Fever Panel for Influenza like Illnesses

There are five types of WBCs: neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. A Differential Leukocyte Count test measures the percentage of each type of WBC in the blood. Leukocytes or WBCs are produced in the bone marrow and defend the body against infections and diseases. Each type of WBC plays a unique role to protect against infections and is present in different numbers.

This further contains

• Differential Monocyte Count
• Differential Basophil Count
• Differential Eosinophil Count
• Differential Neutrophil Count
• Differential Lymphocyte Count

The Red Blood Cell Count test measures the total number of red blood cells in your blood. RBCs are the most abundant cells in the blood with an average lifespan of 120 days. These cells are produced in the bone marrow and destroyed in the spleen or liver. Their primary function is to help carry oxygen from the lungs to different body parts. The normal range of RBC count can vary depending on age, gender, and the equipment and methods used for testing.

An Hb (Hemoglobin) test measures the concentration of hemoglobin protein in your blood. Hemoglobin is made up of iron and globulin proteins. It is an essential part of RBCs and is critical for oxygen transfer from the lungs to all body tissues. Most blood cells, including RBCs, are produced regularly in your bone marrow. The Hb test is a fundamental part of a complete blood count (CBC) and is used to monitor blood health, diagnose various blood disorders, and assess your response to treatments if needed.

A Platelet Count test measures the average number of platelets in the blood. Platelets are disk-shaped tiny cells originating from large cells known as megakaryocytes, which are found in the bone marrow. After the platelets are formed, they are released into the blood circulation. Their average life span is 7-10 days. 

Platelets help stop the bleeding, whenever there is an injury or trauma to a tissue or blood vessel, by adhering and accumulating at the injury site and releasing chemical compounds that stimulate the gathering of more platelets. A loose platelet plug is formed at the site of injury and this process is known as primary hemostasis. These activated platelets support the coagulation pathway that involves a series of steps, including the sequential activation of clotting factors; this process is known as secondary hemostasis. After this step, there is a formation of fibrin strands that form a mesh incorporated into and around the platelet plug. This mesh strengthens and stabilizes the blood clot so that it remains in place until the injury heals. After healing, other factors come into play and break the clot down so that it gets removed. In case the platelets are not sufficient in number or not functioning properly, a stable clot might not form. These unstable clots can result in an increased risk of excessive bleeding. 

The Total Leukocyte Count test measures the numbers of all types of leukocytes, namely neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil, and basophil, in your blood. Leukocytes or WBCs are an essential part of our immune system. These cells are produced in the bone marrow and defend the body against infections and diseases. Each type of WBC plays a unique role to protect against infections and is present in different numbers.

A Hematocrit test measures the proportion of red blood cells (RBCs) in your blood as a percentage of the total blood volume. It is a crucial part of a complete blood count (CBC) and helps in assessing your blood health. RBCs are responsible for carrying oxygen from the lungs to different parts of the body. The hematocrit test provides valuable information about your blood's oxygen-carrying capacity.

Higher-than-normal amounts of RBCs produced by the bone marrow can cause the hematocrit to increase, leading to increased blood density and slow blood flow. On the other hand, lower-than-normal hematocrit can be caused by low production of RBCs, reduced lifespan of RBCs in circulation, or excessive bleeding, leading to a reduced amount of oxygen being transported by RBCs. Monitoring your hematocrit levels is essential for diagnosing and managing various blood-related disorders.

A Mean Corpuscular Volume test measures the average size of your red blood cells, which carry oxygen through your body. This test tells whether your RBCs are of average size and volume or whether they are bigger or smaller.

An MCH test measures the average amount of hemoglobin in a single red blood cell (RBC). Hemoglobin is an iron-containing protein in RBCs, and its major function is to transport oxygen from the lungs to all body parts. This test provides information about how much oxygen is being delivered to the body by a certain number of RBCs.

An MCHC test measures the average amount of hemoglobin in a given volume of RBCs. MCHC is calculated by dividing the amount of hemoglobin by hematocrit (volume of blood made up of RBCs) and then multiplying it by 100. 

An MPV test measures the average size of the platelets in your blood. Platelets are disk-shaped tiny cells originating from large cells known as megakaryocytes, which are found in the bone marrow. After the platelets are formed, they are released into the blood circulation. Their average life span is 7-10 days. 

