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What Does a CBC Test Measure?

A CBC test measures several components of your blood:

• White Blood Cells (WBCs): These cells are the body’s defense against infections. A high or low WBC count can indicate infection, inflammation, or other conditions like immune disorders.
• Red Blood Cells (RBCs): RBCs are responsible for carrying oxygen throughout your body. Abnormal RBC levels can suggest issues like anemia or dehydration.
• Hemoglobin (Hb): Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. Low hemoglobin levels can indicate a risk of anemia, while higher levels may suggest other health conditions.
• Hematocrit: This shows the proportion of red blood cells in your blood. It helps your doctor diagnose and monitor conditions like anemia, dehydration, or other blood disorders.
• Platelets: Platelets are tiny cells that help your blood clot. A low platelet count can lead to excessive bleeding, while a high count might suggest an underlying health issue.

Why is a CBC Test Important?

A CBC test helps your healthcare provider assess your overall health and detect a variety of disorders, from infections to more serious conditions like cancer. It’s also a useful tool for monitoring chronic health problems, such as kidney disease, and for assessing how treatments like chemotherapy might be affecting your blood count.

What Your CBC Results Mean

Your doctor will explain the specifics of your CBC results, but here’s a general guide to what they can reveal:

• High WBC count: Could be a sign of an infection, stress, or inflammatory conditions.
• Low WBC count: May indicate bone marrow issues, immune system problems, or certain viral infections.
• Low RBC or hemoglobin levels: Often point to anemia, which can cause fatigue and weakness.
• High RBC levels: May occur due to dehydration, smoking, or living at high altitudes.
• Abnormal platelet count: Can indicate issues with blood clotting, which may require further investigation.

How to Prepare for a CBC Test

The good news? There’s no special preparation needed for a CBC test. It’s a simple blood test that takes just a few minutes, and results are usually available within a day or two.

At JITM Diagnostics, we make it easy to get tested. Need a CBC? Reach out to us today and book a sample pickup right from the comfort of your home!

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How Does the BUN Test Work?

During the process of breaking down protein, your body produces ammonia, which contains nitrogen. The liver converts this ammonia into a safer substance called urea, which is carried to the kidneys through your bloodstream. Healthy kidneys filter out the urea and other waste products, which are then excreted through urine.

A BUN test measures the amount of urea nitrogen left in your blood. If your kidneys are not filtering waste effectively, your BUN levels may rise, pointing to potential kidney dysfunction or disease.

Why Should You Get a BUN Test?

While a BUN test can be part of a routine check-up, it’s especially important if you have symptoms of kidney disease or if you’re managing chronic conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure—both of which can strain your kidneys over time. Doctors often recommend a BUN test for the following reasons:

• Monitoring Kidney Function: If you have signs of kidney disease, such as fatigue, swollen ankles, or frequent urination.
• Chronic Conditions: Conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes can damage kidney tissues, and a BUN test helps track kidney performance over time.
• Evaluating Treatment: If you are undergoing dialysis or other treatments for kidney failure, the test can help gauge the effectiveness of the treatment.

What Do the Results Mean?

Normal BUN levels typically range from 6-24 mg/dL, but this can vary depending on age, gender, and your overall health. A higher-than-normal BUN result doesn’t always mean kidney disease—it could be due to dehydration, certain medications, or even a high-protein diet. That’s why doctors typically compare BUN results with other tests, such as creatinine levels and eGFR (Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate), which gives a broader view of kidney function.

A high BUN level may indicate:

• Kidney disease or damage: If your kidneys are not removing waste properly.
• Dehydration: Not drinking enough fluids can increase BUN levels.
• Heart conditions: Congestive heart failure may affect how well your kidneys receive blood.
• Dietary factors: A high-protein diet can temporarily raise BUN levels.

What Can You Do Next?

