Are you aware of these changes in lab reports? (Common Lab Test Changes)

Even if we have a cold or feel a little tired, we are used to going to see a doctor. When we do, most of the time, the doctor listens to our symptoms, examines us, and refers us to a lab for further information. So, testing things like blood and urine in this way has become a normal part of our health life. But did you know that with the advancement of science, the way these lab tests are performed and the way we interpret their results is also changing gradually? Today we will talk about some of the important changes that have recently occurred in some of the lab tests that we regularly perform.

Cholesterol Test (Lipid Profile) - Do I need to starve now?

Imagine that you are over 40 years old. Or that you are a little overweight. Then it is common for the doctor to prescribe a test to check your cholesterol . We call this a 'lipid profile '. Simply put, this checks the types of fats in your blood.

This test focuses on four main things:

• Total Cholesterol: The total amount of cholesterol in the blood.
• HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein): We all know this as the " good cholesterol ". The higher this is, the better for the heart.
• LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein): This is the "bad cholesterol." High levels of this increase the risk of diseases like heart disease and stroke .
• Triglycerides : This is another type of fat found in the blood.

We have always known that you should not eat or drink anything for 8-12 hours before taking this test. Many doctors advised this because they believed that the foods we eat could affect these values, especially triglycerides.

But what's the new change now?

Recent research has found that for many people ,It is not necessary to fast before taking this test. Because the foods we eat do not have a significant impact on cholesterol (HDL and LDL) levels. However, some fatty and sugary foods can temporarily increase triglyceride levels.

So, the next time your doctor asks you to do a lipid profile, ask him directly whether you need to fast or not. Most of the time, you'll be able to avoid that annoying hunger pang.

Tests to detect diabetes

Diabetes is a very common disease in our country. There are a large number of people who are in a prediabetic state, that is, at high risk of developing diabetes. Therefore, it is very important to get an accurate test to identify this condition early.

In the past, the main way to test for diabetes was with a fasting blood sugar test (Fasting Blood Sugar) and an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) that was done two hours after drinking a glucose solution. This OGTT test is a bit of a hassle. You have to fast overnight, go to the lab in the morning, drink a sugary drink, and wait for about two hours.

What's the easiest way now? The HbA1c test!

In recent times, one of the most common tests that doctors use to diagnose and manage diabetes is the Hemoglobin A1c , or HbA1c for short.

Simply put, this measures the amount of sugar (glucose) that is attached to a protein called hemoglobin in your red blood cells. Since a red blood cell has a lifespan of about 90-120 days, this test can give you a good idea of ​​your average blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months . You don't have to be hungry for this, and it can be done at any time of day.

But there's a small "but" to this too...

Although the `HbA1c` test is very easy and reliable, it has recently been discovered that the results may not be 100% accurate for people with certain health conditions. This can be especially true for people with diseases that affect red blood cells .

For example:

• Anemia: A very common condition among women in our country. In some types of anemia, the `HbA1c` value may appear higher or lower than it actually is.
• Sickle Cell Disease:In genetic conditions like these, HbA1c values ​​can also change due to changes in red blood cells.

Urinalysis - Should everyone do it every year?

Many people are used to having a complete urine test (urinalysis) at least once a year. We thought that it would be a general check for urinary tract infections and good kidney function.

But now the situation is different!

Globally recognized health guidelines now recommend that there is little value in performing a urine test as a simple check-up in the absence of any symptoms . Instead, it is sufficient to perform this test only if there are any symptoms.

So how do you check kidney function?

Doctors now rely mainly on a blood test to see how well the kidneys are working. It's called the `eGFR (estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate)`. This is usually part of the `Basic Metabolic Panel` blood test package we do. This gives a more accurate idea of ​​kidney function than a urine test.