About Screening Laboratory Tests

Urinary Tract Infection

Urinalysis and Culture:

A urinalysis screens for many diseases, but is not very accurate.

Heart Disease

Lipid Profile:

This is cholesterol screening to determine risk of heart disease. An HDL over 50 and an LDL under 100 is optimal. Diet and exercise have some effect, heredity has a great deal of effect, and drug treatment is usually very successful.

Sexually Transmitted Disease

STD check:

A screening test for chlamydia and gonorrhea, the most common STDs in women and responsibe for 50% of female infertility. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends regular screening for women under the age of 25 and any older women at risk.

Osteoporosis

DEXA:

A test for osteoporosis. It reveals relative risk for fracture. Treatment (Boniva, Fosamax, Actonel, Evista, Miacalcin, etc.) reduces the risk further than what is indicated by the numbers. When this test is normal without treatment, no further action is required. The test may be repeated in 2 years. If there is documented improvement with treatment, no further testing is required. If there is no documented improvement with treatment, an NTX will be recommended. The bone density studies you may see offered for low cost test the forearm or the heel, neither of which is as accurate as a DEXA.​

NTX:

This urine test measures bone breakdown products. It tells us how well you are conserving bone at the present time, protecting you from osteoporosis. If it is less than 50, it is in the pre-menopausal range and current management should be continued. If not, management needs to be modified.​

Lipid Profile:

This is cholesterol screening to determine risk of heart disease. An HDL over 50 and an LDL under 100 is optimal. Diet and exercise have some effect, heredity has a great deal of effect, and drug treatment is usually very successful.