Laboratory Services
Advanced Testing Services at Coteau Home Health Care
In our laboratory at Coteau Health Care System, specially trained and registered
technologists and technicians perform a variety of tests for diagnosing,
treating, and monitoring patients for a wide range of conditions. We continuously
pursue innovative solutions to thoroughly asses and improve the health
of those we serve.
Specialized tests offered at Coteau Health Care System may determine the
condition and / or status of the:
- Heart
- Liver
- Thyroid
- Kidneys
In addition, other laboratory tests:
- Help determine whether a drug level is toxic or therapeutic
- Indicate if an illness is bacterial or viral
- Uncover the type of bacteria or virus
- Determine if the patient is anemic or has a bleeding disorder and requires
a blood transfusion
Having in-house laboratory services available means you get your results
more quickly and your doctor has the information needed for diagnosis
and treatment. At Coteau Home Health Care, we are proud to provide immediate,
advanced services for our valued patients. Common lab tests performed
at CDP include those listed below.
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is different from most tests in that it is not used to diagnose
or monitor a disease, but to estimate risk of developing a disease—specifically
heart disease. Because high blood cholesterol has been associated with
hardening of the arteries, heart disease, and a raised risk of death from
heart attacks, cholesterol testing is considered a routine part of preventive
health care.
Cholesterol testing is recommended as a screening test for all adults at
least once every five years. It is usually ordered as part of a routine
physical exam. It may be ordered alone or in combination with other tests
including HDL, LDL, and triglycerides—often called a lipid profile.
Cholesterol is tested at more frequent intervals—often several times
per year—in patients who have been prescribed a specific diet and
/ or drugs to lower their cholesterol. The test is used to track how well
these measures are succeeding in lowering cholesterol to desired levels—and,
in turn, of lowering the risk of developing heart disease.
Triglycerides
Blood tests for triglycerides are usually part of a lipid profile used
to identify the risk of heart disease. It is especially important for
diabetics to have triglycerides measured as part of any lipid testing
since triglycerides increase significantly when blood sugar is out of control.
Lipid profiles, including triglycerides, are recommended as routine tests
to evaluate risk of heart disease in healthy adults. The test for triglycerides
is not often ordered alone since risk of heart disease is based on cholesterol
levels, not triglycerides. However, if you have been found to have high
triglycerides and are being treated for it, a triglyceride test may be
ordered to see if treatment is working.
High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL)
The test of HDL cholesterol is used to determine a patient’s risk
of heart disease. If a high cholesterol level is due to high HDL, a person
is probably at low risk and further testing or treatment for high cholesterol
is not advised. HDL is usually ordered with other tests, either with cholesterol
or as part of a lipid profile, including LDL and triglycerides. The combination
of total cholesterol and HDL is very useful for screening for heart disease
since it is not necessary to fast for these two tests. A more complete
lipid profile requires fasting for at least 12 hours prior to the test.
Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)
The PSA blood screen is used as a prostate cancer indicator. Measuring
the ratio of free-PSA to total PSA in the patient's blood provides
additional information that helps your doctor distinguish prostate cancer
from benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and other non-cancer related causes
of high PSA. This ratio may also help predict whether the prostate cancer
is an aggressive, fast-growing disease or a slow-growing, non-aggressive
form of the disease. The American Cancer Society recommends annual PSA
and digital rectal exams for all men beginning at the age of 50. Men who
have an increased risk for prostate cancer—such as American men
of African descent and men with a family history of the disease—should
start getting tested earlier, usually at age 40 or 45.
Glucose
Glucose testing is most commonly used to diagnose and manage diabetes.
Since glucose levels in the blood vary with eating patterns, the most
useful testing for diabetes is possible when the patient has fasted for
eight hours before the test. Glucose testing can be used to screen healthy
individuals for diabetes, because diabetes is a common disease that begins
with a few symptoms. Screening is especially important for people who
are at a high risk of developing diabetes, including those with a family
history of diabetes, those who are overweight, and those who are more
than 40 years old.
Glucose testing is also ordered in patients who complain of symptoms that
suggest diabetes, such as excessive thirst, weight loss, and frequent
urination. By the time that these symptoms appear, a person may have already
had diabetes for several years. Glucose testing is also performed during
pregnancy, because during this time some women develop a temporary type
of diabetes called gestational diabetes.
Urinalysis
This test is performed on a fresh urine specimen. It is best if the specimen
is collected in the lab in order to ensure proper container and collection
protocol. Some of the urine constituents checked include pH, glucose,
bilirubin, and the presence of white blood cells or red blood cells. A
physician or other healthcare practitioner will be called to evaluate
results of a urinalysis in order to determine whether or not further testing
is needed.
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
TSH testing may be used for the following reasons:
- To diagnose a thyroid disorder in a person with symptoms
- To screen healthy adults for thyroid disorders as recommended by the American
Thyroid Association
- To screen newborns for an underactive thyroid
- To monitor thyroid replacement therapy in people with hypothyroidism
- To diagnose and monitor female infertility problems
If you have any questions about the laboratory tests provided at CDP, contact
our office today to speak with a representative who can answer your questions.