even at the comforts of their own homes. Aside from these kits, there are also devices that can read your cholesterol level, including other information relevant to your condition.

With more and more people getting concerned with their cholesterol count, many are getting alarmed about the increasing instances of heart problems. Heart diseases can strike anybody. It is a disease that is very common to people 50 years old and above. This is because of the fact that at such point in their life, their heart had worked long enough to show signs of wear and tear. The people who failed to take care of their hearts and check their cholesterol levels are the ones who are more likely to develop heart concerns.

Cholesterol is one of the unwanted substances present in the bloodstream. It finds its way inside the body through the foods that you eat. Cholesterol is contained in your meals. And there are foods that are unmistakably rich with cholesterol that when eaten, could elevate your count drastically. It is quite easy to tell yourself not to eat foods high in cholesterol. But actually doing it is the hardest thing. Changing your lifestyle and your diet can’t happen overnight. It even takes a lifetime for some people to change a single detail about their life, even if it is as simple as neglecting the food they love eating.

Testosterone tests are carried out to measure the testosterone level in your body. These tests are generally of two types – blood tests and saliva tests. Testosterone tests are important to diagnose and cure certain syndromes and diseases associated with testosterone deficiency. These tests are done to evaluate ambiguous sex characteristics, precocious puberty, hirsutism and masculinization, virilizing syndromes in the female, infertility in the male, and rare tumors of the ovary and testicle.

Testosterone tests are carried out in laboratories on blood samples taken from body. These blood samples are usually collected in the morning, because testosterone levels are higher during morning hours. Most laboratory testosterone tests measure total testosterone, as the sum of both bound and free testosterone in the body. The most accurate blood test is the equilibrium dialysis, which measures free testosterones plus a portion of the albumin bound testosterones.

There are some do-it-yourself home testosterone test kits available at stores and online sites. They measure testosterone level in saliva. These tests are useful for aged persons and those who undergo testosterone replacement therapies. Apart from testosterone levels, saliva hormone tests also provide information regarding levels of other hormones such as DHEA, cortisol and progesterone.

Home testosterone tests are mostly simple – you collect your saliva in tubes provided with the kits at certain times of a day. Then you fill a simple form and mail the sample along with the form in a prepaid addressed mailer. The results are usually obtained in about 10 to 15 days. A complete home testosterone test kit is available from $55 to $80.

The major advantages of salivary hormone tests include low cost, private and convenient collection, and collection of multiple samples without spending the whole day in a laboratory. Testosterone usually follows circadian rhythms, so multiple sample collections allow more precise and accurate evaluation of the fluctuations in the rhythm.

Normal testosterone levels range from 300 to 1,200 ng/dL in men, 30 to 95 ng/dL in women, less than 100 ng/dL in pre-pubertal boys, and less than 40 ng/dL in pre-pubertal girls. Increased levels of testosterone are indicative of sexual precocity, viral infection of encephalitis, tumors involving the adrenal glands, testicular tumors, excessive thyroid production (hyperthyroidism), and testosterone resistance syndromes. Decreased levels of testosterone indicate Klinefelter syndrome, chromosomal deficiency, primary and secondary hypogonadism, and down syndrome.

Need a home yeast infection test? Well, do you have discharge? Itching? Skin rashes? Unexplained symptoms? Then you probably have a yeast infection.

And believe it or not, but food allergies can play a huge role in your yeast infection. So when looking for a home yeast infection test you should consider an allergy testing kit also.

Curing your food allergies can be a huge step in an overall cure program for your yeast.

Using The Allergy Test

One can also identify hidden food allergies using skin tests or blood tests (e.g., the ELISA/ACT or IgG RAST blood test). The drawback to skin testing is that it’s designed to detect immediate reactions to foods. Since over 90 percent of food allergies are of the delayed-onset type, skin tests cannot identify the vast majority of food allergies.

Blood tests measure antibodies in the blood directed at specific foods. Results can be misleading, however, if you’re taking cortisone, acetylsalicylic acid, antihistamines, or other drugs.

