Category lab tests

ESR is a blood test that that can show if you have inflammation in your body by measuring rate of red blood cells sedimentation.

Inflammation is your immune system’s response to injury, infection, and many types of conditions, including immune system disorders, certain cancers, and blood disorders.

Erythrocytes are red blood cells. To do an ESR test, a sample of your blood is sent to a lab. A health care professional places the sample in a tall, thin test tube – Westerngren and wintobe tubes- and measures how quickly the red blood cells settle or sink to the bottom of the tube.

Normally, red blood cells sink slowly. But inflammation makes red blood cells stick together in clumps. These clumps of cells are heavier than single cells, so they sink faster.

If an ESR test shows that your red blood cells sink faster than normal, it may mean you have a medical condition causing inflammation. The speed of your test result is a sign of how much inflammation you have.

Faster ESR rates mean higher levels of inflammation. But an ESR test alone cannot diagnose what condition is causing the inflammation.

Other names: ESR, SED rate sedimentation rate; Westergren sedimentation rate

What is it used for?

An ESR test can be used with other tests to help diagnose conditions that cause inflammation. It can also be used to help monitor these conditions. Many types of conditions cause inflammation, including arthritis, vasculitis, infection, and inflammatory bowel disease. An ESR may also be used to monitor an existing condition.

Why do I need an ESR?

Your health care provider may order an ESR if you have symptoms of a condition that causes inflammation. Your symptoms will depend on the condition you may have, but they may include:
Headaches
Unexplained fever
Weight loss
Joint stiffness
Neck or shoulder pain
Loss of appetite
Anemia

What happens during an ESR?

A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial.

You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.

Are there any risks to the test?

There is very little risk to having an ESR. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.

What do the results mean?

Your provider will use the results of your ESR test along with your medical history, symptoms, and other test results to make a diagnosis. An ESR test alone cannot diagnose conditions that cause inflammation.

A HIGH ESR test result may be from a condition that causes inflammation, such as:
Arteritis
Arthritis
Systemic vasculitis
Polymyalgia rheumatica
Inflammatory bowel disease
Kidney disease
Infection
Rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases
Heart disease
Certain cancers

A LOW ESR test result means your red blood cells sank more slowly than normal. This may be caused by conditions such as:
A blood disorder, such as:
Polycythemia
Sickle cell disease (SCD)
Leukocytosis, a very high white blood cell count (WBC)
Heart failure
Certain kidney and liver problems

If your ESR results are not normal, it doesn’t always mean you have a medical condition that needs treatment.

Pregnancy, a menstrual cycle, aging, obesity, drinking alcohol regularly, and exercise can affect ESR results.

Certain medicines and supplements may also affect your results, so be sure to tell your provider about any medicines or supplements you are taking.

Is there anything else I need to know about an ESR?

Because an ESR can’t diagnose a specific disease, your provider may order other tests at the same time. Also, it’s possible to have a condition that causes inflammation and still have a normal ESR result.

C-reactive protein (CRP) test is commonly done with an ESR to provide more information.

This is a microbiological test to diagnose presence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a type of bacteria that infects the stomach and doudenum. Can be tested using stool, blood, urea breath test and bacterial culture. Many people with H. pylori will never have symptoms of infection. But for others, the bacteria can cause a variety of digestive disorders.

These include gastritis (inflammation of the stomach), peptic ulcers (sores in the stomach, small intestine, or esophagus), and certain types of stomach cancer.

There are different ways to test for an H. pylori infection. They include blood, stool, and breath tests. If you are having digestive symptoms, testing and treatment may help prevent serious complications.

Other names: H. pylori stool antigen, H. pylori breath tests, urea breath test, rapid urease test (RUT) for H. pylori, H. pylori culture

What the H. pylori test used for?

H. pylori tests are most often used to:
Look for H. pylori bacteria in the digestive tract

Find out if your digestive symptoms are caused by an H. pylori infection

Find out if treatment for an H. pylori infection has worked

Why do I need an H. pylori test?

You may need testing if you have symptoms of a digestive disorder. Since gastritis and ulcers both inflame the lining of the stomach, they share many of the same symptoms. They include:
Abdominal pain
Bloating
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea
Loss of appetite
Weight loss

An ulcer is a more serious condition than gastritis, and symptoms are often more severe. Treating gastritis in early stages may help prevent the development of an ulcer or other complications.

What happens during H. pylori testing?

There are different ways to test for H. pylori. Your health care provider may order one or more of the following types of tests.

Blood test

Checks for antibodies (infection-fighting cells) to H. pylori
Test procedure:
A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle.
After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial.

Urea Breath test,

Checks for infection by measuring certain substances in your breath
Test procedure:
You will provide a sample of your breath by breathing into a collection bag.

After that, you will swallow a pill or liquid containing a harmless radioactive material.

You will provide another sample of your breath.

Your provider will compare the two samples. If the second sample has higher than normal carbon dioxide levels, it is a sign of an H. pylori infection.

Stool tests.

Your provider may order a stool antigen or a stool culture test.
A stool antigen test looks for antigens to H. pylori in your stool.

