General Information

Lab tests generally do not require an appointment. Register at the north entrance of the Hospital which says "Outpatients/Same Day Surgery

Test Descriptions

ABG
Blood from an artery is obtained by needle and syringe. The blood is put into an analyzer. Within minutes results that indicate the effectiveness of breathing are available to the physician.

Catscan
A "CT" or "CAT" scan is the term used to describe a radiologic test known as "computerized tomography." The CT scanner is a doughnut-shaped machine that takes pictures of cross-sections of your body, called "slices."

CT can see inside the brain and other parts of the body, into areas that cannot be seen on regular x-ray examinations. CT makes it possible to diagnose certain diseases earlier and more accurately than with other imaging tools. Because most diseases are better treated when found early, CT scans can help save lives.

Daytime Nap Test
This test consists of a series of short naps over a period of several hours. The test takes place in the Sleep Lab during the day and utilizes much of the same data gathering sensors and electrodes used during an overnight Sleep Study. The test is used to determine the presence of Narcolepsy.

Echo Complete
The technician will use an ultrasound machine to obtain images of the heart in action. The physician can visualize the valves and chambers of the heart while it pumps. The test lasts approximately 20 minutes.

EEG
Electrodes are attached to the scalp. These electrodes measure the electrical activity of the brain. This test can help the physician determine the presence and extent of certain brain disorders. The test takes approximately 50 minutes.

Electrocardiogram Complete
The EKG captures the electrical activity of the heart. The test takes 5-10 minutes and can provide the physician with information helpful in diagnosing certain heart conditions.

Holter, 24 Hours
The Holter monitor captures the heart's electrical activity for 18-24 hours. It provides the physician with information he can use to help diagnose certain heart conditions.

Mammography, Routine Screening
mammography is a test we use in radiology as a tool for the early detection of breast cancer giving us radiographic image of the breast tissue.

MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become a valuable tool in diagnostic orthopedics and other fields of medicine and surgery. It provides a physician the ability to see soft tissues (ligaments, tendons and cartilage) in far more detail than CT scans or X Rays. It basically allows doctors to take a cross section of any part of the body and look critically at the anatomy and possible pathology or problems within it.

The MRI machine does not expose the patient to radiation. The mechanism by which the images are generated is very complex, but the key is using a very strong magnet to pass a force through the molecules of the body and causing an "excited" stage that, when the molecules finish reacting, the result generates a very detailed image. There are patients that cannot use the MRI, including: any patient with a pace-maker for their heart; patients who have clips at the base of the brain (from an aneurysm repair); those who have had metal fragments enter their eyes; or those who have metal implants. Some modern orthopedic implants are inert and do not react with the magnetic strength or field of the MRI. The MRI uses a super-cooled coil to generate a superconductor field strength.

PFT
The patient breathes into a computerized instrument that measures air flows and volumes in the lung. This test can help the physician determine the presence and extent of certain lung diseases.

Pulse Ox
Pulse oximetry is a simple, painless test that indicates the oxygen level of arterial blood. A clothespin-like sensor is clipped onto the finger. A result is normally obtained within seconds.

Radiology

Sleep Study
A Sleep Study is a test that determines the presence and extent of certain sleep disorders. The test takes place overnight in the Sleep Lab which is furnished more like a hotel room than a hospital room. Several parameters are measured by sensors and electrodes during sleep. The information gathered is then interpreted by a physician who makes a diagnosis and recommends therapy if needed. The test takes 6-8 hours.

Stress Test With EKG
Patient will walk on a treadmill while blood pressure and continuous EKG are monitored. A Cardiologist and a technician will be present.