Description: In addition to screening, this test is useful in monitoring treatment for syphilis. For this purpose, the level (titer) of antibody is measured. It may also be used to confirm the presence of an active infection when an initial test for treponemal antibodies is positive. Monitoring of RPR is helpful in assessing effectiveness of therapy.
Description: The presence of IgM antibodies means a current or recent infection. A person has been vaccinated against rubella. The presence of IgG antibodies means immunity received through either vaccination or a past infection.
Description: An IgG antibody test for measles or mumps may be ordered whenever a health practitioner wants to determine whether a person is immune to one or both of the viruses, either because of a previous infection or due to vaccination. Measles and mumps antibodies are virus-specific proteins produced by the immune system in response to an infection by the measles or mumps virus, or in response to vaccination. There are two types of antibodies produced, IgM and IgG. The first type to appear in the blood after exposure or vaccination is IgM antibodies. Levels of IgM antibodies increase for several days to a maximum level and then begin to taper off over the next few weeks. IgG antibodies take a bit longer to develop, but once they do, they stay positive for life, providing protection against re-infection. Sometimes, testing of two blood samples obtained weeks apart (acute and convalescent) is used to differentiate between an active and prior infection by comparing the level of antibody in the two samples.
Description: A liver function test more specific for liver injury. This enzyme is normally present in liver and heart cells and is released into blood when liver is damaged as in viral hepatitis and hepatic cirrhosis, also when heart is damaged as in heart attack or heart failure.
Description: A liver function test, ALT is more sensitive for the detection of hepatocyte injury than for biliary obstruction. ALT is more specific for liver injury than AST (SGOT). Useful for hepatic cirrhosis, other liver disease. Increased in Reye syndrome, with AST. The combination of increased AST and ALT with negative hepatitis markers occurs in a number of other entities including infectious mononucleosis. Sensitive to heart failure.
Description: Thyroid function which is particularly useful in the diagnosis of T3 thyrotoxicosis, in which T3 is increased and T4 is within normal limits. T3 toxicosis is occasionally found in Graves' disease. It occurs with a single toxic nodule, multinodular thyrotoxicosis, and following treatment with T3 (Cytomel®).2 It is increased in and occasionally helpful for confirmation of diagnosis of conventional hyperthyroidism, in which commonly both T3 and T4 levels are increased. T3 is needed in patients with clinical evidence for hyperthyroidism, in whom the usual thyroid profile is normal or borderline. T3 is the active form of thyroxine (T4), and plays a key role in growth, development, regulating heart rate, metabolism and the body's temperature.
Description: Normally triiodothyronine (T3) circulates tightly bound to thyroxine-binding globulin and albumin. Only 0.3% of the total T3 is unbound (free); the free fraction is the active form. This blood test measures the more reliable form of triiodothyronine, Free T3, which is not affected by certain protein levels causing them to remain more constant. This test evaluates thyroid function and assesses abnormal binding protein disorders. Thyrotoxicosis occurs when there is too much thyroid hormone in the blood. It can be caused by hyperthyroidism, Graves' disease, inflammation of the thyroid gland itself or from a benign tumor. Too little T3 can be a result of hypothyroidism which causes symptoms like fatigue, intolerance to cold temperatures, weight gain, low heart rate, decreased appetite, poor memory, depression, infertility and sore muscles.
Description: T3 uptake is an indirect measure of the quantity of thyroxine binding proteins (thyroid binding prealbumin, albumin, and TBG) in plasma. It is directly proportional to the degree of saturation of the binding proteins by thyroxine. T3U is decreased during pregnancy, with supra-normal doses of estrogen, early in acute hepatitis, and with genetic TBG excess. It is increased by anabolic hormones and glucocorticoids, the nephrotic syndrome, and genetic TBG deficiency.
Description: The Free T4 test is used to assess the thyroid's function and to help diagnose diseases or disorders of the thyroid like hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Thyroxine, also know as T4, is one of the two main thyroid hormones. T4 affects nearly every physiological process in the body including regulating heart rate, metabolism and the body's temperature. Free thyroxine (FT4) is T4 that is not bound to proteins in the blood; as such, this blood test is not affected by protein levels and is therefore a more reliable measurement of T4 levels in the blood. The free T4 test is thought by many to be a more accurate reflection of thyroid hormone function and, in most cases, its use has replaced that of the total T4 test.
Description: Our Total T4 Test measures the total levels of T4 (also known as thyroxine) in the blood. The Total T4 test, meaning it measures both Free T4 (thyroxine that has not bonded to proteins in the blood) and T4 that is bonded to proteins in the blood (most T4 is bonded). The T4 test is used to assess how the thyroid is functioning and to help detect imbalances with the thyroid, like hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. T4 is a hormone that plays a role in growth and metabolism. It is produced by Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH).