To do this test, all that’s needed is a single drop of blood. Food allergy home testing kits allow you to test for up to 100 foods through a drop of blood taken from the fingertip. You can obtain this in the privacy of your home without consulting a doctor. So when you are suffering from a yeast infection determined by a home yeast infection test you can decide to take an allergy test to find out if it would be beneficial to take further steps in limiting your allergies.

York Laboratories in England accepts such blood samples from all over the world. The lab then processes the blood to determine the level of antibodies against specific foods. Positive test results are close to 100 percent accurate, but there may be false negatives (i.e., the test may miss up to 20 percent of allergies).

You’ll receive a report back from the lab within a few weeks. It will provide a list of the reactive foods and a book advising on rotation diets and alternatives to common food allergies. Testing costs vary from $200 to $500, depending on the number of foods being tested.

If you have the burning, itching, discharge, tiredness, rashes, and unexplained symptoms then you probably have a yeast infection. There isn’t a home yeast infection test you can take but if you have those symptoms there are cure programs available.

What exactly is blood glucose? Well it is the food source for our cells and we get glucose primarily by eating carbohydrates. The carbohydrates go in as food then are transformed into sugar. These sugar or blood glucose levels are controlled by insulin and glucagons. Insulin is an essential hormone released from the pancreas when sugar levels rise.

A normal blood sugar should fall below 150 mg, but not any lower than 70 mg. If your blood sugar is not, within this range, it is time to see the doctor and here is why:

•Constantly being above 150 mg is an indicator of high blood sugar

•Consistently being below 70 mg is an indicator of low blood sugar

These blood sugar levels are what are known as hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia respectively. The worst of the two is the last one this condition can be potentially life threatening. Here are some signs of hypoglycemia:

•Being chronically tired or lethargic

•Increased mood swing in particular irritability

•Passing out

•Confusion or serious memory loss

Left untreated this condition can escalate into full-blown diabetes possibly resulting in sever eye, kidney or nerve damage. To determine if you may have a problem in this area for sure your doctor will want to run some tests.

Fasting Blood Sugar Test:

This is the first blood test your doctor may want to perform with diabetics. This test is administered at least eight hours after a meal or optimally first thing in the morning before you have had breakfast. With this kind of test, your blood sugar should be below 100 mg. If your levels are up to 125 mg you may have pre-diabetes, a test result over 125 mg will encourage your physician to do the test again with a tentative diagnosis of diabetes. Two or more tests are absolute confirmation of diabetes. When the numbers get to the 200 mg mark you are a serious diabetic and may already be suffering other symptoms as noted above.

Random Blood Glucose Test:

A random blood sugar test will be given at anytime of the day and can also give the first indications of diabetes. A normal blood glucose level is below 200 mg. If you are higher than that, you probably have pre-diabetes and your doctor will probably refer you back for a fasting glucose test to be sure.

Oral glucose tolerance test:

This is the test no one really cares for, after your fasting blood sugar is taken then they will move along to checking your tolerance for sugar. The doctor will give you this thick sweet solution to drink and then you wait. One-hour level they will take your blood and administer the test. Normal glucose levels after an hour are less than 140 mg. between the normal and 199 mg is pre-diabetes. Now we wait again for another hour and take the last test. At this point in the procedure, your blood sugar should still be below the 140 mg. If however your level after two hours is, 200 mg or more this indicates diabetes.

Wherever you fall on the testing, it is always a good idea to watch our sugar and carbohydrate intake for health reason. If you do happen to be diabetic, it is better to know early on so that you can attempt to address the problem with diet and exercise.

Diabetes is a disease caused by a lack of insulin (a hormone that your body relies upon to convert blood sugar into energy) in the body. But how can you test for diabetes and see whether you have contracted the disease yourself? The best way is to go and see your doctor and ask them to test you. They will then be able to give you an accurate diagnosis. In this article I will discuss four of the most popular diabetes tests that your doctor is likely to use.

