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Common laboratory tests and what they mean

Your doctor may order laboratory tests for you as part of a routine checkup, or to confirm a diagnosis or monitor your health.

Below are common laboratory tests grouped and listed by name in alphabetical order:

- A -  |  - B -  |  - C -  |  - D -  |  - E -  |  - F -  |  - G -  |  - H -  |  - I -  |  - K -  |  - L -  |  - M/N -  |  - O -  |  - P -  |  - R -  |  - S -  |  - T -  |  - U -  |  - V -

- A -

• ACTH Suppression


• Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH)


• Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)


• Albumin


• Alkaline Phosphatase


• Allergy Tests


• Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP)


• Amylase


• Antibody Tests (Coombs Test)


• Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA)


• Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)

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- B -

• Bicarbonate (Carbon Dioxide)


• Bilirubin


• Blood Culture


• Blood Glucose


• Blood Type


• Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)


• Breast Cancer (BRCA) Gene

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- C -

• C-Reactive Protein (CRP)


• Calcium (Ca)


• Cardiac Enzyme Studies


• CD4+ Count


• Chemistry Screen


• Chlamydia Tests


• Chloride (Cl)


• Cholesterol and Triglycerides


• Cobalamin


• Complete Blood Count (CBC)


• Coombs Test


• Creatinine and Creatinine Clearance

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- D -

• Dexamethasone Suppression Test

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- E -

• Electrolyte Panel 


• Estrogens

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- F -

• Folic Acid


• Follicle-Stimulating Hormone

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- G -

• Globulin


• Glucose


• Glycohemoglobin (HbA1c, A1c)


• Gonorrhea


• Growth Hormone

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- H -

• HDL Cholesterol


• Helicobacter pylori


• Hepatitis Panel


• Homocysteine


• Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG)


• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

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- I -

• Iron (Fe)

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- K -

• Ketones

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- L -

• Lactic Acid Dehydrogenase (LDH)


• LDL Cholesterol


• Lead (Pb)


• Liver Function Panel

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- M/N -

• Magnesium (Mg)


• Microalbumin Urine Test


• Mononucleosis  

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- O -

• Oral Glucose Tolerance Test

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- P -

• Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)


• Partial Thromboplastin Time


• Phosphate (Phosphorus)


• Potassium (K) in Blood


• Potassium (K) in Urine


• Pregnancy Test


• Progesterone


• Prolactin


• Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)


• Prothrombin Time

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- R -

• Reticulocyte Count


• Rheumatoid Factor (RF)


• Rubella

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- S -

• Sedimentation Rate


• Sickle Cell Test


• Sodium (Na)


• Stool Analysis


• Stool Analysis for Giardiasis (Ova and Parasite Test)


• Stool Antigen Test


• Stool Culture


• Syphilis

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- T -

• Testosterone


• Thyroid Hormone


• Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH)


• Total Serum Protein

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- U -

• Uric Acid


• Urine Test

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- V -

• Viral Tests


• Vitamin B12

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