Pre-Op (Surgery) Blood Test Panel

What is the purpose of this test?

The Pre-Op (Surgery) Blood Test Panel is designed to ensure that a patient is healthy enough to undergo surgery and to identify any potential risks beforehand. The panel includes a Complete Blood Count (CBC), which provides important information about the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the blood. This helps doctors assess the patient’s overall health, check for infections, and ensure that the blood can properly carry oxygen and help with healing.

In addition to the CBC, the panel features a Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP-14), which evaluates various substances in the blood to check kidney and liver function, as well as electrolyte balance and blood sugar levels. The Prothrombin Time (PT INR) and Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT) tests measure how well and how quickly blood clots, which is crucial for preventing excessive bleeding during and after surgery. Together, these tests help healthcare providers identify any underlying health issues and ensure that the patient is prepared for a safe surgical procedure.

The Pre-Op (Surgery) Blood Test Panel includes the following:

Complete Blood Count (CBC):

• White Blood Cells (WBC) - The body's primary defense against disease and helps to fight infection.
• Red Blood Cells (RBC) - Responsible for carrying oxygen and carbon dioxide away from all cells. Iron deficiency will lower the RBC count.
• Hemoglobin - A chemical compound inside red cells that transports oxygen through the bloodstream to all body cells. Hemoglobin gives the red color to blood.
• Hematocrit - Measures the amount of space red blood cells take up in the blood. It is reported as a percentage.
• Neutrophils - Neutrophils are the most common type of white blood cells and are created by the bone marrow to combat a wide range of inflammatory and infectious diseases.
• Lymphocytes - B-cells and T-cells are lymphocytes that fight bacteria and other pathogens in the blood. They are primarily found in the lymph system.
• Monocytes - Working alongside neutrophils, monocytes play a vital role in fighting infections and other diseases and clearing away dead or damaged cells.
• Eosinophils - White blood cells called eosinophils become activated in response to allergies and certain infections.
• Basophils - Basophils play a role in detecting infections early on, as well as aiding in wound healing and reacting to allergic responses.
• Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) - The average hemoglobin concentration within a red blood cell.
• Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) - The average hemoglobin concentration percentage within a red blood cell.
• Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) - The average size of red blood cells.
• Platelets - Blood cell particles associated with the forming of blood clots.
• Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) - Measures the amount of red blood cell variation in volume and size.
• Absolute Neutrophils - The absolute neutrophil count measures the number of neutrophils in your blood. Normal range is 2,500-7,000 per microliter. Counts outside this range indicate a possible condition.
• Absolute Lymphocytes - To calculate your absolute lymphocyte count, multiply your white blood cell count by the percentage of lymphocytes. This gives you the number of lymphocytes as an absolute number.
• Absolute Monocytes - The absolute monocyte count indicates the number of monocytes in the blood, helping to identify if the count is normal, high, or low.
• Absolute Eosinophils - Absolute eosinophil count measures the number of eosinophils in blood by multiplying the percentage of eosinophils in a complete blood count with the total number of white blood cells in the same count.
• Absolute Basophils - Absolute basophil count is calculated by multiplying the percentage of basophils by the total number of white blood cells in a blood sample.

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP-14):

• Glucose - Blood sugar level, the most direct test to screen for diabetes and also used in diabetes management.
•  Kidney Profile
  • Bun or Urea Nitrogen (BUN) - An indicator of kidney function.  
  • Creatinine, Serum - An indicator of kidney function.  
  • Bun/Creatinine Ratio - Calculated by dividing BUN by creatinine. This ratio can suggest conditions including dehydration or intestinal bleeding.
•  Liver Panel
  • Protein, Total - Assists in determining liver and kidney function and nutritional health.
  • Albumin Serum - One of the major proteins essential for the healthy function of the liver and kidney. 
  • Globulin, Total - One of the major proteins that assist the blood to clot correctly and also comprises infection-fighting antibodies. 
  • Albumin/Globulin Ratio - Calculated by dividing albumin by globulin. When paired with other test results, this ratio can assist in diagnosing various liver problems. 
  • Bilirubin, Total - Aids in detecting hepatitis, sickle cell, anemia, cirrhosis, alcohol, and drug abuse. High concentrations may result in jaundice.
  • Alkaline Phosphatase - A protein vital in detecting bone disorders and liver disease.
  • Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST or SGOT) - An enzyme helpful in evaluating liver function. An elevated level is an indication of hepatitis. 
  • Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT or SGPT) - An enzyme helpful in identifying liver damage. Abnormalities may represent liver disease.
•  Fluids & Electrolytes
  • Sodium - One of the major salts in body fluid. Sodium is important in water balance and the electrical activity of nerves and muscles.
  • Potassium - Helps to control the nerves and muscles.
  • Chloride - Similar to sodium, it helps to maintain the body's electrolyte balance.
  • Carbon Dioxide, Total - Used to help detect, evaluate, and monitor electrolyte imbalances.
  • Calcium - A mineral essential for developing and maintaining healthy bones and teeth. It is also important for the normal function of muscles, nerves, and blood clotting.

Prothrombin Time (PT INR) and Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT) - are blood tests that measure the time it takes for blood to clot. PT INR assesses the extrinsic pathway of coagulation, often used to monitor patients on anticoagulant therapy, while PTT evaluates the intrinsic pathway and is useful for diagnosing bleeding disorders. Their significance to pre-op surgery lies in their ability to identify potential bleeding risks; abnormal results can indicate clotting issues that may lead to excessive bleeding during or after surgery. Ensuring normal PT INR and PTT levels is crucial for patient safety and effective surgical outcomes.

Benefits of the Pre-Op (Surgery) Blood Test Panel:

1. Complete Blood Count (CBC): Evaluates overall health and detects potential issues before surgery.
2. Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP-14): Assesses organ function and metabolic health.
3. Clotting Ability Assessment: Prothrombin Time (PT INR) and Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT) tests evaluate blood clotting ability.
4. Risk Identification: Identifies potential risks that may affect surgery or recovery.
5. Informed Surgical Decisions: Provides critical information for healthcare providers to make safe surgical choices.
6. Prevention of Complications: Helps prevent complications during and after surgery.
7. Patient Readiness: Ensures patients are physically prepared for the surgical procedure.
8. Streamlined Process: Facilitates a smoother pre-operative evaluation and planning process.