Common Laboratory Tests
Flu Antigen
Most influenza infections occur in the colder winter months, but infections can still present any time of year. If you are experiencing fever, sore throat, headache, chills, respiratory symptoms, cough, body aches, and fatigue you may want to consider being tested for the flu. Children who are infected with the flu also present with gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. Flu tests include a rapid antigen test which usually produces results within 10-15 minutes. This test measuring the antigens given off by the flu virus, antigens are little protein which elicit the human immune response. A positive antigen means you are suffering from a current infection.
Flu PCR diagnostic testing produces a test result within 20 minutes of specimen collection. Tests are performed using a swabbed upper respiratory sample. The PCR test isexecuted by molecular mechanisms, it detects the surface protein of the flu virus which limits inaccurate results due to the ever-changing genetic mutations which naturally occur with the influenza virus.
Strep throat is caused by the bacteria Group A Streptococcus (GAS). When infected with GAS a patient will present with a sore throat lasting a couple days or longer with a fever of 101ºF or higher. The throat will appear red and may present with white patches and/or streaks on the tonsils or back of the throat. If you head to Frisco Quick Care for a strep test a health care worker will swab the back of your throat and tonsils, sometimes two swabs are collected for reflex testing with a bacterial culture. The first specimen will be subjected to a rapid test, if the test is negative a reflex test will be ordered, and a bacterial culture will be formed to determine if group a strep is isolated from the patient sample. If your rapid strep test is negative for strep A and your bacterial culture is positive, then you are infected with strep A. If both are negative, you are probably infected with another bacteria or virus and your symptoms will resolve on their own.
Antibiotics are usually prescribed to people suffering from a beta-hemolytic streptococcus (this means group A, C, or G). Beta-hem streps are the main cause of pharyngitis in patients, mostly children. But if the patient is not infected with a bacterium and their pharyngitis is caused a viral infection, the practitioner will not prescribe an unnecessary antibiotic. A reflex test with a bacterial culture is always performed but confirmation of a culture takes 48 hours. PCR for a strep infection is a quick way to determine whether a patient needs antibiotics or not. The specimen is collected via throat swab and the results of the test are available within 20 minutes of the test start time. Detection of strep is done by molecular identification of genetic material.
RSV Antige
RSV stand for respiratory syncytial virus. It is a virus of the upper respiratory tract that usually effects children 2 and younger. It usually causes mild cold like symptoms but can cause breathing trouble in the immunocompromised, babies, and the elderly. RSV symptoms include fever, wheezing, fast breathing in infants, cyanosis of the skin, trouble breathing, and severe coughing. A swab is usually used to by a health care provider to collect the specimen which is being subjected to evaluation. An antigen is a protein which elicits an immune response in a person infected with a specific virus. The rapid RSV produces a result within 15-20 minutes.
RSV PCR test is performed by molecular mechanism. The specimen collection is typically a nasal wash or a nasal swab. The specimen is then subjected to molecular testing to detect genetic material produced by the respiratory virus.
Mononucleosis Diagnostic
Urinalysis
STD Testing
We make STD testing convenient and confidential. Your specimen collection will take as little as 15 minutes. You can be tested for a panel of the most common STDs or any you know you have been exposed to. The STD panel tests the patients for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, hepatitis C, herpes, and HIV. Testing and results are always confidential.
CBC
CMP
Vitamin D
Vitamin B12
Thyroid Panel
Did you know...
some sprains and strains – such as those caused by falling on a foot or twisting a knee – are accidental and difficult to prevent. Others – such as those caused by lifting heavy objects the wrong way – can be prevented with proper training. The National Institutes of Health recommend stretching prior to physical activity, as well as wearing protective equipment during play to prevent sports injuries. It is also important to avoid overuse injuries by taking the time to rest tired and sore muscles.
