Health & Fitness

The PSA blood test is used to monitor and screen for prostate cancer, which is the most commonly diagnosed cancer other than skin cancer–one in five American men will develop it during their lifetimes. Currently, many major scientific and medical organizations do not advocate routine testing for prostate cancer, but many physicians screen their patients.

The PSA blood test is often used in conjunction with the DRE (digital rectal exam) to screen for prostate cancer. The PSA test involves drawing blood from a vein in the arm, while the DRE is performed by a urologist, who inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the patients rectum to feel for lumps, enlargements, or areas of hardness that might indicate prostate cancer. PSA tests and the DRE are strongly recommended for men over 50; if youre an African-American male, or have a family history of prostate cancer, you should begin getting tested at 45.

Issues with the PSA Blood Test
Many in the medical community feel blood tests, screening and treatment may actually do more harm than good for men who have a slow-growing cancer. Some feel surgery and radiation may be more harmful or debilitating than a slow-growing prostate cancer, causing impotence and incontinence. PSA blood testing does not detect all prostate cancers and has other limitations; more research will essentially help determine the best method of treatment.

If you have specific questions about the PSA blood test, digital rectal exam, or prostate cancer, then speak to a qualified health care professional. If you have prostate cancer, they will help you determine the best course of action to combat this awful disease. Most men who have the cancer detected in its earliest stages will make a full recovery.

Testosterone testing is used to diagnose several conditions in men, women, and boys, some of which include: delayed or early puberty in boys; decreased sex drive, infertility, testicular tumors, and erectile dysfunction in men; excessive body hair–hirsutism–and infertility in women. Testosterone levels yield high rates of variability, especially among men, and it is normal for testosterone levels to decline as a man ages.

Testosterone tests are ordered for boys, along with LH and FSH test if there is a delay in puberty, or if obvious secondary sex characteristics appear, such as an enlarged penis, development of muscle mass, and growth of body hair. A testosterone test for men may be ordered when infertility is suspected, if a patient has a decreased sex drive or erectile dysfunction–the result of low testosterone levels. Testosterone testing may be performed on a woman if she has is experiencing irregular or no menstrual periods, is having difficulty getting pregnant, or appears to have masculine features, such as facial and body hair, male pattern baldness, and a low voice.

Testosterone Test: Reading the Results
A decreased testosterone level in men may indicate hypothalamic or pituitary disease or damage to the testes. Genetic diseases will also play a part, leading to decreased testosterone production in young men, these include Klinefelters, Kallmans, and Prader-Willi syndromes. Increased testosterone levels in men can result in testicular tumors, while increased levels in women could lead to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), as well as an ovarian or adrenal gland tumor.

Alcoholism and liver disease in males will decrease testosterone levels, along with drugs, including androgens and steroids. Prostate cancer responds to androgens, so men receiving drugs for prostate cancer will have lower testosterone levels. For women, estrogen therapy may lead to increased testosterone levels; anticonvulsants, barbiturates, and clomiphene can also cause testosterone levels to rise.

The thyroid gland is a tiny organ located in the front of the neck. Weighing less than one ounce, it is made up of two halves, called lobes, that lie along the trachea (windpipe); the thyroid is joined together by a narrow band of thyroid tissue, known as the isthmus. The thyroid glands function is to take iodine, found in many foods, and convert it into thyroid hormones: thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3).

Thyroid cells are the only cells in the body which can absorb iodine. These cells then combine iodine and the amino acid tyrosine to make T3 and T4. T3 and T4 are then released into the blood stream and are transported throughout the body where they control metabolism. Every cell in the body depends upon thyroid hormones for regulation of their metabolism. There are a number of thyroid blood tests that can effectively identify a malfunction within the thyroid gland and help prevent serious problems before they arise.

Some Thyroid Blood Tests
The most commonly used thyroid blood test is the measurement of serum thyroid hormones: T4 by RIA (radioimmunoassay). The T4 blood test reflects the amount of thyroxine in the blood; if the patient does not take any type of thyroid medication, then this procedure is usually a good measure of thyroid function.

Another blood testing procedure for determining thyroid health is the TRH Test. Currently, it is the most sensitive test in detecting early hyperthyroidism, and is sometimes used to measure if the pituitary gland is functioning. Patients who show too much response to TRH–the hormone released by the hypothalamus–may be hypothyroid. Cancer patients who are taking thyroid replacement can take the TRH test to see if they are on sufficient medication.

