Blood Tests
Many digestive disorders can be diagnosed or monitored with a blood test(s). Your child's pediatric gastroenterologist may order one or more of the following common blood tests:
CBC (Complete Blood Count)
This test measures red and white blood cells and platelet count.
ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate)
This test indicates a marker of inflammation in the body.
CRP (C-Reactive Protein)
This test indicates a marker of inflammation in the body.
Bilirubin Panel
This test checks levels of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a bile pigment and a breakdown product of red blood cells. Elevated levels of bilirubin cause jaundice.
Celiac Disease Antibody Panel
If your pediatric gastroenterologist thinks your child has celiac disease, he or she will probably do a blood test. People with celiac disease have higher than normal levels of certain antibodies (proteins) in their blood. Antibodies are produced by the body in response to substances that the body thinks are a danger. If the blood work shows increased antibodies, your child's doctor will then perform an endoscopy procedure to get biopsies of the intestine to prove the diagnosis. Your child will need to follow a regular diet before and while being tested. If he/she doesn't, the rest results could be wrong. Since the disease runs in families, immediate family members of patients with celiac disease need to be tested by blood test.
Chemistry Panel
This test measures liver and kidney function and nutritional status.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Antibody Panel
This test looks for specific antibodies (proteins) in the blood that may support a diagnosis of Crohn's Disease or Ulcerative Colitis.
Liver Function Panel
This test measures total protien levels, albumin, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, indirect bilirubin, alkyline phosphatase, and liver enzymes AST (Aspartate transaminase) and ALT (Alanine transaminase).
Diseases or Conditions
Blood tests may be used to diagnose or monitor any of the following diseases or conditions.