1) FASTING PLASMA GLUCOSE (FPG) TEST:- The FPG test has become one of the most popular diabetes tests. The main drawback with the FPG test is that it is not suitable to test for gestational diabetes (a form of diabetes which develops during pregnancy). However, if you are not pregnant the chances are that your doctor will use this test to make their diagnosis.
To begin you will be scheduled in for a FPG test. Your doctor will require you to eat nothing for at least eight hours prior to the test. During the test they will take a blood sample and measure your blood glucose levels. They will then analyse the blood sample and diagnose you based on the following rules:

- A blood sugar level of 99 milligrams per decilitre (mg/dL) or less = Normal.
- A blood sugar level of between 100 mg/dL and 125 mg/dL = Impaired Fasting Glucose (a form of pre-diabetes which if left untreated can develop into type 2 diabetes).
- A blood sugar level of 126 mg/dL or greater = Type 1 or type 2 diabetes. In this instance you will be given another FPG for accuracy. If both FPGs suggest that you have diabetes your doctor will investigate further and diagnose you with type 1 or type 2 diabetes

2) ORAL GLUCOSE TOLERANCE TEST (OGTT):- This test is similar to the FPG but it can be used to diagnose all types of diabetes. If you are a man or non-pregnant woman your doctor will book you in for an FPG test. Following the FPG test they will then give you a drink containing glucose and take regular blood samples after you have drank it. If you are pregnant you will be given the glucose drink without an FPG test and regular blood samples will be taken following consumption. In both variations the final blood sample will be used to make a diagnosis based on the following rules:

- A blood sugar level of 140 mg/dL or less = Normal.
- A blood sugar level of between 140 mg/dL and 199 mg/dL = Impaired Fasting Glucose (a form of pre-diabetes which if left untreated can develop into type 2 diabetes).
- A blood sugar reading of 200 mg/dL or greater = Type 1, type 2 or gestational diabetes. If you are a pregnant woman then you will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Otherwise your doctor will investigate further and diagnose you with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

3) RANDOM BLOOD GLUCOSE (RBG) TEST:- The RBG does exactly what it says and involves a random blood test being taken. RBG tests can be performed without the assistance of your doctor using a glucose meter (a piece of medical equipment that calculates the approximate level of glucose in your blood). The test involves pricking your finger with a lancing device (a device which draws a small amount of blood from your finger), placing the blood on a test strip and then inserting this test strip into your glucose meter to get a reading. If multiple RBG tests show that you have blood sugar levels higher than 200 mg/dL then you may have diabetes.

Although RBG tests are easy to perform they should NOT be used as the only test when diagnosing diabetes. They are approximately 10% as accurate as laboratory tests and therefore any concerns you may have as the result of multiple RBG tests should be followed up with your doctor. Only your doctor will be able to give you a full and accurate diagnosis.

4) GLYCOSYLATED HAEMOGLOBIN TEST:- Glycosylated haemoglobin is the term used to describe haemoglobin that has bound with glucose. Glycosylated haemoglobin cells usually last for between two to four months. If you have diabetes or you are not managing your diabetes effectively the level of glycosylated haemoglobin in your blood will increase. To begin the gylcosylated haemoglobin test your doctor will take a blood sample and analyse the glycosylated haemoglobin levels based on the following results:

- Glycosylated haemoglobin levels of between 4% and 6% = Normal.
- Glycosylated haemoglobin levels below 7% = Diabetes that is under control.
- Glycosylated haemoglobin levels greater than 7% = Diabetes that is not under control.

I hope this article has shown you that there are multiple tests available to determine whether or not you have diabetes. However, you must remember that these tests are useless unless performed under the supervision of a doctor or other qualified medical professional. Many factors can affect your test results and your doctor will be able to look at all the relevant factors and then make an accurate diagnosis. If you think you may have diabetes and want a solid answer then go see your doctor and get yourself tested today.

Every intention has been made to make this article accurate and informative but it is intended for general information only. Diabetes is a medical condition and this article is not intended as a substitute for the advice of your doctor or a qualified medical practitioner. If you have any concerns regarding any form of diabetes you should seek the advice of your doctor immediately.

For a pregnancy test to become positive, the fertilized egg has to first implant into the uterus and then send enough amounts of hCG the pregnancy hormone into your blood stream for enough hCG to create a positive pregnancy test.

Implantation, when the fertilized egg implants into the endometrium, happens about a week after ovulation (range: 6-12 days), and it takes another 3-4 days after implantation (9-10 dpo: days after ovulation) for the blood pregnancy test to first become positive.

