Lab Testing

Lab testing is a vital part of your treatment as it helps your doctor diagnose your health issue correctly and shows any health changes over time. Once lab results are received, your doctor is able to efficiently diagnosis your condition or determine if further testing is necessary.

Some of the tests that we perform in-house include:

  • CBC (Complete Blood Count) measures the number of blood cells and their types

  • CMP (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel) measures the health of your kidneys, liver, glucose and overall blood chemistry health

  • Lipid Panel measures the good and bad cholesterol

  • Hgb A1c measures 3 month glucose average for diabetes 

  • TSH ( Thyroid stimulating hormone )

  • PSA (Prostate-specific antigen)

We have other tests available that are also available in-house for rapid turn around of results. Tests that are not performed in-house are sent to our Reference Lab. These results are usually available within two days. Skin biopsies and PAP screens are sent to our Reference Lab and results are usually available within 3-4 days.

Ultrasound 

Ultrasound is safe and painless, and produces pictures of the inside of the body using sound waves. Ultrasound imaging, also called ultrasound scanning or sonography, involves the use of a small transducer (probe) and ultrasound gel placed directly on the skin. High-frequency sound waves are transmitted from the probe through the gel into the body. The transducer collects the sounds that bounce back and a computer then uses those sound waves to create an image. Ultrasound examinations do not use ionizing radiation (as used in x-rays), thus there is no radiation exposure to the patient. Because ultrasound images are captured in real-time, they can show the structure and movement of the body's internal organs, as well as blood flowing through blood vessels.

Ultrasound imaging is a noninvasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions..

Ultrasound is a useful way of examining many of the body's internal organs, including but not limited to the:

  • Heart/Aorta (AAA)

  • Blood Vessels, including the abdominal aorta and major arteries and veins

  • Liver

  • Gallbladder

  • Spleen

  • Pancreas

  • Kidneys

  • Bladder

  • Uterus / Ovaries

  • Thyroid Gland

  • Scrotum (Testicles)

At Community Physicians Group we perform all of the above mentioned procedures. 

Pre and Post Care Instructions for Ultrasounds 

Electrocardiogram

An electrocardiogram, also known as an EKG, is a noninvasive test performed in the doctor’s office or at the hospital to detect problems with the heart. The most common problem found using an EKG is a heart arrhythmia.

During an EKG, small electrodes are taped to your chest, arms and legs. These electrodes are connected to a machine that monitors and measures the electrical activity of your heart. You will need to lie flat on your back, stay very still and breathe as you normally would during the procedure. You should not talk during the EKG, and your doctor might ask you to hold your breath for a few seconds. An EKG should only last between 5 to 10 minutes.

The readings from the test translate the heart’s electrical activity to lines on paper. The dips and spikes of the line show the electrical current as it runs through each of the four chambers of your heart. Your doctor will exam your electrocardiogram before giving you results or making a diagnosis on whether your heart’s rhythm is normal.

X-rays 

X-rays can be used to examine any part of the body. A conventional X-ray provides us with valuable information about your health. During the procedure, a technician passes a concentrated burst of low-dose ionized radiation through the body to generate an image. 

Spirometry

A spirometry is a common in-office test performed to diagnose conditions such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pulmonary fibrosis. 

The test is simple and only takes five to 10 minutes for a single set of measurements. Using a special tube that is attached to the spirometer, you will take a deep breath in and breathe out as hard as you can. You will repeat this step three times to ensure accuracy. 

Results are measured in two ways: by Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) and Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV-1). FVC is the highest amount of air you can exhale forcefully after breathing in as deep as you are can. FEV-1 indicates how much air can be forcefully exhaled in one second.

Your physician will take your FEV-1 measurement and divide it by your FVC number to determine a percentage. It will then be compared to the average results of people in the same height, sex and age category to determine how well your lungs are functioning. 

In some instances when the spirometry results are normal, further tests may be needed to confirm whether or not you do have a breathing condition like asthma. 

Holter Monitor

A Holter Monitor is a portable device that is used to observe cardiac irregularities, check pacemaker functioning or examine the effectiveness of heart medications. If a patient is showing signs of an irregular heartbeat, also known as arrhythmia, and an EKG didn’t provide enough information to determine the precise condition of your heart, it may be recommended you wear a Holter Monitor for a few days to accurately record the heart’s activity. 

This is a simple, non-invasive test that will only take two to three days. A number of small electrodes will be attached to your skin and attached to the monitor. The electrodes can be hidden by your clothes and the monitor worn on your belt or attached to a strap. You must wear it at all times, even as you sleep.