Lab Tests A - Z

Amino acids (AA) are the building blocks of all proteins and are characterized by the presence of at least one amino group (NH2) and carboxyl or acid group (COOH), hence the name amino acid. Many amino acids are produced by the body, others called...

Amino acids (AA) are the building blocks of all proteins and are characterized by the presence of at least one amino group (NH2) and carboxyl or acid group (COOH), hence the name amino acid. Many amino acids are produced by the body, others called...

Urine boron testing has gained popularity due to claims that it can strengthen bones, build muscle mass, increase brain activity, strengthen the immune system, increase calcium absorption from foods and lowers the amount of calcium excreted from the body...

Elevated CRP-hs is an early indicator on atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. It is also called an acute phase protein that increases dramatically under conditions of sepsis, inflammation and infection. It can rise 4 to 6 hours before other...

Total cholesterol is used to measure lipid status and metabolic disorders. Cholesterol is necessary for life, but is also associated with atherosclerosis. It is used to make hormones, vitamin D, and cell membranes. About two-thirds of the body's...

Chromium (Cr) has many industrial uses and is discharged in the environment as industrial waste. In the body, it exists in the +3 and +6 oxidation states. Cr functions in the control of glucose and lipid metabolism. Cr potentiates insulin action and...

CoQ-10 is also known as ubiquinol (it is found in every cell). Chemically, it is a fat-soluble quinone and is classified as a co-enzyme. It was discovered in 1940 and is structurally related to Vitamin K. It is involved in cell respiration, electron cell...

Copper is a trace mineral and is associated with a number of metalloproteins, whose major functions involve oxidation-reductions in many important enzymes. It is also associated with iron in red blood cell formation, energy release, and is important in...

Copper is a trace mineral and is associated with a number of metalloproteins, whose major functions involve oxidation-reductions in many important enzymes. It is also associated with iron in red blood cell formation, energy release, and is important in...

DHEA is produced in the adrenal cortex from pregnenolone. The half-life of DHEA is only about 30 minutes while the sulfated form lasts much longer. About 95% of DHEA is in the DHEA-S form. DHEA-S is used to produce estrogens and androgens in the adrenal...

Estradiol is one of three estrogen hormones naturally produced in the body. While men and women have estradiol, and it has a role in both of their bodies, women have much higher levels of the hormone than men. Estradiol has several functions in the...

A ferritin test measures the amount of ferritin in your blood. Ferritin is a blood protein that contains iron. A ferritin test helps your doctor understand how much iron your body stores. If a ferritin test reveals that your blood ferritin level is...

Folic acid is a member of the "B" vitamin family and is water-soluble. The test is usually run on serum in conjunction with B12. It is necessary for new cell growth, especially the lining of the G.I. tract, the surface of the tongue and in pregnancy. It...

Glucose is a simple sugar with the molecular formula C₆H₁₂O₆. Glucose is the most abundant monosaccharide, a subcategory of carbohydrates.

Glucose-6-phosphatase dehydrogenase (G6PD) is an enzyme, a type of protein, that is found in red blood cells.G6PD deficiency is an inherited disorder most commonly found in men of African, Asian or Mediterranean descent. It’s the result of X-linked...

Glutathione (GSH) is the mother of all antioxidants. Every cell in the body needs glutathione to sustain its life: without glutathione, it dies. This magic chemical is a peptide made from three amino acids, Glutamine, Cysteine and Glycine. It is an...

HbA1c is produced by the binding of glucose to hemoglobin in the red blood cells (RBC). The RBC membrane iscompletely permeable to glucose. The HbA1c formed is directly proportional to the average blood glucose that the RBC’s have been exposed to...

Homocysteine is an intermediate in the synthesis of cysteine from methionine, via cystathionine. Deficiency of vitamins B12, B6 and/or folic acid can affect the enzyme pathways associated in the formation of cysteine, resulting in an elevated...

Magnesium is the fourth most abundant cation in the body and is second only to potassium within the cell. The adult human body contains 21 to 28 grams of Mg. Of this, 60% is in the bones, 20% in the skeletal muscle, 19% in other cells and about 1% in the...

Magnesium is the fourth most abundant cation in the body and is second only to potassium within the cell. The adult human body contains 21 to 28 grams of Mg. Of this, 60% is in the bones, 20% in the skeletal muscle, 19% in other cells and about 1% in the...