If your BUN test reveals high levels, the next step is to address the underlying issue. Your doctor might suggest additional tests to confirm kidney function problems, and may recommend lifestyle changes or treatments to protect your kidneys. Here are a few steps you can take:

• Stay hydrated: Proper fluid intake helps your kidneys flush out waste.
• Monitor blood pressure and blood sugar: If you have hypertension or diabetes, controlling these conditions is key to preventing kidney damage.
• Healthy diet: A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and low in sodium can help ease the strain on your kidneys.

Keeping your kidneys healthy is about long-term prevention. If you’re managing a chronic condition, regular monitoring through BUN and other kidney function tests is crucial to catching problems early.

Take the First Step Toward Better Kidney Health

At JITM Diagnostics, we make it easy for you to stay on top of your health with free home sample pickup. Book your BUN test with us today and get accurate results without leaving the comfort of your home. Reach out now to schedule your free home sample collection!

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The Importance of Rh Factor in Pregnancy

If you’re pregnant, knowing your Rh status is essential for the health of both you and your baby. The Rh factor doesn’t pose a risk during a first pregnancy, but complications can arise if a mother who is Rh-negative carries a baby who is Rh-positive. This condition is known as Rh incompatibility, and it can lead to severe health risks for the baby if not managed properly.

During pregnancy, the mother’s blood and the baby’s blood are usually kept separate. However, under certain conditions—such as labor, trauma, or medical tests like amniocentesis—small amounts of the baby’s Rh-positive blood can mix with the mother’s Rh-negative blood. In response, the mother’s immune system may produce antibodies to attack the baby’s red blood cells. These antibodies can cross the placenta in future pregnancies, putting the next Rh-positive baby at risk for Rh disease, a serious condition that destroys the baby’s red blood cells and can lead to anemia, jaundice, and even stillbirth.

Prevention and Treatment of Rh Incompatibility

The good news is that Rh incompatibility can be prevented with proper medical care. During the first trimester of pregnancy, a routine blood test determines whether the mother is Rh-positive or Rh-negative. If the mother is Rh-negative, she will typically receive an injection of Rh immune globulin (RhoGAM) at around 28 weeks of pregnancy and again within 72 hours of childbirth if the baby is found to be Rh-positive. This injection prevents the mother’s immune system from producing harmful antibodies during future pregnancies.

In some cases, Rh immune globulin may be administered earlier, such as after a miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, or any procedure where the mother’s and baby’s blood might mix. If the mother has already developed antibodies, careful monitoring of the pregnancy becomes essential, as Rh immune globulin is no longer effective. In severe cases of Rh disease, the baby may need a blood transfusion either before or immediately after birth.

Why the Rh Factor is Important in Blood Transfusions

The Rh factor is not only critical during pregnancy but also during blood transfusions. If a person who is Rh-negative receives Rh-positive blood, their immune system will produce antibodies to attack the foreign blood cells. Therefore, Rh-negative individuals must receive blood from other Rh-negative donors to avoid complications. On the other hand, Rh-positive people can receive blood from either Rh-positive or Rh-negative donors, since their bodies do not react to the absence of the Rh protein.

How the Rh Test is Performed

Determining your Rh factor is simple. It involves a routine blood test known as a type and screen, which is typically performed during pregnancy, before a blood transfusion, or when donating blood. No special preparation is needed for the test. Once your Rh status is known, healthcare providers can take appropriate measures to ensure the health and safety of both the mother and baby during pregnancy or to prevent complications during a blood transfusion.

Conclusion

Understanding your Rh factor is an important aspect of prenatal care and blood transfusions. If you’re pregnant, especially for the first time, it’s crucial to know whether you’re Rh-positive or Rh-negative. With the proper medical intervention, such as Rh immune globulin injections, potential complications from Rh incompatibility can be easily managed, ensuring the well-being of both mother and baby.

If you’re planning a pregnancy or undergoing a medical procedure involving blood transfusions, consult with your healthcare provider to understand your Rh status and ensure you receive the best care tailored to your needs.

