To identify the presence of inflammation and to monitor response to treatment for an inflammatory disorder Specimen:A blood sample taken from a vein in your arm When To Get Tested: When your healthcare provider suspects that you have an acute condition causing inflammation such as a serious bacterial or fungal infection or when you are suffering from an inflammatory disorder such as arthritis an autoimmune disorder or inflammatory bowel disease Test Preparation:None Normal Test Result: less than 10 milligram per liter (mg/L)

To help diagnose infectious mononucleosis mono to distinguish between an Epstein-Barr virus EBV infection and another illness with similar symptoms to help evaluate susceptibility to EBV Specimen:A blood sample drawn from a vein in your arm When To Get Tested: When you have symptoms of mono but a negative mono test when a pregnant woman has flu-like symptoms occasionally when an asymptomatic person has been exposed to someone with mono or possibly as a means to check immune system function Test Preparation:None Normal Test Result: normal range is 0 mm/hr 22 mm/hr to for men and 0 mm/hr to 29 mm/hr for women

To evaluate the hemoglobin content of your blood as part of a general health checkup to screen for and help diagnose conditions that affect red blood cells RBCs if you have anemia low hemoglobin or polycythemia high hemoglobin to assess the severity of these conditions and to monitor response to treatment Specimen:A blood sample drawn from a vein in your arm or by a fingerstick children and adults or heelstick newborns When To Get Tested: With a hematocrit or as part of a complete blood count CBC which may be ordered as a component of a general health screen when you have signs and symptoms of anemia weakness fatigue or polycythemia dizziness headache at regular intervals to monitor these conditions or response to treatment Test Preparation:None Normal Test Result: Normal results for adults vary, but in general are: Male: 13.8 grams per deciliter (g/dL )to 17.2 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or 138 to 172 grams per liter (g/L) Female: 12.1 to 15.1 g/dL or 121 to 151 g/L

To assess your risk of developing cardiovascular disease CVD to monitor treatment Specimen:A blood sample obtained by inserting a needle into a vein in your arm or from a fingerstick When To Get Tested: Screening when no risk factors present for adults every four to six years for youths once between the ages of 9 and 11 and again between ages 17 and 21 Monitoring at regular intervals when risk factors are present when prior results showed high risk levels and or to monitor effectiveness of treatment Test Preparation:Typically fasting for 9-12 hours water only before having your blood drawn is required but some labs offer non-fasting lipid testing Follow any instructions you are given and tell the person drawing your blood whether or not you have fasted For youths without risk factors testing may be done without fasting Normal Test Result: the ratio should be below 4

To detect high levels of uric acid in the blood which could be a sign of the condition gout or to monitor uric acid levels when undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment to detect high levels of uric acid in the urine in order to diagnose the cause of kidney stones and to monitor those with gout who are at risk of developing such stones Specimen:A blood sample drawn from a vein in the arm or a 24-hour urine sample When To Get Tested: When you have joint pain or other symptoms that your healthcare practitioner suspects may be due to gout when you have had or are going to have certain chemotherapy or radiation therapies for cancer when you have recurrent kidney stones when you have gout or are otherwise at risk for kidney stone formation Test Preparation:None may be needed however some institutions recommend fasting Follow any instructions you are given Normal Test Result: 2.4 mg/dL -6.0 mg/dL (female) and 3.4 mg/dL -7.0 mg/dL (male)

To determine your general health status; to screen for, diagnose, or monitor any one of a variety of diseases and conditions that affect blood cells. A blood sample is drawn from a vein in your arm or a fingerstick