MEDICAL EXAMS

Lupus patients have the need to become a researcher also, because our sickness can change in a very short time.  That's why we always have to be alert how to identify If we are having or not a flare.

In this occasion, I will post about the Preparation Before to Make a Medical Exam.  In further post I will explain about how to Understand Lab Test and Results.  

To ensure the quality of the results of the laboratory tests, the patient contributes a bit by preparing himself either for sampling and for collection or sometimes for the transportation of it.

If you need to make a (CBC) Complete blood count, creatinine, or liver tests, you can go at any time for you to extract the sample without being in fasting.

Being in " fasting " means not eating or drinking for a period of time. For some tests it is necessary, because blood levels of substances such as glucose, vary during digestion . While fasting is, the patient can only drink water. It is not allowed to eat anything or drink coffee or juice or tea, just water. You can not chew gum, even those that are sugar free, because digestion is activated and the test results would be affected.   As for the drugs can be taken unless the doctor tells you to not take.  If taking them, it must be with water.

To comply with a fast of 12 hours, most comfortable for you is to stop eating for example at 7 pm and run for sampling between 6 and 7 am .

TEST THAT REQUIRES TO FAST:

These Laboratory  Test requires from 10 to 12 hours of fasting

• BASIC METABOLIC PROFILE (Na,K,Cl,CO2,Gluc,Bun,Creat,Ca)
• CHEM 7
• CMP-COMPREHENSIVE METABOLIC PANEL
• GLUCOSE
• HOMOCYSTINE
• INSULIN
• LIPID PROFILE (Cholesterol, Triglycerides, HDL, LDL, VLDL)
• RENAL FUNCTION PANEL
• VITAMIN B12 & FOLATE

TEST THAT DOESN'T REQUIRES TO FAST:

• CBC-COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT
• C-REACTIVE PROTEIN
• CREAT CLEARANCE (24 hrs)
• ELECTROLYTES (NA, K, Cl, CO2)
• ESR-SED RATE
• HEMOGLOBIN
• HEMOGLOBIN A1C
• HEPATIC FUNCTION PANEL (ALP, AST,ALT ALB,TBIL, TP)
• HEPATITIS PANEL
• INFLUENZA (Clean Nose)
• IRON
• HIV
• LYMES DISEASE
• MONONUCLEOSIS
• PLATELET
• PRENATAL
• PROTIME
• PSA
• URIC ACID
• URINALYSIS 
• URINE MICROALBUMIN
• PTT
• TSH, T3, T4
• 24 URINE PROTEIN (Refrigerated 24 hr urine specimen, obtain container from the lab).
• VITAMIN D

The test of glucose tolerance can be 2 to 5 hours, according to medical orders.   This test includes measuring fasting glucose levels, and each hour after drinking a glucose solution.    For this test you should be prepared to stay inside the lab, without eating, until the end of the test.   You can't leave the Lab during the test, because walking or running affect glucose levels, and the results would not be reliable.

To collect a good sample of urine should do the following ;

When you get up in the morning and before urinating, clean your genitals with soap and water (always from front to back if female). Then rinse with warm water and collect the first morning urine, discarding the first and last part of urine. 

Urinate directly into the special container, ensuring that it doesn't touch the skin. A man should push apart the skin of the penis (the foreskin); and if female, separate the lips of the genitals, then urinate.  You must provide the urine test as soon as possible.  If for any reason it is not possible to deliver the urine within 1 hour, you must save it in the refrigerator until the time of delivery (avoid delays of more than 4 hours).