Detailed information about the main medical and diagnostic tests. Find out what they are for, how they are made, what preparation is recommended and what the results mean.
The PPD is the standard screening test to identify infection with the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis and thus assist in the diagnosis of tuberculosis. Normally, the test is carried out on people who have been in direct contact with patients infected by the bacteria, even if they do not show symptoms of the disease. Find out what […]
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The Pap smear is a gynecological exam used to evaluate the cells of the cervix, being able to identify uterine changes and diseases, such as inflammation, HPV infection and cancer. Despite being recommended mainly for women who have already started sexual activity, the Pap smear, also called a preventive exam, can be carried out by […]
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Platelets are small fragments of a cell produced by the bone marrow, the megakaryocyte, and act mainly in the blood clotting process, being essential to prevent major bleeding. The process of megakaryocyte production by the bone marrow and fragmentation into platelets lasts about 10 days and is regulated by the hormone thrombopoietin, which is produced […]
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Procalcitonin (PCT) is a marker of inflammation used mainly to help diagnose bacterial infections, to assess the risk of complications and the response to antibiotic treatment. Procalcitonin is a precursor peptide of calcitonin, a hormone produced by the thyroid with the aim of regulating calcium levels in the body. However, in cases of infection, there […]
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C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein produced by the liver that is generally increased when there is inflammation or infection in the body. This protein is widely used to assess the possibility of an infection or inflammation that is not visible, such as appendicitis or atherosclerosis, for example. However, CRP can also be used to […]
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The PCA 3 test is a prostate cancer-specific mRNA biomarker performed with a urine sample to identify prostate cancer gene 3 and diagnose this type of cancer effectively. This test is considered more effective than PSA to identify prostate cancer, as it is performed using the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method to measure […]
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PSA, known as Prostate Specific Antigen, is an enzyme produced by prostate cells whose increased concentration may indicate changes in the prostate, such as prostatitis, benign prostate hypertrophy or prostate cancer, for example. Normally, the PSA blood test is indicated at least once a year for all men over 45 years of age, but it […]
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The parasitological examination of feces is carried out using a sample of feces to investigate the presence of intestinal parasites, being useful for diagnosing diseases such as hookworm, ascariasis, giardiasis or amoebiasis, for example. Therefore, this test is recommended by the doctor when the person presents signs and symptoms of worms such as abdominal pain, […]
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Polysomnography is an exam that is used to analyze sleep quality and diagnose sleep-related diseases, and can be indicated from 2 years of age. Therefore, this exam may be recommended by the doctor to identify sleep disorders, such as apnea, excessive snoring, restless legs syndrome or too much sleep during the day. This exam is […]
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The progestogen test is done to check the levels of hormones produced by women when they do not have normal menstrual periods and to assess the integrity of the uterus, as progestogen is a hormone that promotes changes in the endometrium and maintains pregnancy. The progestogen test is carried out by administering progestins, which are […]
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