Family Health

Home pregnancy tests can provide you with fast results when you're anxious to know whether or not you're expecting. Clearblue offers two different tests that can be taken as early as four days...

Liquid-based Pap test, also referred to as liquid-based cytology, is a procedure used to microscopically test a small sample of cells. A Papanicolaou test (Pap test) is a screening tool used to...

Testing DNA on an unborn baby is possible using either an amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS) test. These tests are typically used to determine birth defects, abnormalities, inherited...

The ANA test screens for autoimmune conditions and may be ordered if your doctor thinks that you may have lupus or other autoimmune disorders. It is a simple blood test and there is little...

While high blood pressure, also known as "hypertension," receives a great deal of attention, the medical condition of low blood pressure, or "hypotension," can also be a sign of underlying health...

Dust mites are tiny insects that feed upon your shed skin cells. Dust mites are so small that they can't be detected with the human eyes. Dust mites can be present within your bedding, clothes,...

The pregnancy test manufacturer Clearblue makes two types of pregnancy tests. They offer a digital test that has a digital display reading "pregnant" or "not pregnant" depending on the results....

One Touch Blood Glucose Meters are manufactured by LifeScan, Incorporated. They are known for their accuracy and ease of use. Diabetics who need to closely monitor their blood glucose levels use a...

If you are hoping to become pregnant, you may have an exciting period of time ahead of you. You may analyze how you feel each day, looking for any sign that may indicate you have conceived. You...

Generally, the first sign of pregnancy is a missed period. However, you may experience symptoms beforehand, such as fatigue and nausea. You can see your doctor for a blood test, which detects hcG,...

It is important to know your blood type and the blood types of family members in the event that a transfusion becomes necessary. Mixing blood types is dangerous, since our body's immune system may...

Whether you face a potential unplanned pregnancy or anticipate a carefully planned one, the wait before your period is due to start can seem excruciatingly long. While simple home pregnancy tests...

The dominant eye is the eye that is used most in situations that require precise positional information. Any kind of game that requires aim, such as darts, target shooting, hunting, archery, and...

When it comes to determining whether or not you're pregnant, you want quick, accurate results. Thanks to advances in modern science, home pregnancy testing is both, and has the added benefit of...

When always taken correctly, birth control pills are highly effective at preventing pregnancy. It's still possible, however, to become pregnant while on birth control pills, even if you always...

Many parents want to find out the gender of their baby before it is born, so that they can prepare a room, buy clothes, choose a name, and do all the other things that need to be done before a...

A Papanicolaou (Pap) test checks for abnormal cells in the cervix that can indicate a number of conditions present, including inflammation and cervical cancer.

Most people think of tuberculosis as a disease of the past. Before 1940, death from TB was not uncommon. Many of us have heard stories of patients spending months or even years in a sanatorium...

Your doctor might order a cholesterol test as part of an annual physical exam or if you have risk factors for high blood pressure or heart disease. A cholesterol reading below 200mg/dl reflects...

OCT or Optical Coherence Tomography is an evaluation test performed to evaluate the performance of optic nerve. The instrument used for the performance of the procedure of OCT creates images by...

If you are having a blood test, your doctor may tell you to fast for a certain amount of time, because food can affect the results. One reason for your blood test may be to diagnose heart disease....

A Pap smear is a gynecological procedure to detect changes in the cervix that may become cancerous. If these changes are found, the Pap test is called abnormal and your doctor will recommend...

Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection that attacks the lungs, leading to respiratory distress and even death in victims with compromised immune systems, e.g. AIDS patients, chemotherapy...

Group B streptococcus (GBS) infection during pregnancy can cause health complications for baby and mother. GBS bacteria can be found in the vaginas of up to 40 percent of healthy women, but during...

Prenatal tests help doctors diagnose problems during pregnancy, so they can be addressed early on. Tests can also rule out key concerns to put your mind at ease.

Pre menopause or more correctly perimenopause is the period of time before a woman actually begins menopause. A self-administered test can give you a clue as to whether you may be in perimenopause.

Cholesterol is a fat in the blood that is made from the foods that you eat. Cholesterol is an important building block for cells and hormones. However, too much cholesterol can interfere with...

Doctors use laboratory tests to help diagnose or treat certain conditions and to check the overall health of their patients. Tests that measure the concentration of blood proteins, electrolytes...

If allergens are present in your home, the symptoms you suffer may have already given you confirmation, but a home allergy test can determine the source of those allergies. You can then make...

Entering the military is one of the biggest challenges of a young man's or woman's life. Aside from the emotional sacrifice and challenge entering the military brings, one also must be in top...

A CBC, or complete blood count, is a commonly administered test. A doctor or nurse will draw blood, normally taken from the arm, on the inside of the elbow. Drawn blood is sent to a laboratory...

A blood test result can be a valuable diagnostic tool within the course of a physical examination. Blood plasma levels provide a basic metabolic panel that reveals the chemical processes taking...

Colon test preparation involves eliminating fecal matter from the colon in order for the physician to have a clear view of the colon. "According to the American Cancer Society, the two most common...

Many people are uncomfortable with having to go to the doctor for an annual exam, which almost always entails lab tests. One of the most common lab tests is the urinalysis. A urinalysis is a...

When you and your partner are trying to conceive, it is essential to know when you ovulate. The best time, in fact, to try to conceive is actually just before you ovulate. In order to determine...

A glucometer is a great tool for those with diabetes, hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia. Checking one's blood glucose level may have to be done several times a day, depending on the condition or level...

Glutathione is one of many chemicals in the body. Glutathione is responsible for so many functions within the body; low levels of glutathione can indicate a health problem. Doctors can test how...

A 10 panel drug screen is a type of urine-based drug screen that tests for the use of 10 illicit and prescription drugs. Approximately 95 percent of the abused drugs in use today are detectable...

Prostrate cancer is often undetected until it's too late. There are usually no early warning signs or symptoms. Fortunately, the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test can detect this disease at its...

Congenital hip dysplasia is any abnormality of the hip joint present at birth. This is usually predominant among first-born children, female babies and babies born in breech position, with their...

HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, is a hormone that is produced only if conception has occurred. Thus, if a woman has an appreciable amount of hCG in her blood or urine (over 5 mIU/ml), she...

Have you ever wanted to know when you are ovulating? By taking an ovulation test strip you can find out what days you are most likely to conceive a baby. Just by following these simple steps you...

Autism impairs a person's ability to relate to others, communicate with normal language, and process feelings (many of which may not fit the issue at hand). Checking for autism in toddlers is...

Have you and your spouse decided to take that leap into parenthood? Getting pregnant can be difficult for some people but once you have done your thing and think you are pregnant you may want to...

There are two types of tests that can measure the state of the body's chemistry. The first is a blood serum test, in which blood is drawn and spun to separate out the serum. The serum is used to...

The Clearblue Easy Fertility Monitor is a home ovulation test that you can use to identify up to six days of fertility during the menstrual cycle. It works by monitoring two hormones, estrogen and...

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a remarkable and relatively new technological development that dramatically speeds up diagnosis and improves patient outcomes. Furthermore, it is similar to...

Testing your child's hearing is an especially important task of parenthood. An infant who has undetected hearing loss may not be able to develop normal speech or acquire the cognitive abilities...

A fasting blood test just means that you are not supposed to eat or drink eight to 12 hours before having blood taken. However, you can--and should--drink water. You should consult your doctor...

According to U.S. law, all newborns are required to undergo blood screening tests in the hours and days after birth. Laws vary from state to state so the specific conditions for which a newborn is...