Individual tests

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is a genetic disorder affecting red blood cells, which carry oxygen from the lungs to tissues throughout the body. The disease can cause hemolysis, where red blood cells are destroyed faster than the body can replace them.
IGF-1 is a hormone that manages the human growth hormone's (GH) effects. Together, IGF-1 and GH promote the normal growth of bones and tissues. GH levels in the blood fluctuate depending on your diet and activity levels, but IGF-1 levels remain stable. So, an IGF-1 test is useful for determining if your body is making a normal amount of GH. The test helps diagnose growth disorders.
PTH is a hormone your parathyroid glands make, which helps control the calcium level in your blood. If calcium blood levels are too low, your parathyroid glands will release PTH to raise calcium levels. If calcium levels are too high, these glands will stop making PTH. This test helps diagnose hyperparathyroidism (too much PTH) and hypoparathyroidism (too little PTH), monitor kidney disease, and determine whether high calcium blood levels relate to parathyroid glands.
Luteinizing hormone (LH) is synthesized and secreted by gonadotropes in the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland. Along with the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), it is essential for proper reproductive function. In females, an acute rise of LH triggers ovulation; in males, it stimulates Leydig cell production of testosterone. This test typically finds the cause of infertility or irregular or stopped menstrual periods.
Progesterone is a hormone from the ovaries. During a normal menstrual cycle, progesterone prepares your uterus for pregnancy. This test is useful for those having trouble getting pregnant, undergoing fertility treatment, or experiencing abnormal bleeding when not pregnant.
Prolactin is a pituitary gland hormone that causes the breasts to grow and produce milk. If prolactin levels are higher than normal, it often means there is a type of tumor of the pituitary gland. This test is often used to diagnose a prolactinoma, find the cause of a woman's menstrual irregularities and/or infertility, or determine the reason for a man's low sex drive and/or erectile dysfunction.
Prothrombin is a protein from your liver that acts as a clotting (coagulation) factor. If your blood clots too slowly, you may bleed excessively after an injury. If your blood clots too fast, the clots may harm your heart or brain. A prothrombin time (PT) test measures how long it takes for a clot to form.
SHBG is a protein that attaches to sex hormones in your blood. When the SHBG protein binds to sex hormones, your tissues can't use those hormones. Your tissues can only use free sex hormones that aren't attached to SHBG. The test is most often used to gather information about how testosterone is working in the body.
Testosterone is known as a "male" sex hormone, but females have testosterone in smaller amounts. Testosterone causes body hair, muscle growth, and a deepened voice after puberty in males. It controls sex drive, maintains muscle mass, and helps make sperm. In females, testosterone is important for the growth of bones and muscles. A testosterone levels test may help diagnose early or delayed puberty.
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