Table of contents:
- Laboratory tests to determine the cause of fever
- 1. Complete blood test
- 2. Complete metabolic panel test
- 3. Urine test (urinalysis)
- Laboratory tests if a special disease is suspected
- 1. Typhoid fever (typhus)
- 2. Dengue fever
- 3. Tuberculosis
Fever is not a disease, but rather the body's natural response to fighting bacterial, viral, or other disease-causing infections. This condition can be a symptom of a number of health problems, so a thorough examination is needed to determine the cause. This is why doctors usually recommend laboratory tests to get the right diagnosis.
Laboratory tests to determine the cause of fever
Laboratory tests are very useful for diagnosing diseases because they involve various aspects of the body that are not visible from the outside. The following are tests that are generally done when a person has a fever.
1. Complete blood test
Complete blood test aims to determine the amount of each component of the blood. Values outside the normal range for these components can indicate a problem with your body condition.
The following are the various components that are monitored in this laboratory examination:
- red blood cell count (WBC)
- white blood cell count (RBC). If you have high white blood cells, it is possible that the cause of your fever is a bacterial infection.
- hemoglobin (Hb) levels, which is a type of protein in red blood cells that binds oxygen
- hematocrit (Hct), which is the number of red blood cells in the blood
- platelets, namely blood cells that play a role in blood clotting
2. Complete metabolic panel test
The complete metabolic panel test aims to determine the condition of various components involved in the body's metabolism, including kidney and liver health. This laboratory examination includes the following aspects:
- blood sugar levels
- calcium
- protein, which consists of checking albumin and total protein
- electrolytes, which consist of sodium, potassium, carbon dioxide, and chloride
- kidney, which consists of blood urea nitrogen levels and creatinine test
- liver, which consists of the enzyme alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT / SGPT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST / SGOT), and bilirubin
SGPT and SGOT are two components that are often checked when a person has a fever. Both are enzymes that are widely found in the liver. The SGPT and SGOT amounts are low in healthy people. On the other hand, high SGPT and SGOT values indicate liver disorders.
3. Urine test (urinalysis)
Laboratory tests on urine are carried out by observing the appearance, concentration, and content of urine. Abnormal results can indicate a number of diseases such as urinary tract infections, kidney disease, and diabetes. In addition, urine examination is also useful for monitoring the patient's health condition.
Urinalysis is carried out in two stages, namely:
- using a special strip (dipstick test) to determine the level of acidity (pH), concentration, markers of infection, presence of blood, as well as levels of sugar, protein, bilirubin, and ketones
- microscopic tests to look for the presence of red blood cells, white blood cells, bacteria, fungi, kidney stone crystals, or special proteins that indicate kidney problems
Laboratory tests if a special disease is suspected
If you have a fever accompanied by specific symptoms that indicate a certain disease, your doctor can recommend more specific tests such as the following.
1. Typhoid fever (typhus)
Tests to diagnose typhoid fever are carried out using samples from the patient's body. Samples can come from blood, tissue, body fluids, or feces. The sample that has been taken is then observed under a microscope to detect the presence of bacteria Salmonella typhi.
2. Dengue fever
Fever is one of the most common symptoms in dengue fever sufferers. In order to make a diagnosis, the doctor can perform a number of laboratory tests. The tests consist of a complete blood test, a complete metabolic panel test, an antibody test to detect the presence of IgM and IgG antibodies, and a molecular test to detect the presence of the dengue virus.
3. Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis examination is highly recommended if fever is accompanied by coughing for more than three weeks or bleeding, chest pain, shortness of breath, sweating at night, and feeling tired.
In addition to blood tests, laboratory tests to diagnose tuberculosis generally use a sputum (sputum) test. The doctor will take a sample of the patient's sputum, then observe it to detect the presence of tuberculosis bacteria.
The fever usually goes away on its own. However, a fever that is high or persistent can indicate a more serious illness. Therefore, laboratory tests are often necessary so that doctors can determine the cause and determine the appropriate treatment.
