Everyday Health Guide

Measures the body's ability to produce growth hormone after being stimulated by medication or fasting. It requires multiple blood draws over a few hours in a clinical setting. Fasting is required.

Detects the presence of H. pylori (a bacteria that can cause stomach ulcers) in the stool. You may need to stop taking certain acid-reducing medications or antibiotics for a few weeks before the test. A small stool sample is collected at home.

Measures the different types of hemoglobin (the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells) to diagnose abnormal hemoglobin variants like sickle cell trait or thalassemia. No fasting is required. A standard blood draw is performed.

Detects HBsAg (a protein on the surface of the Hepatitis B virus), indicating a current infection. No fasting is required. A standard blood draw is performed.

Checks for HCV antibodies (proteins the immune system makes to fight the Hepatitis C virus). No fasting is required. A standard blood draw is performed.

Measures HDL (often called "good" cholesterol because it helps remove bad cholesterol from the arteries). Fasting for 9–12 hours is usually required as part of a lipid profile. A standard blood draw is performed.

Measures homocysteine (an amino acid in the blood; high levels can damage blood vessel linings and increase the risk of heart disease or stroke). Fasting for 8 hours is usually required. A standard blood draw is performed.

Measures hCG (a hormone produced by the placenta during pregnancy) in the blood. It can detect pregnancy earlier than a urine test. No fasting is required. A standard blood draw is performed.

Uses IFE (a lab technique that separates and identifies specific proteins in the blood) to detect abnormal proteins like monoclonal antibodies. No fasting is required. A standard blood draw (venipuncture, drawing blood from a vein) is performed.

Measures IgE (an antibody produced by the immune system in response to allergens). No fasting is required. A standard blood draw (venipuncture, drawing blood from a vein) is performed.

Measures IgG (the most common type of antibody in the blood, indicating past infection or immunity). No fasting is required. A standard blood draw is performed.

Detects antibodies floating freely in the blood serum that could attack donor red blood cells during a transfusion or a baby's red blood cells during pregnancy. No fasting is required. A standard blood draw is performed.

Measures IAA (antibodies that mistakenly attack insulin or insulin receptors) to help diagnose or predict the risk of Type 1 diabetes. No fasting is required. A standard blood draw is performed.

Measures INR (a standardized number that measures how long it takes blood to clot). It is primarily used to monitor patients taking blood-thinning medications like warfarin. No fasting is required. A standard blood draw is performed.

Measures the amount of iron circulating in the blood. It is usually done alongside TIBC and ferritin tests. Fasting for 8–12 hours is recommended for accuracy. A standard blood draw is performed.

A needle is used to withdraw synovial fluid (the lubricating fluid inside joints) to check for infection, gout, or inflammation. Local anesthesia (numbing medicine) is used. The area is kept clean and rested afterward.

A panel of blood tests (including creatinine, urea, and electrolytes) that check how well the kidneys are filtering waste. Fasting for 8–12 hours is usually required. A standard blood draw is performed.

A passed or surgically removed kidney stone is sent to a lab to determine its chemical composition (e.g., calcium oxalate, uric acid). No patient preparation is needed; the lab handles the physical stone.