Ready to find out your Rh factor? Book your Rh Blood Factor Test with us today to ensure a safe and healthy future. Schedule your test now!

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The post POSSIBLE CURE OF CORONA VIRUS, AND HOW TO FIGHT FROM IT? appeared first on JITM Diagnostics.

Europe and America have become EPICENTER. India and some other Asian countries are less affected by this.

Scientists are not certain where the VIRUS originated, though they know that CORONA VIRUS are passed between animals and humans. Scientists comprising the genetic sequence of SARS-COV-2 with a viral database suggest it originated in bats.

Since no bats were sold at seafood market in WUHAN at the disease epicenter, researchers suggest an intermediate animal possible the pangolin is responsible for transmission to human.

The number of persons affected by COVID-19 in US is many times than the number of people affected in India.

Two main reasons:

1. BCG VACCINATION treated Indians are less exposed to CORONA. BCG VACCINATION provide protection against COVID-19.

2. Many human friendly VIRUS like BACTERIOPHAGE available in drinking water in Rivers is also providing protection to Indians. BCG is generally not recommended for use in the US because of the low risk of infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the variable effectiveness of the vaccine against adults pulmonary TB, and vaccine‘s potential interference with tuberculosis test skin test reactivity.

It was the early 1890, Ernest Hankin was studying cholera outbreak along the bank of Ganges. As the locals dumped their dead in the holy water, the river should have quickly transformed into a poisonous spring of the disease, with an epidemic sweeping through towns and villages down the valley.

Hankins concluded that something mysterious within the water was killing the germs before they could wreak havoc, but it took another 20 years for a French Scientist to suggest that this guardian angel was a type of VIRUS known as a BACTERIOPHAGE.

Long ignored by Scientists it is now possible that this VIRUS may save lives of millions of people.

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Percentage of asymptomatic people testing positive for CORONA Virus in United States is negligible. For the 1st time on April 1, 2020, China revealed the presence of 1541 asymptomatic cases carrying the deadly novel CORONA Virus. No fever, no gastro intestinal issues, no breathing issues, no coughing, none of these, says Tara C. Smith, an epidemiologist at Kent State University. Can those people who are completely asymptomatic, who never developed any symptoms, transmit the infection? That’s still kind of an open question, says Smith.

Asymptomatic persons are those persons who carry the active Virus in their body but never develop any symptom(s).

The human virome is the total collection of viruses in and on the human body. Viruses in the human body may infect both human cells and other microbes such as bacteria. Some viruses cause disease, while others may be asymptomatic.

Viruses evolve rapidly and hence the human virome changes constantly. Every human being has a unique virome with a unique balance of species.

Lifestyle, age, geographic location, and even the season of the year can affect an individual’s exposure to viruses, and one’s susceptibility to any disease that might be caused by those viruses is also affected by pre-existing immunity and both viral and human genetics.

Roughly, 40 trillion bacteria and 100 trillion viruses can exist in a human body. A healthy human body contains roughly 50 to 60 trillion viruses.

Jeremy Barr, a microbiologist at San Diego State University in California, grew human being tissues in lab. Lungs are one of the body surfaces that is protected by mucus, but the researchers also had a version of the lung cells where the ability to make mucus had been knocked out.

When incubated overnight with the bacterium Escherichia coli, about half the cells in each culture died; the mucus made no difference to their survival. But when the researchers added a phage (a friendly virus) that targets E coli to the cultures, survival rates skyrocketed for the mucus-producing cells.

This disparity shows that phages can kill harmful bacteria and virus.

Indian people have lots of friendly phages in their body. Indian river and well water contains lots of bacteriophage. When human already passes viruses up-to 70% with friendly viruses, novel CORONA virus ability to grow becomes very less.

Even through such person test positive for CORONA, but because of friendly phages present in their body, they will not show any symptom(s). Such patients will be asymptomatic.  Asymptomatic person can infect other person or not, this has not proved so far.

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