Laboratory Testing Specialist
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Southern Nevada Pediatric Center
Board Certified Pediatricians located in Las Vegas, NV
Laboratory testing can shed light on your child’s current state of health and wellness. The board-certified pediatricians and medical professionals at Southern Nevada Pediatric Center in Las Vegas provide an array of lab tests to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of numerous medical conditions. From evaluating inflammatory markers to checking for infections, antibodies, and blood sugar levels, the Southern Nevada Pediatric Center specialists use lab testing to get to the bottom of any ailment. Schedule online or call today to book an appointment.
Laboratory Testing Q & A
Why would my child need laboratory testing?
Your Southern Nevada Pediatric Center specialist might recommend laboratory testing for a number of reasons, such as to:
- Assess your child’s overall health
- Check for an infection
- Determine how well certain organs, such as the liver or kidney, are working
- Screen for certain genetic conditions
- View inflammatory markers
- Check for genetic markers that could be used to diagnose certain diseases
Blood tests are one of the most commonly used types of medical testing. Other types of testing include swab tests, such as a nasal or throat swab, and urine testing.
What is hemoglobin, glucose, and lead testing?
Hemoglobin, glucose, and lead testing is used to evaluate your child’s overall health and check for a number of disorders, such as infections, leukemia, and anemia.
Hemoglobin, glucose, and lead testing measures various components of your child’s blood, such as:
- Red blood cells that carry oxygen
- White blood cells that fight infection
- Hemoglobin (the protein found in red blood cells that carries oxygen)
- Hematocrit (the proportion of red blood cells to plasma)
- Platelets that help with blood clotting
Hemoglobin, glucose, and lead testing is also a great way to diagnose or monitor a medical treatment or condition.
What happens during a blood test?
A blood test usually takes a few minutes and involves obtaining a small sample of your child’s blood from pricking the finger, or, in most cases, from a blood vessel in the arm. This is most often taken from the inside of the elbow or wrist, where the veins are fairly close to the surface.
Your child is seated in a chair during the blood test while your Southern Nevada Pediatric Center specialist places a tight band called a tourniquet around your child’s upper arm to temporarily slow blood flow by squeezing the arm. This causes your child’s vein to swell.
Your medical provider inserts a needle attached to a syringe or special container into your child’s vein to draw blood. They remove the needle and apply a light pressure to your child’s skin for a few minutes using a cotton-wool pad. Your child might feel a mild, tolerable pricking when the needle is inserted.
Only a minor amount of blood is taken during blood work so you and your child can return home immediately afterward. Most testing results are analyzed in a medical lab. Your Southern Nevada Pediatric Center specialist informs you when you can expect to receive your child’s laboratory test results.
If you’re interested in testing and receiving the highest standard of pediatric care, schedule an appointment online today or by phone.
