Rotary offering blood screening tests
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The Inter-Mountain photo by Sarah Goodrich
Dr. Bartley Brown of St. Joseph's Hospital speaks to members of the Rotary Club of Buckhannon about the different kinds of tests that will be available during the upcoming blood screening event.
BUCKHANNON -- Dr. Bartley Brown of St. Joseph's Hospital provided members of the Buckhannon Rotary Club information on the upcoming blood screening during Tuesday's meeting.
Brown went through a list of blood screening tests that will be checked for health conditions and concerns in the body.
Screening of liver function can be tested through the albumin, a protein in blood plasma; alkaline phosphates, a protein that helps cells work; ALT, an enzyme found mostly in the liver; and AST, an enzyme found mostly in the heart and liver and bilirubi, an orange yellow pigment found in bile. Brown explained these tests determine how the liver is working, and if medication dosage should be adjusted.
Tests for kidney screening will be tested through BUN, which is the amount of nitrogen in the form of urea in the blood, and creatinine, produced in muscles when the compound creatinine spontaneously breaks down.
The screening can also tell if medication is affecting the kidneys and if there needs to be adjustments.
Another important test is the complete blood count screening, which can show results of anemia, leukemia and lymphoma.
"We actually have diagnosed quite a few of those," said Brown. "Around five or 10 per year with their Rotary screens alone."
Screenings of cholesterol, CO2, potassium, glucose and sodium can also be tested for health issues.
The rotary blood screening will also have optional testing available. Those with concerns can have the colon cancer screen, which checks for blood in stool.
The hemoglobin A1C test will be available, and monitors the glucose control of diabetes over time.
"The A1C is a very good optional test, and I highly recommend it," Brown commented.
A variety of screenings will be available during Rotary's upcoming fundraiser. The blood creenings will be offered from 6:30-10 a.m. Saturday and Nov. 11, at Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School and at the Community Care Clinic in Rock Cave. Basic Blood Profile tests will costs $35, and for optional testing the cost will be an additional $5. The price for the PSA test, which screens asymptomatic and symptomatic men for prostate cancer, will cost $20. Screening of Hemoglobin A1C for diabetes will be $15.