06 Different Tests in the Laboratory

• CLINICAL CHEMISTRY Tests

  1.Glucose Testing

  - Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS)

  - Random Blood Sugar (RBS)

  - Glycosylated Hemoglobin (HbA1C)

  - Oral Glucose tolerance Test (OGTT)

  2. Lipid Profile

  - Triglycerides

  - Total Cholesterol

  - HDL

  - LDL

  3. Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)

  4. Creatinine (CREA)

  5. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)

  6. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)

  7. Blood Uric Acid (BUA)

  8. Electrolytes

  - Na

  - K

  - Cl
• Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS)

  • Function: Elevated levels indicate Diabetes Mellitus
  • Preparation: 8-10 hours fasting required
  • Sample: Serum
  • Tube: Gold/Red (SST/Non-additive)
• Random Blood Sugar (RBS)

  • Function: Elevated levels indicate Diabetes Mellitus
  • Preparation: No fasting required
  • Sample: Serum
  • Tube: Gold/Red (SST/Non-additive)
• Glycosylated Hemoglobin (Hemoglobin A1C or HbA1C)

  • Function: Monitors diabetes mellitus, monitors glucose level for the past 3 months
  • Preparation: No fasting required
  • Sample: Whole Blood
  • Tube: EDTA (Lavender)
• Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)

  • Function: Detects Diabetes Mellitus, Gestational Diabetes and Hypoglycemia
  • Preparation:

  1. 8-10 hours fasting required for Fasting Sample
  2. Oral Introduction of glucose load
  3. Extraction of 2nd and 3rd sample every hour after glucose load was introduced

  • Sample: 3-4 Serum Samples
  • Tube: Gold/Red (SST/Non-additive)
• Lipid Profile

  • Tests: Triglycerides, Total Cholesterol, HDL, LDL
  • Function: Used to assess coronary risk
  • Preparation: 10-12 hours fasting
  • Sample: Serum
  • Tube: Gold/Red (SST/Non-additive)
• Total Cholesterol Test

  • Function: Elevated levels indicate coronary risk
  • Preparation: Fasting may or may not be required
  • Sample: Serum
  • Tube: Gold/Red (SST/Non-additive)
• Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)

  • Function: Elevated levels indicate kidney disorders
  • Preparation: None
  • Sample: Serum
  • Tube: Gold/Red (SST/Non-additive)
• Creatinine (CREA)

  • Function: Elevated levels indicate kidney disorders
  • Preparation: None
  • Sample: Serum
  • Tube: Gold/Red (SST/Non-additive)
• Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)

  • Function: Elevated levels indicate liver disorders
  • Preparation: None
  • Sample: Serum
  • Tube: Gold/Red (SST/Non-additive)
• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)

  • Function: Elevated levels indicate myocardial infarction or liver disorders
  • Preparation: None
  • Sample: Serum
  • Tube: Gold/Red (SST/Non-additive)
• Blood Uric Acid (BUA)

  • Function: Elevated levels indicate kidney disorders or gout
  • Preparation: None
  • Sample: Serum
  • Tube: Gold/Red (SST/Non-additive)
• Electrolytes

  • Test included: Na, K, Cl
  • Function: Evaluate body fluid balance
  • Preparation: None
  • Sample: Serum
  • Tube: Gold/Red (SST/Non-additive)
• HEMATOLOGY Tests

  1.) Complete Blood Count (CBC)

  - Red blood cell count

  - White blood cell count

  - Platelet count

  - Differential WBC count

  - Hemoglobin

  - Hematocrit

  2.) Coagulation Studies

  - Prothrombin time (Protime/PT)

  - Activated Partial Thromboplastin time (APTT)

  3.) Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)

  4.) Peripheral Blood Smear (PBS)
• Complete Blood Count (CBC)

  • Tests: Red blood cell count, White blood cell count, Platelet count, Differential WBC count, Hemoglobin, Hematocrit
  • Function: Used to assess the overall patient conditions such as anemia, infection and leukemia
  • Preparation: None
  • Sample: Whole Blood
  • Tube: EDTA (Lavender)
• Coagulation Studies

  • Test included: Prothrombin time (Protime/PT), Activated Partial Thromboplastin time (APTT)
  • Function: Used to assess excessive bleeding, higher levels indicates problem with coagulation factors
  • Preparation: None
  • Sample: Whole Blood
  • Tube: 3.2% Sodium Citrate (Light Blue)
• Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)

  • Function: Higher levels indicates inflammation or infection
  • Preparation: None
  • Sample: Whole Blood
  • Tube: 3.8% Sodium Citrate (Black) or EDTA (Lavender)
• Peripheral Blood Smear (PBS)

  • Function: Used to assess different types of conditions such as anemia or leukemia
  • Preparation: None
  • Sample: Whole Blood
  • Tube: EDTA (Lavender)
• CLINICAL MICROSCOPY Tests