Within the last 20 years, DNA testing services have been a crucial tool for proving a persons innocence or guilt in several criminal cases. As a matter of fact, a number of inmates who were serving time for a crime they never committed were freed due to the results found from a DNA test. Not only is DNA testing used for criminal cases, it is also used for a number of other various reasons.

The accuracy of DNA testing is nearly perfect–99.9 percent in most cases. Consequently, DNA testing services are requested when there is a situation that can only be answered with the information obtained from DNA test results. The most common occurrences for using such a test are when a couple is uncertain as to the paternity of a baby, there is doubt about someones biological identity, a person wants to trace their genealogy biologically, an adopted person wants to track down his or her biological parent, or when determining if an accused perpetrator of a crime is indeed a match for any DNA samples that were collected at the crime scene.

For any of the scenarios above, DNA analysis is a fantastic tool. DNA cannot lie, and therefore DNA testing services are the ideal solution for a number of concerns. Since the accuracy rating is so high, the benefit of using a DNA test is the concrete nature of the findings. Not only that, but the tests can be done confidentially and can also be used as legal documentation in court proceedings.

What Exactly Is DNA and How Does Testing Work?
DNA, or as it is scientifically known, deoxyribonucleic acid, is termed the genetic building block of life. Each and every person has a unique DNA make-up, except for identical twins. As a result, certain samples taken from a person can prove or disprove that they are a parent or sibling to someone, or whether they were at the scene of a crime.

There are a wide variety of samples that can be used to perform a DNA test. Undergarments, semen stains, vaginal stains, saliva on a plastic cup, ear wax, fingernail clippings, urine, licked stamps, dried blood, hair with or without roots, chewing gum, cigarette butts, used tissue, dental floss, and dried skin are only a few items that can be used for testing purposes. Once the DNA evidence is collected through any one of these methods, the sample is sent off to a laboratory for testing.

Most times results can be reached within days, yet there are some DNA testing services that take a bit longer. Testing for sibling analysis can take up to a few weeks. Paternity testing and criminal testing are much quicker and the results can be used in a court of law.

Types and Costs of DNA Testing Services
It is truly amazing how far our science and technology have come–there are DNA test kits that can be used in the privacy of your own home. They are relatively inexpensive, costing between 100 to 450 dollars, depending on your needs. They are also fairly simple to use, making it easy for anyone to perform their own test.

Most times a home kit will ask that a person take a DNA sample from swabbing the inside of their cheek. The test will then be mailed off to the laboratory used by the kit maker and analyzed there. For criminal cases, testing is done rather quickly, since the results are pertinent to making a case. Either way, the tests from an at-home kit are analyzed in a laboratory just as professional tests are, so the accuracy rate will be the same.

In order to determine who the father of a child is, many times a DNA paternity test is necessary. The tests are almost 100 percent accurate and testing is done confidentially. A kit can be used in the home; however, in many court cases, a DNA paternity test will be performed by a court-appointed physician.

Why DNA Paternity Tests Are Needed in Court
Unfortunately, there are some men who will avoid taking responsibility for a child by saying that they are not the biological father. In such instances, DNA testing can be court ordered to either prove that the man is or is not the biological parent of the child in question. Since a DNA paternity test is the most accurate type of paternity testing possible, it is highly regarded in a court of law.

An alleged father will be excluded as a biological parent if two or more DNA tests are done where the DNA patterns of the child and man do not match. On the other hand, if the DNA patterns match on every search, then it is 99.9 percent sure that the man is the biological father of the child. Nearly all United States courts will accept a 99 percent proof of paternity.

When having a DNA paternity test done for legal reasons, such as child support issues or for meeting immigration requirements, it is important for the participants to know that results can be admissible in almost all courts of law. Its important to research what your particular state and local government regulations are in order to make sure that your test results will be able to be used as legal documentation. If you simply want to perform the test on your own, there are kits that can be purchased for you to use in your home. These are not likely to be admissible in court, though. If you are trying to obtain child support or fulfill immigration regulations, it is in your best interest to make sure that your DNA paternity test is performed through a facility that is recognized by a court of law.