Women's preventive care 20+

Benefits of the Women 20+ laboratory testing package

• Total of 11 laboratory testing parameters assessed
• Thyroid function testing (TSH and fT4)
• Urinary tract examination as a part of the check-up
• Iron and vitamin D blood level assessment

What´s measured

The “Women's preventive care 20+” laboratory testing package consists of 11 parameters and is suitable for women over the age of 20. During this period, most women watch their health status due to hormonal contraceptive use or menstrual cycle disorders. The “Women's preventive care 20+” parameter package provides basic information about the metabolism, blood formation, immunity, and urinary tract condition.

Prevention is one of the most important steps in taking care of one’s own health. It lies mainly in looking for potential risks associated with diseases and in maintaining a balanced health condition.

Parameters

ALT

This acronym stands for Alanine Aminotransferase, which is an enzyme present in the cytoplasm of cells of certain tissues. It is crucial in the formation and breakdown of amino acids, while also playing a role in nitrogen and glucose metabolism. Increased ALT activity occurs when the integrity of cells, particularly liver cells, is compromised. As a laboratory marker, it is used in preventive screening to identify liver diseases, which occur in instances such as taking certain medications, suffering from infectious diseases, or poisoning.

Glucose

Glucose, commonly referred to as blood sugar, is a simple carbohydrate serving as the main source of energy for cells. In diabetes, glucose cannot enter the cells and the blood glucose level rises in response.

Ferritin

Ferritin is a storage protein that contains iron, mainly found in the liver, spleen, bone marrow, and intestinal mucosa. Its blood level indicates the status of iron reserves in the body. Additionally, ferritin is one of the acute phase reactants, substances the blood levels of which increase during the acute phase of inflammation.

Blood count with differential

It helps in the assessment of the overall health status, can assist in detecting anemia (low red blood cell count), and thus impaired oxygen supply to tissues, as well as in determining the risk of infections, inflammations, immune disorders, or coagulation problems.

Creatinine

Creatinine is a nitrogenous compound produced by the breakdown of a substance called creatine, which supplies the energy necessary for muscle contraction. It is primarily synthesised in the liver. Creatinine is excreted exclusively by the kidneys. The test measuring the level of creatinine in the blood along with glomerular filtration rate calculation therefore allow for the detection of kidney function disorders.

Uric acid

Uric acid (UA) is a nitrogenous substance formed as the end product of purine metabolism in humans. UA is a potent antioxidant (capturing free oxygen radicals) and is one of the parameters of metabolic syndrome. When its level increases in the body, it can get deposited in the form of crystals in the tissues, as it is characterised by poor water solubility.

TSH – thyroid-stimulating hormone

TSH (thyrotropin, thyroid-stimulating hormone) is a hormone produced by the cells of the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland. It affects the metabolism of thyroid cells and stimulates the production and secretion of thyroid hormones, especially thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3).

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a critically important fat-soluble vitamin, essential for the proper functioning of numerous metabolic processes in the body, including the proper growth and development of bones and teeth. There are two basic forms of vitamin D: vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), which is produced in the skin following sunlight exposure and can be obtained in small amounts from animal food sources, and vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol), which comes from plant foods and is part of most vitamin supplements.

Chemical urinalysis

The basic chemical urinalysis includes a pH examination and a urine specific gravity test, along with the qualitative evidence for the presence of protein, glucose/sugar, ketone bodies, bilirubin, urobilinogen, nitrites, haemoglobin, and leukocytes. It is primarily intended for the assessment of kidney function, as well as the functioning of other organs.

Urine sediment

Urine sediment provides an overview of cellular components, i.e. erythrocytes (red blood cells), leukocytes (white blood cells), epithelial cells that line the urethra and bladder, inorganic components including crystals, and the organic presence of microorganisms.

fT4

Free T4 (fT4) is a physiologically active form of the hormone called thyroxine, which is produced by the thyroid gland. Thyroxine is one of the main hormones produced by the thyroid gland and represents a natural part of its regulatory system. It affects the overall metabolism of the body, while also serving as a prohormone for triiodothyronine (T3). Since it predominantly binds to proteins in the bloodstream, it is preferable to determine its free fraction (fT4) over the total T4, as the level of fT4 is unaffected by proteins and reflects the actual state of the thyroid gland.