  1.) Urine Analysis

  2.) Fecal Analysis

  3.) Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT)

  4.) Semen Analysis
• Urine Analysis

  • Function: Used to assess certain conditions such as urinary tract infection and kidney disorders
  • Preparation: None
  • Sample: Urine
  • Container: Leak-proof container
• Fecal Analysis

  • Function: Used to assess diarrheal conditions to rule out parasitic infections
  • Preparation: None
  • Sample: Thumb-sized or pea-sized stool
  • Container: Leak-proof container
• Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT)

  • Function: Used to check for hidden (occult) blood that can be an indication of colon cancer
  • Preparation: Guaiac-based FOBT requires food restrictions while iFOBT/FIT test does not.
  • Sample: Stool
  • Container: Leak-proof container
• Semen Analysis

  • Function: Used to assess male infertility and successful vasectomy and vasectomy reversal
  • Preparation: 3-5 days abstinence
  • Sample: Semen
  • Container: Leak-proof container
• BLOOD BANKING Tests

  1.) Compatibility Testing (Crossmatching)

  • Blood Typing
  • Major and Minor Crossmatching
  • Auto control

  2.) Blood Typing (Forward)

  3.) Blood Typing (Reverse)
• Compatibility Testing (Crossmatching)

  • Test included: Blood Typing, Major and Minor Crossmatching, Auto control
  • Function: Used to assess presence of antibodies in the recipient against the red blood cells of the donor
  • Preparation: None
  • Sample: Whole Blood and Serum/Plasma, Segment from blood bag
  • Tube: EDTA (Pink/Lavender) and SST/Non-additive (Gold/Red)
• Blood Typing (Forward)

  • Function: Used to assess presence or absence of A and B antigens in RBCs
  • Preparation: None
  • Sample: Whole Blood
  • Tube: EDTA (Pink/Lavender)
• Blood Typing (Reverse)

  • Function: Used to assess presence or absence of A antibodies and B antibodies in serum
  • Preparation: None
  • Sample: Serum
  • Tube: SST/Non-additive (Gold/Red)
• SEROLOGY Tests

  1.) C-Reactive Protein (CRP)

  2.) Antistreptolysin O (ASO)

  3.) Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR)

  4.) Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) Test

  5.) Hepatitis B Antigen (HBsAg)

  6.) HIV Rapid Antigen Test

  7.) Dengue NS1 Antigen Test

  8.) Dengue IgG/IgM Test
• C-Reactive Protein (CRP)

  • Function: Used to asses non-specific infection or inflammation
  • Preparation: None
  • Sample: Serum
  • Tube: SST/Non-additive (Gold/Red)
• Antistreptolysin O (ASO)

  • Function: Used to assess streptococcal infection
  • Preparation: None
  • Sample: Serum
  • Tube: SST/Non-additive (Gold/Red)
• Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR)

  • Function: A non-treponemal screening test that is used for the detection of syphilis.
  • Preparation: None
  • Sample: Serum
  • Tube: SST/Non-additive (Gold/Red)
• Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) Test

  • Function: A non-treponemal screening test that is used for the detection of syphilis.
  • Preparation: None
  • Sample: Serum
  • Tube: SST/Non-additive (Gold/Red)
• Hepatitis B Antigen (HBsAg)

  • Function: Used to assess recent/current infection with Hepatitis B virus
  • Preparation: None
  • Sample: Serum
  • Tube: SST/Non-additive (Gold/Red)
• HIV Rapid Antigen Test

  • Function: A screening test that is used to assess recent/current infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
  • Preparation: None
  • Sample: Serum
  • Tube: SST/Non-additive (Gold/Red)
• Dengue NS1 Antigen Test

  • Function: Used to assess recent/current infection with Dengue Virus
  • Preparation: None
  • Sample: Serum
  • Tube: SST/Non-additive (Gold/Red)
• Dengue IgG/IgM Test

  • Function: Used to assess if the patient have produced antibodies against Dengue Virus which indicates previous infection with Dengue Virus
  • Preparation: None
  • Sample: Serum
  • Tube: SST/Non-additive (Gold/Red)
• MICROBIOLOGY Tests

  1.) Gram Stain

  2.) Acid Fast Bacilli Stain (AFB)

  3.) Culture and Sensitivity Testing
• Gram Stain

  • Function: Used to check for microorganisms (bacteria or fungi) in the patient sample
  • Preparation: None
  • Sample: Body fluids (Urine, Sputum, Wound etc.)
  • Container: Leak-proof container
• Acid Fast Bacilli Stain (AFB)

  • Function: Used to check for acid fast bacilli (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)
  • Preparation: No recent meal prior to collection
  • Sample: First morning sputum
  • Container: Leak-proof container
• Culture and Sensitivity Testing

  • Culture - Used to assess the cause of patient infection and will help you identify the specific bacteria causing the infection
  • Sensitivity - Used to assess which specific antibiotics or medication will be effective against the bacteria that causes patient infection