Antigens are substances that trigger an immune response.
A stool culture test looks for H. pylori bacteria in the stool.

Samples for both types of stool tests are collected in the same way. Sample collection usually includes the following steps:
Put on a pair of rubber or latex gloves.

Collect and store the stool in a special container given to you by your health care provider or a lab.

If collecting a sample from a baby, line the baby’s diaper with plastic wrap.

Make sure no urine, toilet water, or toilet paper mixes in with the sample.

Seal and label the container.
Remove the gloves, and wash your hands.

Return the container to your health care provider.

Endoscopy.

If other tests did not provide enough information for a diagnosis, your provider may order a procedure called an endoscopy.

An endoscopy allows your provider to look at your esophagus (the tube that links your mouth and stomach), the lining of your stomach, and part of your small intestine.

During the procedure:
You will lie down on an operating table on your back or side.

You will be given medicine to help you relax and prevent you from feeling pain during the procedure.

Your provider will insert a thin tube, called an endoscope, into your mouth and throat. The endoscope has a light and camera on it. This allows the provider to get a good view of your internal organs.

Your provider may take a biopsy (removal of a small sample of tissue) to examine after the procedure.

After the procedure, you will be observed for an hour or two while the medicine wears off.

You may be drowsy for a while, so plan to have someone drive you home.

Will I need to do anything to prepare for testing?
You don’t need any special preparation for an H. pylori blood test.

For breath, stool, and endoscopy tests, you may need to stop taking certain medicines for as long as two weeks to a month before testing. Be sure to talk with your health care provider about all medicines you are currently taking.

For an endoscopy, you may need to fast (not eat or drink) for about 12 hours before the procedure.

Are there any risks to testing?

There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.

There is no known risk to having breath or stool tests.

During an endoscopy, you may feel some discomfort when the endoscope is inserted, but serious complications are rare. There is a very small risk of getting a tear in your intestine.

If you had a biopsy, there is a small risk of bleeding at the site. Bleeding usually stops without treatment.

What do the results mean?

If your results were negative, it means you probably don’t have an H. pylori infection. Your provider may order more tests to find out the cause of your symptoms.

If your results were positive, it means you have an H. pylori infection. H. pylori infections are treatable. Your health care provider will probably prescribe a combination of antibiotics and other medicines to treat the infection and relieve pain.

The medicine plan can be complicated, but it’s important to take all the medicines as prescribed, even if your symptoms go away.

If any H. pylori bacteria remain in your system, your condition can worsen. Gastritis caused by H. pylori can lead to a peptic ulcer and sometimes stomach cancer.

Is there anything else I need to know about H. pylori testing?
After you’ve been treated with antibiotics, your health care provider may order repeat tests to make sure all the H. pylori bacteria is gone.

What is a Complete Blood Count?

A complete blood count, or CBC, is a blood test that measures many different parts and features of your blood, including:

Red blood cells, which carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body.

White blood cells, which fight infections and other diseases. There are five major types of white blood cells. A CBC test measures the total number of white cells in your blood. A different test called a CBC with differential measures the number of each type of these white blood cells.

Platelets, which stop bleeding by helping your blood to clot.

Hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body.

Hematocrit, a measurement of how much of your blood is made up of red blood cells.

Mean corpuscular volume (MCV), a measure of the average size of your red blood cells.

Other names for a complete blood count: CBC, full blood count, blood cell count

What is it used for?

A complete blood count is a common blood test that is often part of a routine checkup. Complete blood counts can help detect a variety of disorders including infections, anemia, diseases of the immune system, and blood cancers.

Why do I need a complete blood count?

Your health care provider may have ordered a complete blood count as part of your checkup or to monitor your overall health. The test may also be used to:

Help diagnose blood diseases, infection, immune system disorders, or other medical conditions

Check for changes in an existing blood disorder

What happens during a complete blood count?

A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.

Will I need to do anything to prepare for the test?

Usually there is no special preparation necessary for a complete blood count. But if your provider ordered other tests on your blood sample, you may need to fast (not eat or drink) for several hours before the test. Your provider will let you know if there are any special instructions to follow.

Are there any risks to the test?

There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may experience slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle went in, but most symptoms go away quickly.

What do the results mean?

A CBC counts the cells in your blood. There are many reasons your levels may not be in the normal range. For example:

Abnormal levels of red blood cells, hemoglobin, or hematocrit may be a sign of anemia, heart disease, or too little iron in your body.

Low white cell count may be a sign of an autoimmune disorder, bone marrow disorder, or cancer.

High white cell count may be a sign of an infection or a reaction to medicine.

If any of your levels are abnormal, it doesn’t always mean you have a medical condition that needs treatment. Diet, activity level, medicines, a menstrual period, not drinking enough water, and other factors can affect the results. Talk with your provider to learn what your results mean.

Is there anything else I need to know about a complete blood count?

A complete blood count is only one tool your health care provider uses to learn about your health. Your provider will consider your medical history, symptoms, and other factors to make a diagnosis. You may also need additional tests.