Laboratory Services

Diabetes Mellitus is a set of diseases that result from excessive glucose (sugar) in the blood.

The most common type is Type 2 Diabetes, in which the body has trouble processing excessive amounts of sugar, causing an imbalance. Risk factors include family history, obesity, high blood pressure, inactivity, smoking and poor dietary choices among others. Type I Diabetes Mellitus, also known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic autoimmune disease that occurs when the body's immune system destroys the cells that generate insulin. The lack of insulin hormone causes a build-up of glucose in the blood, causing hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). 

Symptoms of Diabetes Mellitus may include:

• Excessive fatigue 
• Polyuria (excessive urination)
• Frequent thirst
• Dry mouth
• Unexplained weight loss
• Dry and itchy skin

What kind of diabetes testing is available?

• In-office blood glucose: tests your current blood sugar level. A fasting glucose of greater than 100mg/dl can indicate prediabetes, while a glucose of 126 mg/dl or higher may be suggestive of diabetes.
• In-office Hemoglobin A1C: This test gives an average of your glucose levels over the last 3 months. It is sometimes used as a definitive diagnosis test for diabetes. An A1c of 5.7-6.4% is indicative of prediabetes. An A1c of 6.5% or higher is suggestive of diabetes. 
• Laboratory send-out blood glucose and/or Hemoglobin A1C: Additional confirmatory testing with results available on your confidential health portal within 1-2 days. 

Why should I test for diabetes? 

Early screening for diabetes and routine monitoring can help people reduce and avoid complications of the disease. LifeLine Walk-In Medical & Mental Health Nursing Clinic clinicians can provide fast 20-minute results, education, and a customized treatment plan including non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic interventions.

A blood test can assist to identify allergies to common indoor and outdoor allergens, such as dog/cat hair, pollen, dust mites, mold and pet dander. Allergens can cause symptoms of congestion, headaches, sinusitis, cough and others.

Our customizable food allergy testing is performed by obtaining blood to process at the lab. Determine if food you are eating is causing symptoms such as skin rashes, indigestion, nausea, flatus, stomach pain and others. 

Including: Lithium, valproic acid, carbamazepine (Tegretol), divalproex sodium (Depakote), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), topiramate (Topamax)

*Lab add-on to mental health visit only.

Mononucleosis is an infectious viral illness most commonly caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). This disease is highly contagious and is spread by exposure to infected body fluids. It is also known as the “kissing disease” because it is spread through saliva from kissing, sharing utensils, food, cups, straws or lip balm. Mono can also be spread through blood and semen during sexual contact or blood transfusions. 

Mononucleosis virus can last for weeks. Symptoms can include fever, fatigue, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, enlarged spleen, enlarged liver and skin rashes. 

LifeLine Walk-In Medical & Mental Health Nursing Clinic offers Rapid Monospot testing using a small sample of blood from your finger. This test detects specific mononucleosis antibodies in the blood. 

Resources:

Dunmire, S. K., Hogquist, K. A., & Balfour, H. H. (2015). Infectious Mononucleosis. Current topics in microbiology and immunology, 390(Pt 1), 211–240. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22822-8_9

A medical order is required for imaging, especially if using medical insurance for coverage. X-rays, CT scans, ultrasounds and MRIs are noninvasive imaging methods used to examine organs, tissues, tendons and ligaments and the skeletal system for any abnormalities. If you have a health concern that you would like further investigated, we can assist by validating the necessity and giving an order for the scan. 

Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella

An antibody titer test is a measure of the concentration of antibodies in the blood and immunity to the virus. A venipuncture is required to obtain the specimen for testing. Results will determine immunity or lack of immunity, which may then require vaccination. 

The CDC reports that approximately 1 in 5 deaths is caused by heart disease in the United States annually (CDC.gov). A main contributor to heart disease is elevated cholesterol levels. There may not be noticeable symptoms of hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol), but adverse effects can occur within the body. 

LifeLine Walk-In Medical & Mental Health Nursing Clinic clinicians can provide fast 20-minute full rapid lipid panel to screen for high cholesterol. This screening test helps to diagnose elevated or high cholesterol using a small sample of blood from your finger. 

What is a Rapid Lipid Panel?

You will receive the following 4 cholesterol numbers during your visit. It is recommended that you fast for 8-12 hours prior to this test for the most accurate results. 

Total cholesterol: The measurement of the amount of all the types of cholesterol in your blood

High-density lipoprotein (HDL): The good type of cholesterol, that helps to remove bad fat from the blood vessels.  

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL): Measurement of the bad kind of cholesterol, that can build up and clog your blood vessels and arteries. 

Triglycerides: Also considered bad fats, but are converted by the body and stored in fat cells for energy in between meals.

Consider checking your cholesterol numbers if you:

• Have a family history of high cholesterol
• Are overweight
• Do not exercise at all or minimally
• Smoke cigarettes
• Drink alcohol frequently
• Have not been screened in the past year

Our clinicians will assist you with understanding and taking control of your cholesterol levels using a customized treatment plan.  

Thyroid function tests show how well your thyroid gland is working. They can diagnose diseases such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism and Graves’ disease. We can treat thyroid disorders that can cause symptoms of fatigue, weight fluctuance, mood changes, and sleep disturbances amongst others. 

In-office urine testing to detect a wide array of conditions including infection, kidney disease and diabetes. 

Our 12-panel rapid urine drug test yields fast and accurate results. This test can be used as clearance for students, employment, athletes, parents, legal processes, etc. 

Also called phlebotomy, is a procedure in which a needle is used to take blood from a vein for laboratory testing. We will process the specimen and send it to the lab securely.