Platelets help stop bleeding whenever there is an injury or trauma to a tissue or blood vessel by adhering and accumulating at the injury site, and by releasing chemical compounds that stimulate the gathering of more platelets. After these steps, a loose platelet plug is formed at the site of injury, and this process is known as primary hemostasis. These activated platelets support the coagulation pathway that involves a series of steps including the sequential activation of clotting factors; this process is known as secondary hemostasis. After this, there is a formation of fibrin strands that form a mesh incorporated into and around the platelet plug. This mesh strengthens and stabilizes the blood clot so that it remains in place until the injury heals. After healing, other factors come into play and break the clot down so that it gets removed. In case the platelets are not sufficient in number or are not functioning properly, a stable clot might not form. These unstable clots can result in an increased risk of excessive bleeding. 

A PDW test reflects variability in platelet size, and is considered a marker of platelet function and activation (clot formation in case of an injury). This marker can give you additional information about your platelets and the cause of a high or low platelet count. Larger platelets are usually younger platelets that have been recently released from the bone marrow, while smaller platelets may be older and have been in circulation for a few days. Higher PDW values reflect a larger range of platelet size, which may result from increased activation, destruction and consumption of platelets.

An RDW CV test which is part of red cell indices, helps identify characteristics of red blood cells. RDW (red cell distribution width) measures the variations in the sizes of red blood cells, indicating how much they differ from each other in a blood sample. RDW is expressed as RDW-CV, a coefficient of variation. A higher RDW may suggest more variation in red cell sizes, while a lower RDW indicates more uniform red cell sizes.

This further contains

• Absolute Monocyte Count
• Absolute Eosinophil Count
• Absolute Neutrophil Count
• Absolute Basophil Count
• Absolute Lymphocyte Count

An LFT (Liver Function Test) helps determine the health of your liver by measuring various components like enzymes, proteins, and bilirubin. These components help detect inflammation, infection, diseases, etc., of the liver and monitor the damage due to liver-related issues.

This further contains

• Gamma Glutamyl Transferase
• SGPT
• Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)
• SGOT
• Protein Total, Serum
• Bilirubin (Total, Direct and Indirect)

A KFT with Electrolytes (Kidney Function Test with Electrolytes) test determines the health of your kidneys. It evaluates parameters such as creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), uric acid, and electrolytes (sodium, potassium, and chloride). This test also helps diagnose possible kidney disorders like inflammation, infection, or functional damage.

This further contains

• Serum Creatinine
• Uric Acid
• Blood Urea Nitrogen
• Serum Electrolytes

An Influenza A test checks for the presence of Influenza A virus and confirms the infection. Influenza A virus can infect both animals and humans and is responsible for most seasonal flu outbreaks. These viruses are further classified based on two proteins on their surface, called hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). There are 18 different H subtypes and 11 different N subtypes, which can combine ivariousnt ways to create new strains of the virus.

An Influenza B test checks for the presence of the Influenza B virus and confirms the infection. This type of influenza virus only infects humans and is less common than influenza A. Influenza B viruses are not classified based on two proteins on the surface, called hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N) subtypes, but are instead grouped into two distinct lineages, B/Yamagata and B/Victoria.

A Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) test checks for the presence of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and confirms the infection. This test should be performed within a few days after symptoms occur when there’s a greater detectable amount of the virus. RSV is a major cause of human respiratory infections, particularly among younger children who are affected most frequently with potentially most severe infections.

A H1N1 test checks for the presence of the H1N1 virus, also called the swine flu (influenza) virus, and confirms the infection. Influenza or flu is a viral infection that affects your respiratory system. The infection is usually mild and resolves on its own, but the infection can be life-threatening in children under 5 years, adults above 65 years of age, and those with weakened immune systems. Hence, early detection via timely testing becomes crucial.

An H3N2 test checks for the presence of the H3N2 virus and confirms the infection. The influenza A virus has a subtype known as H3N2, which can induce sickness in humans and animals such as pigs and birds. This particular strain of the flu virus is capable of causing illness. During testing, respiratory specimens such as nasopharyngeal swabs or nasal washes are analyzed to detect viral RNA or antigens.

The RNase P gene is used in the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) protocol as an internal control (IC) for the detection of COVID-19, since this is a multi-copy gene that is abundant in the human genome, and therefore is easily detectable. Ribonuclease P (RNase P) is an endoribonuclease that cleaves other RNA molecules at the junction between a single-stranded region and the 5′ end of a double-stranded region. The enzyme is one of only two ribozymes that can be found in all kingdoms of life (Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya).