METHOD: IMMUNOTURBIDIMETRIC
The C -Reactive protein is normal alpha- globulin and it is elevated in patients who have an inflammatory conditions of infectious or noninfectious origin. The test is non specific and the resuts frequently overlap ESR values. The findings can be useful as a simple index of the disease ativity and treatment status.
Elevated levels of blood urea nitrogen are observed in pre renal , renal and post renal conditions .
Pre renal conditions .. diabetes mellitius, dehydration, cardiac failure , hematemesis, severe burns, high fever etc..
Renal conditions.. disease of kidneys.
Post renal conditions.. inlargement of prostate, stones in the urinary tract, tumor of the bladder . Decreased values have been reported in severe liver disease, protein malnutrition & pregnency.
Decreased serum calcium values are found in hypoparathyroidism, rickets, osteiomalacia and steatorrhea. A fall in serum calcium can occun in acute pancreatitis and in those forms of renal disease in which excessive proteinuria is observed. Increased serum calcium values are observed in hyperparathyroidism, hypervitamonosis D and multiple myeloma.
Uric acid is the end product of nucleoprotein metabolism. It is a low threshold excretory product. the serum uric acid level is ofter raised in gout. the determination has diagnostic value differentiating gout from non gout arthritis. uric acid levels are also increased in renal failure, uremia and leukemia.
When the body is infected with streptococci, it produces antibodies against the various antigens that the streptococci produce. ASO is one such antibody. So, a raised or rising levels can indicate past or present infection. Historically was one of the first bacterial markers used for diagnosis and follow up of rheumatism or scarlet fever. Its importance in this regard has not diminished.
This titre (value) has a significance only if it is greatly raised, or if a rise in titre can be demonstrated in paired blood samples taken days apart.The antibody levels begin to rise after 1 to 3 weeks of strep infection,peaks in 3 to 5 weeks and falls back to insignificant levels in 6 months.
Values need to be correlated with a clinical diagnosis.
Methodology: Sedimentation
Factors increasing ESR -Old age -Pregnancy -Anemia -Elevated fibrinogen -Macrocytosis
Factors decreasing ESR -Microcytosis -Low fibrinogen -Polycythemia -Marked leukocytosis