Hepatitis...

[Krokar]

Dear all,
my question is, if on the normal blood check they can detect also hepatitis or Aids for example ? Does they also check blood cells on this check or they just check tumor markers ?

Thanx

[Smartie]

Hi Krokar.

When checking for tumour markers, they would usually just check bHCG, AFP and LDH. So just the tumour markers.

Sometimes they have also checked my liver enzymes (if the levels were raised it could indicate hepatitis (or, more likely, something else)), but usually they just check the levels that are relevant to cancer.

[Fish]

My oncologist ususally orders:

1. CBC w/differential- this gives you total red & white cell counts plus a breakdown of different types of white cells

2. CMP- comprehensive metabolic panel- this gives, thyroid hormone levels, liver enzymes, bilirubin, electrolytes, creatinine, etc, BUT NOT cholesterol or triglycerides

3. AFP

4. beta1-hCG