To screen for risk of developing heart disease to monitor effectiveness of lipid-lowering therapy Specimen:Most often a blood sample is collected from a vein in the arm Sometimes cholesterol is measured using a drop of blood collected by puncturing the skin on a finger A fingerstick sample is typically used when cholesterol is being measured on a portable testing device for example at a health fair When To Get Tested: Screening as part of a regular health exam with a lipid profile when no risk factors for heart disease are present adults should be tested once every four to six years children teens and young adults should be tested once between the ages of 9 and 11 and then again between the ages of 17 and 21 Monitoring may be done more frequently and at regular intervals when risk factors for heart disease are present when prior results showed high risk levels and or when undergoing treatment for unhealthy lipid levels Test Preparation:Cholesterol tests typically require fasting for 9-12 hours before the test only water is permitted Your healthcare practitioner may decide that you may be tested without fasting 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: 125 to 200

To evaluate the health of your kidneys to help diagnose kidney disease to monitor treatment for kidney disease Specimen:A blood sample drawn from a vein in your arm and or a 24-hour urine sample When To Get Tested: Routinely as part of a comprehensive or basic metabolic panel when your have signs and symptoms that may be due to kidney disease or damage or when you have a condition that may affect your kidneys and or be worsened by kidney dysfunction at intervals to monitor treatment for kidney disease or kidney function while on certain medications Test Preparation:You may be instructed to fast overnight or refrain from eating cooked meat some studies have shown that eating cooked meat prior to testing can temporarily increase the level of creatinine Normal Test Result: 0.84 milligrams per deciliter to 1.21 milligrams per deciliter (74.3 to 107 micromoles per liter), although this can vary from lab to lab, between men and women, and by age

To screen for and help diagnose thyroid disorders to monitor treatment of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism Specimen:A blood sample drawn from a vein in your arm or from pricking the heel of an infant When To Get Tested: For screening Newborn screening is widely recommended however there is no consensus within the medical community as to the age adult screening should begin or whether screening should be done For monitoring treatment as directed by your healthcare provider Otherwise when a person has symptoms of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism and or an enlarged thyroid Test Preparation:None needed however certain medications can interfere with the TSH test so tell your health practitioner about any drugs that you are taking If you take thyroid hormone as treatment for thyroid disease it is recommended that your blood sample be drawn before you take your dose for that day Normal Test Result: from 0.4 mIU/L to 4.0 mIU/L for those with no symptoms of an under- or over-active thyroid

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 screen for help diagnose and or monitor several diseases and conditions such as kidney disorders or urinary tract infections UTIs Specimen:One to two ounces of urine a sufficient sample is required for accurate results sometimes you may be directed to collect a sample using a clean-catch technique women should spread the labia of the vagina and clean from front to back men should wipe the tip of the penis Start to urinate let some urine fall into the toilet then collect one to two ounces of urine in the container provided then void the rest into the toilet When To Get Tested: When you have symptoms such as abdominal pain back pain frequent or painful urination sometimes as part of a health examination pregnancy check-up hospital admission or pre-surgical work-up Test Preparation:None Normal Test Result: normally slightly acid (4.5 - 7.2 normal range)

To help assess the risk of developing heart disease Specimen:When other lipid tests such as a lipid profile are being performed When To Get Tested: When other lipid tests such as a lipid profile are being performed Test Preparation:Usually fasting for 9-12 hours before the test only water permitted and no alcohol for 24 hours before the test follow any instructions you are given Normal Test Result: from 2 mg/dL to 30 mg/dL (0.1 mmol/l to 1.7 mmol/l)

To screen for risk of developing heart disease to monitor effectiveness of lipid-lowering therapy Specimen:Most often a blood sample is collected from a vein in the arm Sometimes cholesterol is measured using a drop of blood collected by puncturing the skin on a finger A fingerstick sample is typically used when cholesterol is being measured on a portable testing device for example at a health fair When To Get Tested: Screening as part of a regular health exam with a lipid profile when no risk factors for heart disease are present adults should be tested once every four to six years children teens and young adults should be tested once between the ages of 9 and 11 and then again between the ages of 17 and 21 Monitoring may be done more frequently and at regular intervals when risk factors for heart disease are present when prior results showed high risk levels and or when undergoing treatment for unhealthy lipid levels Test Preparation:Cholesterol tests typically require fasting for 9-12 hours before the test only water is permitted Your healthcare practitioner may decide that you may be tested without fasting 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: < 100

To screen for risk of developing heart disease to monitor effectiveness of lipid-lowering therapy Specimen:Most often a blood sample is collected from a vein in the arm Sometimes cholesterol is measured using a drop of blood collected by puncturing the skin on a finger A fingerstick sample is typically used when cholesterol is being measured on a portable testing device for example at a health fair When To Get Tested: Screening as part of a regular health exam with a lipid profile when no risk factors for heart disease are present adults should be tested once every four to six years children teens and young adults should be tested once between the ages of 9 and 11 and then again between the ages of 17 and 21 Monitoring may be done more frequently and at regular intervals when risk factors for heart disease are present when prior results showed high risk levels and or when undergoing treatment for unhealthy lipid levels Test Preparation:Cholesterol tests typically require fasting for 9-12 hours before the test only water is permitted Your healthcare practitioner may decide that you may be tested without fasting 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: > 50