- Home
- Test Categories
- Allergy Testing
- Autoimmune Diseases
- Blood and Blood Diseases
- Cancer Detection
- Diabetes
- DNA, Paternity and Genetic Testing
- Drug Screening
- Environmental Toxin Testing
- Female Specific Tests
- Fitness, Nutrition and Anti-Aging
- Gastrointestinal Diseases
- General Wellness
- Heart Health and Cholesterol
- Hormones and Metabolism
- Immunization Check
- Infectious Diseases
- Infertility Testing
- Kidney Diseases
- Liver Diseases
- Male Specific Tests
- Musculoskeletal Diseases
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD's)
- Therapeutic Drug Monitoring
- Thyroid Diseases
- - STD Testing
- About STD Testing
- Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Test
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Antibodies, IgG
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Antibodies, IgM, Quantitative
- Epididymitis Screen
- Hepatitis A and B Immune Status Profile Test
- Hepatitis A and B Profile, Acute Diagnostic
- Hepatitis A and B Profile, Comprehensive
- Hepatitis A Antibody, IgM
- Hepatitis A Antibody, Total
- Hepatitis A Profile, Acute verses Chronic Differentiation
- Hepatitis B and C Profile Test (Comprehensive)
- Hepatitis B Core Antibody, IgG, IgM, Differentiation
- Hepatitis B Core Antibody, IgM
- Hepatitis B Core Antibody, Total
- Hepatitis B Patient Management Profile Test
- Hepatitis B Profile
- Hepatitis B Surface Antibody Test
- Hepatitis C Antibody Test
- Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), RNA PCR, Qualitative
- Hepatitis Panel, Acute
- Hepatitis Profile II (Diagnostic Follow-up)
- Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Type I and II IgG
- Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Type II IgG
- Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), Type I and II IgM
- HIV-1 and HIV-2 Screen
- HIV-1 Antibodies Test
- HIV-1 DNA RT- PCR With HIV Antibodies , ICMA
- HIV-2 Antibodies
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 (HIV-1) RNA (bDNA)
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus 2 (HIV-2), Qualitative, PCR
- Mycoplasma/Ureaplasma, Real-Time PCR
- Soluble Liver Antigen (SLA) IgG Antibody (Autoimmune Hepatitis)
- STD Recent Exposure Panel
- STD Urinary Tract Infection Panel
- Syphilis (RPR) Test
- Treponema pallidum Antibodies (TP-PA)
- Ultimate STD Panel
- Ultimate Viral STD Panel
- See All STD Tests
- - Blood Tests
- Allergy Testing
- Autoimmune Disease Testing
- Blood Disorder and Blood Disease Testing
- Cancer Detection Testing
- Diabetes Testing
- DNA, Paternity and Genetic Testing
- Drug Screening Testing
- Environmental Testing
- Female-Specific Testing
- Fitness, Nutrition and Anti-Aging Testing
- Gastrointestinal Disease Testing
- General Wellness Testing
- Heart Health and Cholesterol Testing
- Hormone Blood Tests
- Immunization Testing
- Infectious Disease Testing
- Infertility Testing
- Kidney Disease Testing
- Liver Function Tests
- Musculoskeletal Disorders Testing
- Prostate Testing
- Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Testing
- Thyroid Testing
- - All Tests
- Lab Locations
- Wishlist New!
- Why Online Lab Tests
- How it Works
- About Us
- FAQ
- Health Resources
Questions?
1.877.283.7882
1.877.283.7882
Private MD News
Home | News | General HealthBlood test gauges need for antibiotics
Updated: 2009-09-09 22:06:37 CST Category: General Health
by Brendan Missett
A blood test may be able to assist doctors in verifying which patients are in need of antibiotics and which can be treated though use of alternate remedies, according to new research.
A study published in the September 9 issue of the Journal of American Medical Association found that administering a blood test which measures procalcitonin (PCT), a chemical found in the blood, allowed physicians to more accurately decide on the duration of antibiotic treatment in patients with lower respiratory tract infections, U.S. News' HealthDay reports. Overall, use of the test resulted in a drop in antibiotic use.
The study also revealed that patients who were given the blood test before receiving a prescription were 8.3 percent less likely to experience the adverse side effects commonly associated with the use of antibiotics.
Researchers point out that overuse of antibiotics allows microbes to evolve and resist the medication.
Asked about the development of the PCT test, Dr Ann Falsey, professor of medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center told the news source, "There's been a great deal of antibiotic overuse, with a great number of adverse effects both to patients individually and to the global flora becoming more resistant. This is one tool that can help clinicians make better decisions."
Dr Allan Spreen, panelist at the Health Sciences Institute recommends vitamin C, grapefruit seed extract, olive leaf extract and colloidal silver as natural sources of antibiotics.
Related Articles from Private MD:
-
New lab test instrument evades botched diagnoses
-
CDC: Monitoring H1N1 virus and vaccine data
-
Officials urge Congress to renew Child Nutrition Act
-
Researchers find possible treatment for high blood pressure
-
Study: Hopelessness linked to higher risk of stroke
Subscribe to Private MD Health News RSS Feed: 
News Categories:
Advanced Lipid Treatment I Allergy Testing Anemia and RBC disorders Autoimmune Diseases Bariatric Lab Testing Blood and Blood Diseases Breast Cancer Detection and Tumor Markers Celiac Disease Testing Chlamydia Coagulation and blood clotting disorders Colon Diabetes DNA, Paternity and Genetic testing Drug Screening Environmental Toxin Testing Female Specific Tests Gastrointestinal Diseases General Health General Wellness Heart Health and Cholesterol Herpes HIV HIV monitoring/Treatment/Testing/Post Diagnos Hormones and Metabolism Infectious Diseases Infertility Testing-Male Infertitlity Hormone Testing Kidney Diseases Leukemia and WBC disorders Liver Liver Diseases Lyme Disease Male Specific Tests Menopause/Peri-Menopausal Diagnosis Organ Specific Testing Ovarian Prostate Sexually Transmitted Diseases Thyroid Diseases Vitamin D Deficiency-Diagnosis and Treatment
Visit the Health News Archive: Click Here
Questions about online blood testing or how to order a lab test? Click here to get started or call us toll-free at 1.877.283.7882. Our certified professionals are ready to assist you.
