Diagnostic Tests

Serum Tests Total Antibody Titer: is a laboratory test that measures the presence and amount of antibodies in blood. The antibody level in the blood is a reflection of past exposure to an antigen or to something that the body does not recognize as belonging to itself. The body uses antibodies to attack and remove foreign substances. High levels of this immunoglobulin could indicate St. Louis encephalitis, Tetanus or Amebic dysentery.

Serum Tests Complement Fixation: is an immunological test that can be used to detect the presence of either specific antibody or specific antigen in a patient's serum. Positive results could be associated w/St. Louis encephalitis, & influenza.

Serum Tests Hemagglutination Inhibiting Test: is a method of looking for viruses or bacteria by blood clotting. It is an easy, simple and rapid method which can be applied to large numbers of samples. A positive result could indicate Amebic dysentery, Poliomyelitis, Mononucleosis, or St. Louis encephalitis.

Serum Tests IgA Titer: IgA is a class of immunoglobulin antibodies found mainly in mucous membranes so the titer is a laboratory test that measures the presence and amount of IgA antibodies in blood. High levels of this immunoglobulin could indicate Influenza

Serum Tests IgG Titer: IgG is a class of immunoglobulin antibodies that can cross the placental barrier so a titer for this will is checking to see how many of these antibodies are in the mother’s blood. High levels of this immunoglobulin could indicate St. Louis encephalitis, Mononucleosis, Lyme disease, or Amebic dysentery.

Serum Tests IgM Titer: IgM is a class of immunoglobulin fix complement antibodies that detect specific antigens & stick or fix to them so the titer is looking for the number of IgM antibodies that have flagged a specific microorganism. High levels of this immunoglobulin could indicate St. Louis encephalitis, Mononucleosis, or Amebic dysentery.

Serum Tests Indirect Hemagglutination Antibody Test: An indirect blood clotting test developed for detecting antibody against the protein of group B Streptococcus. Positive results could indicate Amebic dysentery, Poliomyelitis, Mononucleosis or St. Louis encephalitis.

Serum Tests Indirect Immunofluorescent Antibody Test: is a technique used for light microscopy with a fluorescence microscope and is used primarily on biological samples. This technique uses the specificity of two antibodies one of which carries a fluorescent dye that binds to a specific type of antigen and therefore allows visualization of the sample. Can be used to test for Lyme disease, poliomyelitis, & St. Louis encephalitis.

Serum Tests Mouse Assay test of a substance (especially a drug or food) to determine its components; frequently used to test for the presence or concentration of infectious agents or antibodies etc. Can be used to test for Botulism

Serum Tests Specific Rickettsial Serology: tests for any one of the following tests: Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Murine Typhus and Q Fever

Whole Blood Tests Hemocrit & Hemoglobin: Hemocrit indicates the % of RBC in a specific volume of blood & can indicate a fluid imbalance or anemia. Hemoglobin indicate the amount of hemoglobin available for oxygen transport. If both are low that could indicate Amebic dysentery.

Whole Blood Tests White Blood Cell Differential Count: aka: differential count; determines whether there has been a change in the proportions of WBCs & may indicate the presence of Rubeola, or Pertussis.

Whole Blood Tests White Blood Cell Count: a test that counts the number of WBCs in the blood. The number can indicate the presence of an infection, Mononucleosis-(20, 000 or more); (bacterial)Pneumonia-(26,000 or more); Poliomyelitis-(greater than 5%); Rubeola- (greater than 4%); Osteomyelitis-(15,000 ormore); Pertusis-(20,000-40,000); (bacterial)Meningitis-(8,000 or more); or Amebic dysentery-(15,500).

Cerebrospinal Fluid Tests CSF Glucose: determines the level of glucose (sugar) in your blood in your brain. Low numbers can indicate bacterial Meningitis.

Whole Blood Tests CSF Pressure: indicates the amount of pressure the cerebral spinal fluid is creating w/in the brain. An amount of 300 can indicate bacterial Meningitis.

Whole Blood Tests CSF Protein Level: indicates the amount of proteins in your brain. High levels can indicate bacterial Meningitis.

Whole Blood Tests CSF White Blood Cell Count: indicates the number of WBC in the brain (normal is less than 5). A high number like 120 could indicate bacterial Meningitis.

Other Tests X ray: aka radiograph is an ionizing radiation picture of bones & soft tissues that varies in density w/the absorption of the x-rays striking the tissues. An abnormality of a plain chest x-ray can indicate bone fractures, bacterial Pneumonia, Legionnaires’ disease, or Tuberculosis.

Other Tests TB Skin Test: aka: scratch or patch tests, are simple local tests based on immune responses. Used to check for specific for exposure to Tuberculosis.

Other Tests Virus Isolation & Identification: a test that uses T cells to identify & isolate viruses. Commonly used to identify polio virus and avian influenza.

Other Tests Bacteria Hemolysis: The ability of bacterial colonies to induce the breakdown of RBCs when grown on blood agar is used to classify certain microorganisms. This is particularly useful in classifying streptococcal species.

Other Tests Bacterial Culture & Identifications: is a method of multiplying microbial organisms by letting them reproduce in predetermined culture media under controlled laboratory conditions. used as a tool to determine the cause of infectious disease by letting the agent multiply in a predetermined medium.

Other Tests Bacterial Culture & Identifications: Can identify bacteria like Streptococcus responsible for Strep Throat, S. pnuemonia that causes bacterial pneumonia, S. aureus that causes osteomyelitis, L. pneumophila that causes Legionnaires’ disease, Clostridium tetani that causes tetanus, Corynebacterium that causes Diphtheria, Bordetella pertussis that causes Whooping cough, N. meningitidis that causes bacterial meningitis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis that causes TB, & C. botulinum that causes Botulism.

Other Tests Rapid Strep Test: aka: rapid antigen detection test (RADT); is an in-office test done by a clinician in order to determine whether or not a patient has streptococcal pharyngitis also called Strep Throat.

Other Tests Stool Examination stool (feces) sample can provide doctors with valuable information about what's going on when a child has a problem in the stomach, intestines, or other part of the gastrointestinal (GI) system. This test is very helpful in identifying Amebic dysentery.

Other Tests Liver Function Test: a test to determine how well the liver is filtering the blood. Some tests are associated with functionality, some with cellular integrity and some with the condition of the liver. An example of a disease that causes abnormal liver functions is Mononucleosis.

Other Tests EEG (Electroencephalogram): measures the amount of electrical activity of the nerves of the brain. Absent EEG activity in all parts of the brain may be used to confirm brain death. Abnormal patterns may result from seizures disorders, St. Louis encephalitis, tumors, or injuries.

Other Tests Western Blot: aka: protein immunoblot; is a widely used analytical technique used to detect specific proteins in the given sample of tissue or blood. Positive results can be associated with Lyme disease.

Other Tests PCR: a test for pertussis