Lab Tests

Lab Tests services offered in The Loop, Chicago, IL

Lab tests are vital diagnostic tools that help you get the proper treatment if you’re sick. Michigan Avenue Primary Care in The Loop in Chicago, Illinois, offers extensive lab testing and has its own on-site blood draw service. Lab tests are invaluable for everything from diagnosing diabetes and strep throat to identifying nutrient deficiencies and confirming pregnancy. Call Michigan Avenue Primary Care today or book an appointment online to benefit from convenient lab tests.

Lab Tests Q & A

What are lab tests?

Lab tests help your doctor monitor your general health and determine what’s making you sick. Labs use substances from your body to perform the tests. Blood and urine are the most common, but stool, cell, and discharge fluid samples are also used for many lab tests.

Michigan Avenue Primary Care has an on-site phlebotomy service for blood draws. That means you don’t have to endure the inconvenience of traveling elsewhere to give a blood sample. The practice also does send-out diagnostic testing for lab tests it can’t do on-site.

What lab tests might I need?

Your Michigan Avenue Primary Care doctor decides what lab tests you need after completing a physical exam, reviewing your medical history, and discussing your symptoms. Depending on what they find during your consultation, you might need one or more of the following lab tests:

Complete blood count (CBC)

A CBC looks at a wide range of health indicators, from infections to nutrient deficiencies. It’s helpful to get an overall view of your health and highlight areas for further investigation.

Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP)

CMP measures your body’s fluid and mineral levels and shows how efficiently your kidneys and liver work.

Infectious disease tests

Rapid strep and flu tests produce results in minutes. Michigan Avenue Primary Care can also test for conditions like Lyme disease, infectious mononucleosis (mono), and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Chronic disease tests

Lab tests that measure blood glucose levels diagnose diabetes. Your doctor might order hemoglobin tests to determine if you have anemia or thyroid hormone tests to identify an over- or underactive thyroid gland. Blood tests can also measure cholesterol levels, a key indicator of cardiovascular (heart and blood circulation) disease.

Lab tests identify antinuclear antibodies (ANAs), which your body produces when you have an autoimmune disorder. Cancer screening determines if you have any genetic risks or early signs of cancer.

What other lab tests are available?

Your doctor might want to check your blood’s nutrient (vitamin and mineral) levels to see if you’re getting enough from your diet. The lab can also check for hormone imbalances and measure the antibody levels in your blood to see if you’re immune to certain diseases.

Pregnancy also involves several routine lab tests. Your doctor can do a rapid urine test to confirm you’re pregnant. They also test you for infectious diseases that could harm your baby and check for problems like gestational diabetes.

Call Michigan Avenue Primary Care today or book an appointment online to easily access fast, accurate lab tests.