* Blood Pregnancy test: If you are pregnant then the blood pregnancy test is usually positive within 3-4 days after implantation or about 9-10 days after fertilization and ovulation.
* Urine (Home HPT) Pregnancy Test: The urine pregnancy test will usually not become positive in most women until a missed period or about a week after implantation. Many manufacturers of urine pregnancy tests want you to believe that the urine test is usually positive before a missed period, but only about 25% of pregnant women will test positive with the HPT 2 days before a missed period, and about 40% the day before the missed period.

The wide variation when the urine pregnancy test becomes positive is due to four variables which determine when the home urine pregnancy test becomes positive:

1. Timing of Implantation
2. Blood hCG levels
3. Urine hCG level (eg.how concentrated or diluted the urine is)
4. Sensitivity of the pregnancy test

1. Timing of Implantation

A pregnancy test detects the presence of the pregnancy hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) either in the blood or in the urine. The hCG in the urine comes from the hCG in the blood after it was filtered through the kidney. After ovulation, the egg gets fertilized and travels through the fallopian tube toward the uterus. This travel takes on average about a week. Implantation, the attachment of the fertilized egg in the lining of the uterus, occurs on average about a week or later after ovulation/fertilization, but it can happen as early as six days and as late as 12 days after fertilization/ovulation. At the time of implantation, the placenta starts making the pregnancy hormone hCG, which then enters the blood stream. hCG can be detected in the blood about three to four days after implantation. Urine hCG can be detected about two to three days after blood hCG can first be seen. Detection of hCG depends on timing of implantation, so hCG can normally be detected in the blood between nine and 16 days after ovulation (HPT: 12-19 days after ovulation).

2. Blood hCG Level

There is a wide normal variation of hCG levels, both in the blood and the urine. If a woman has low blood hCG levels, for example, then it can take several more days for it to show up on a pregnancy test.

3. Urine hCG Level

Urine hCG levels change over the course of the day depending on how much you drink and how diluted or concentrated the urine is. Urine pregnancy testing is best done with more concentrated urine. If you drink a lot of fluid, the urine may be too diluted early on in pregnancy to achieve an hCG concentration adequate enough for a positive test.

4. Sensitivity of Urine Home Pregnancy Test

Different pregnancy tests have different sensitivities. The lower the sensitivity, the earlier a pregnancy test becomes positive. Sensitivities are indicated in mIU/mL, the lowest amount of hCG in the urine that tests positive. A sensitivity of 20 mIU/mL requires one-half the hCG level to be positive when compared with a 40 mIU/mL sensitivity level, and it may become positive several days earlier than the pregnancy test with a higher sensitivity. Make sure you read the package of the pregnancy test to determine your pregnancy test’s sensitivity.

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4 Top Tests For Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease caused by a lack of insulin (a hormone that your body relies upon to convert blood sugar into energy) in the body. But how can you test for diabetes and see whether you have contracted the disease yourself? The best way is to go and see your doctor and ask them to test you. They will then be able to give you an accurate diagnosis. In this article I will discuss four of the most popular diabetes tests that your doctor is likely to use.

1) FASTING PLASMA GLUCOSE (FPG) TEST:- The FPG test has become one of the most popular diabetes tests. The main drawback with the FPG test is that it is not suitable to test for gestational diabetes (a form of diabetes which develops during pregnancy). However, if you are not pregnant the chances are that your doctor will use this test to make their diagnosis.
To begin you will be scheduled in for a FPG test. Your doctor will require you to eat nothing for at least eight hours prior to the test. During the test they will take a blood sample and measure your blood glucose levels. They will then analyse the blood sample and diagnose you based on the following rules:

- A blood sugar level of 99 milligrams per decilitre (mg/dL) or less = Normal.
- A blood sugar level of between 100 mg/dL and 125 mg/dL = Impaired Fasting Glucose (a form of pre-diabetes which if left untreated can develop into type 2 diabetes).
- A blood sugar level of 126 mg/dL or greater = Type 1 or type 2 diabetes. In this instance you will be given another FPG for accuracy. If both FPGs suggest that you have diabetes your doctor will investigate further and diagnose you with type 1 or type 2 diabetes

