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Pathology

Following your first or subsequent visit to the surgeon, you may be asked for a
blood test, below are a few common tests prescribed by your surgeon.

Some of the more common blood tests are...

FBC. Full Blood Count The haemoglobin level is checked and the different blood
cells are looked at in detail under the microscope. Various forms of anaemia are
picked up as are viral infections like glandular fever. People on some medications
require regular FBE's.

UEC's. Urea Electrolytes and Creatinine. This test is a measure of kidney function.
We see an elevated serum urea or creatinine with dehydration or if the kidney
function is impaired. The electrolytes are the various salts in the bloodstream...
things like sodium, potassium, chloride and bicarbonate. The potassium level
is of particular importance in people on diuretics or fluid tablets. Frequently
the level falls in these patients and oral potassium supplements are required.
Calcium in blood may be assessed to determine the

LFT's. Liver function tests. The levels of several liver enzymes rise markedly
when the liver is damaged by infections like hepatitis, or by toxins like alcohol
and certain drugs. Likewise, in a jaundiced patient where bile secretion from the
liver is blocked, an elevated bilirubin level is seen. We also measure the protein
and albumin levels; with chronic illnesses the albumin tends to gradually fall to
quite low levels.

Click here to open a fact sheet from Hepatitis C Council of NSW on Liver Function
Tests.

Cholesterol, triglyceride and other blood lipid levels. There is now no doubt at
all that a high blood cholesterol level is an important risk factor for coronary
artery disease. HDL-cholesterol seems to be protective and we like to see a
higher level of this lipid. LDL-cholesterol appears a major factor in the
development of coronary artery disease and we like to see a low level.
Various ratios of HDL, LDL and total cholesterol are also used and may
be more accurate predictors of coronary artery disease. Recent research
suggests that an elevated triglyceride level is also significant and has to be
taken into account.