· IGA – Immunoglobulin A. An immunoglobulin’s test is done to measure the level of immunoglobulins, also known as antibodies, in your blood. Antibodies are substances made by the body's immune system in response to bacteria, viruses, fungus, animal dander, or cancer cells. Antibodies attach to the foreign substances so the immune system can destroy them. See an illustration of the immune system. Antibodies are specific to each type of foreign substance. For example, antibodies made in response to a tuberculosis infection attach only to tuberculosis bacteria. Antibodies also work in allergic reactions. Occasionally antibodies may be made against your own tissues. This is called an autoimmune disease. If your immune system makes low levels of antibodies, you may have a higher chance of developing repeated infections. You can be born with an immune system that makes low levels of antibodies, or your system may make low levels of antibodies in response to certain diseases, such as cancer.
· IgA antibodies are found in areas of the body such the nose, breathing passages, digestive tract, ears, eyes, and vagina. IgA antibodies protect body surfaces that are exposed to outside foreign substances. This type of antibody is also found in saliva and tears. About 10% to 15% of the antibodies present in the body are IgA antibodies. A small number of people do not make IgA antibodies. Approximately 1 in 1000 people have an IgA deficiency.
· Antigliadin Antibodies – This test will help determine if you have a Gluten allergy. The higher this number will indicate how much of the antibody is present in the body. However, the amount of antibody present is not a measure of clinical severity, but rather, the amount of antibody being produced by the plasma cells in the intestine in response to gluten at that site. A positive value of any degree means your immune system is reacting to dietary gluten in the way the immune system reacts to an infection. With an infection, this immune reaction ultimately kills and clears the infectious organism. But with gluten, the reaction continues as long as it is eaten. Thus, the only way to halt this immune reaction is to remove all gluten from the diet.
· Amino Acid, Quantitative, Plasma and Urine – Amino acids serve many functions including as building blocks for proteins, neurotransmitters, precursors to hormones, and enzyme cofactors. More than 70 disorders of amino acid metabolism have been described. The clinical manifestations of these disorders are diverse. Some disorders are best identified with cerebrospinal fluid, plasma or urine.
· Fibrinogen – Low levels of fibrinogen are associated with bleeding most commonly secondary to liver disease or disseminated intravascular coagulation. Fibrinogen is an acute phase reactant and thus elevated levels may be associated with inflammation. Increased concentrations are also associated with increased risk of atherosclerosis.
· Ferritin – Ferritin is the major iron storage compound and a readily available source and reserve of iron for metabolic requirements. Ferritin is useful in the diagnosis of iron deficiency anemias and iron overload.
· Folate, Red Blood Cell – Folates function as coenzymes involved in many metabolic pathways. Testing is useful in detecting folate deficiency and to monitor folate therapy. Folate deficiency is a cause of megaloblastic and macrocytic anemias.
· Sodium – Sodium is critical in maintaining the water and osmotic equilibrium in extra-cellular fluids. Disturbances in acid-base and water balance are typically reflected in the sodium concentration.
· Potassium – Potassium is an essential element involved in critical cell functions. Measurement is used to assess electrolyte balance that is influenced by electrolyte intake, excretion and other means of elimination, exercise, hydration, medications and many other conditions.
· Chloride – Chloride is the primary plasma anion (negatively charged molecule). Chloride, along with other electrolytes, is useful in evaluating patients with acid-base and water disturbances or imbalances.
· Lipoprotein (a) - Lipoprotein (a) is found in lower concentrations than other lipoproteins, yet it carries a unique and significant risk for cardiovascular disease. Because of its similarity to LDL, test methods often don't measure it separately, but include it within the LDL class. Testing specifically for this class may uncover why a person is not responding to standard cholesterol-lowering treatment. High lipoprotein (a) levels may not respond to treatment aimed at high LDL.
· Iron – Iron is required for hematopoiesis (red blood cell creation) and other cellular functions. Deficiencies may be due to inadequate intake, poor absorption, or excessive loss. An important consequence of iron deficiency is microcytic anemia. Iron overload, hemosiderosis, or if there is organ impairment, hemochromatosis, can lead to wide variety of organ damage.
· CA 125 – CA 125 is useful to monitor the response of treatment and, if elevated, suggests recurrence in women with ovarian cancer. Approximately half of women with metastatic ovarian cancer have an elevated CA 125 concentration.
· CRP (C Reactive Protein) - The CRP test is sometimes used in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and some forms of arthritis and autoimmune diseases to assess how active the inflammation is and to monitor the treatment. The CRP test is also used to monitor patients after surgery or other invasive procedures to detect the presence of an infection during the recovery period. CRP tests are not specific enough to diagnose a particular disease. Rather, CRP is a general marker of infection and inflammation that alerts medical professionals that further testing and treatment may be necessary.
· Natural Killer Cells – Measurement of NK cells is useful in the diagnosis of retinoblastomas, medullblastomas, astrocytomas, and neuroblastomas.
· Interleukin 6 - This test is used to identify elevated levels of Interleukin-6. IL-6 is a cytokine produced by many different cells including monocytes/macrophages, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, keratinocytes, mast cells, T cells and many tumor cell lines. Elevated IL-6 serum or plasma levels may occur in different conditions including sepsis, autoimmune diseases, lymphomas, AIDS, alcoholic liver disease, tumor development, Alzheimer’s disease, and in c with infections or transplant rejection. Elevated levels of IL-6 may be associated with an increased risk of heart attack, and stroke.
· Insure – Fecal Globin Immunochemistry - Screen for lower gastrointestinal bleeding associated with colorectal cancer, adenomas, polyps, and other lower gastrointestinal conditions
· IgE – IgE antibody concentrations are increased with allergies, asthma, parasitic infections, unusual monoclonal gammopathies, and sever atopic dermatitis. IgE concentrations can be within the reference range with atopic disease. Individuals with low or low-normal concentrations typically do not have atopic disease.
· IgM – IgM antibody test is useful in diagnosing and monitoring patients with Waldenstrom’s macroglobinemia and other gammopathies.
· PAP test - The Pap test (sometimes called a Pap smear) is a way to examine cells collected from the cervix (the lower, narrow end of the uterus). The main purpose of the Pap test is to detect cancer or abnormal cells that may lead to cancer. It can also find non-cancerous conditions, such as infection and inflammation.
o PAP w/ HPV- This test will include testing for Human Papilloma Viruses.
· Serotonin – Serotonin concentrations are greatly increased in patients with carcinoidsyndrome. Carcinoid tumors are associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) types I and II. These tumors are associated with flushing, diarrhea, pain, and other symptoms.