2) ORAL GLUCOSE TOLERANCE TEST (OGTT):- This test is similar to the FPG but it can be used to diagnose all types of diabetes. If you are a man or non-pregnant woman your doctor will book you in for an FPG test. Following the FPG test they will then give you a drink containing glucose and take regular blood samples after you have drank it. If you are pregnant you will be given the glucose drink without an FPG test and regular blood samples will be taken following consumption. In both variations the final blood sample will be used to make a diagnosis based on the following rules:

- A blood sugar level of 140 mg/dL or less = Normal.
- A blood sugar level of between 140 mg/dL and 199 mg/dL = Impaired Fasting Glucose (a form of pre-diabetes which if left untreated can develop into type 2 diabetes).
- A blood sugar reading of 200 mg/dL or greater = Type 1, type 2 or gestational diabetes. If you are a pregnant woman then you will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Otherwise your doctor will investigate further and diagnose you with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

3) RANDOM BLOOD GLUCOSE (RBG) TEST:- The RBG does exactly what it says and involves a random blood test being taken. RBG tests can be performed without the assistance of your doctor using a glucose meter (a piece of medical equipment that calculates the approximate level of glucose in your blood). The test involves pricking your finger with a lancing device (a device which draws a small amount of blood from your finger), placing the blood on a test strip and then inserting this test strip into your glucose meter to get a reading. If multiple RBG tests show that you have blood sugar levels higher than 200 mg/dL then you may have diabetes.

Although RBG tests are easy to perform they should NOT be used as the only test when diagnosing diabetes. They are approximately 10% as accurate as laboratory tests and therefore any concerns you may have as the result of multiple RBG tests should be followed up with your doctor. Only your doctor will be able to give you a full and accurate diagnosis.

4) GLYCOSYLATED HAEMOGLOBIN TEST:- Glycosylated haemoglobin is the term used to describe haemoglobin that has bound with glucose. Glycosylated haemoglobin cells usually last for between two to four months. If you have diabetes or you are not managing your diabetes effectively the level of glycosylated haemoglobin in your blood will increase. To begin the gylcosylated haemoglobin test your doctor will take a blood sample and analyse the glycosylated haemoglobin levels based on the following results:

- Glycosylated haemoglobin levels of between 4% and 6% = Normal.
- Glycosylated haemoglobin levels below 7% = Diabetes that is under control.
- Glycosylated haemoglobin levels greater than 7% = Diabetes that is not under control.

I hope this article has shown you that there are multiple tests available to determine whether or not you have diabetes. However, you must remember that these tests are useless unless performed under the supervision of a doctor or other qualified medical professional. Many factors can affect your test results and your doctor will be able to look at all the relevant factors and then make an accurate diagnosis. If you think you may have diabetes and want a solid answer then go see your doctor and get yourself tested today.

Every intention has been made to make this article accurate and informative but it is intended for general information only. Diabetes is a medical condition and this article is not intended as a substitute for the advice of your doctor or a qualified medical practitioner. If you have any concerns regarding any form of diabetes you should seek the advice of your doctor immediately.

The Comprehensive Metabolic Panel, also known as CMP is an inexpensive blood test that gives you vital information. Why is this important? Generally most people have not had the training to understand what the basic laboratory tests mean. The Comprehensive Metabolic Panel is important because it gives an overview of exactly what and how the body is functioning. To understand just the basics of your blood tests will assist you in your health care program. When your physician says all of your results were normal, now you will know what that means.

The comprehensive metabolic panel actually has 17 different tests within the panel. Within these17 tests is important information regarding your kidneys, liver, electrolytes and your sugar levels.

Glucose- To determine if your blood glucose level is within healthy ranges; to screen for, diagnose, and monitor diabetes and pre-diabetes.

Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) – This measures the amount of nitrogen in your blood that comes from the waste product urea. This is made when protein is broken down in your body. It is used evaluate kidney function and monitor the effectiveness of dialysis and other treatments related to kidney disease or damage.

Creatinine- To determine if your kidneys are functioning normally and to monitor treatment for kidney disease. The kidneys also filter out waste and other unneeded substances from the blood.

BUN/ Creatinine Ratio- Comparison of the two waste products of the normal metabolic processes.

Sodium- To determine whether your sodium concentration is within normal limits and to help evaluate electrolyte balance and kidney function.

Potassium- To determine whether your potassium concentration is within normal limits and to help evaluate an electrolyte imbalance. It is critical for normal functioning of the muscles, nerves and heart.

Chloride – To determine if there is a problem with your body’s electrolyte or acid-base balance and to monitor treatment. It also helps maintain proper blood volume, blood pressure, and PH of your body fluids.

Carbon Dioxide- Carbon dioxide is a gaseous waste product made from metabolism. The blood carries carbon dioxide to your lungs, where it is exhaled. Your kidneys and lungs balance the levels of carbon dioxide, bicarbonate, and carbonic acid in the blood.

Calcium- To determine if the level of calcium in your blood is at normal levels. Calcium is important to many body functions including muscle contraction, nerve and brain function, bone formation and the release of hormones.

Total Protein- -To determine your nutritional status or to screen for certain liver and kidney disorders as well as other diseases.

Albumin- To screen for a liver disorder or kidney disease or to evaluate nutritional status.

Globulin- Globulins are proteins that can be measured in blood serum. High levels may indicate liver disease, chronic inflammation, and autoimmune diseases. Low levels may be related to immune deficiency kidney problems or bowel related disease.

A/G Ratio- It has to do with the ratio of albumin and globulin, serum proteins. A decrease in the A/G ratio often indicates the presence of impaired liver function, nutritional status, kidney disease and many other conditions.

Total Bilirubin – To screen for or monitor liver disorders.

ALP- To screen for or monitor treatment for a liver or bone disorders

AST (SGOT ) – To detect potential damage to heart skeletal muscle and liver cells..

ALT(SGPT)- To screen for liver damage. Injury to the liver results in release of this enzyme into the blood.

The comprehensive metabolic panel may also be used to monitor a disease process, and for treatment purposes. Many treatable diseases do not show any physical signs and symptoms, until damage is done. Just because you feel fine does not mean that something may not be wrong. Early detection will save you time, money and heartache down the road.

Diabetes is on the rise. Due to poor food choices and obesity, more and more people are developing Type 2 diabetes. This is preventable in some cases. Simple changes can be done early before potential systemic body damage has started. The American Diabetes Association is a great resource for more information on diabetes.

Liver disease may remain silent for many years until irreversible damage is done. The liver is the largest organ in the body. It plays key roles in many vital body functions. It acts as a filter and is involved in metabolism; hormones, clotting and much more. Other important key factors that may lead to liver disease may include alcohol consumption, prescription medications, over the counter medications, and herbal supplements. Hepatitis may remain silent and only be diagnosed through a simple liver blood test which shows elevated liver enzymes. There are two main enzymes called ALT and AST. These enzymes are located within liver cells which may leak into the bloodstream once damage is done.

Kidney disease can remain silent for many years also. Diseases like hypertension and diabetes may affect your kidney function. The kidneys play many vital roles in processing wastes, and excreting them form the body in the form of urine. When the kidneys fail to do their job, wastes build up quickly resulting in dialysis or death. The Centers for Diseases Contol and Prevention, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report in March 2007 showed some staggering numbers. One in nine adults has chronic kidney disease. Another statistic shows there are 470,000 people relying on dialysis to live. That is almost a half a million people!

Electrolytes are used by nerve, heart, and muscle cells to carry electrical impulses to muscles, nerves and brain. Electrolyte disturbances can occur with vomiting, diarrhea, or diseases involving hormones that regulate electrolyte concentrations. Potassium levels are tied to heart and nerve impulses as well as muscle function.

Time and money are crucial to each of us, luckily there are ways to get to get tested with having to waste too much of either. Reduce your wasted time, money, and stress by understanding the basics of your body first. The next time you see your physician, you may feel a bit empowered by telling him you have already tested and understand what your results mean.

Order your own blood test today. Professional Medical Counselors are available to assist you with all of your testing questions and needs.