IMMUNOLOGY & SEROLOGY

Immunology is the study of the body's immune system and its functions and disorders. Serology is the study of blood serum. From this test, we can check if we are protected from or infected by any diseases and cancers.
- Hepatitis A and B: From blood test, we can also measure whether we have the infection of Hepatitis A and B or not. They are viruses which will attack our liver and cause liver disease (inflammation of the liver). Hepatitis A virus is usually spread through seafood and contaminated water. Hepatitis B virus is most frequently transmitted by contact with infected blood or through sex with an infected person, but it can also be transmitted by saliva. Both Hepatitis A and B are serious and once we are infected, if we do not cure it and get worse, the liver disease will develop to liver cancer. So the prevention is better than cure. The injection of vaccine is important.
- Alpha-fetoprotein: Pregnant women will have elevated AFP's. For men, non-pregnant women and children, AFP in the blood can indicate the possibility of certain cancers especially of the testicles, ovaries, stomach, pancreas or liver.
- CA 15.3: CA 15.3 is a protein used to detect breast. In general, the higher the CA 15.3 level, the more advanced the breast cancer and the larger the tumor present. The level tends to increase as the cancer grows.
- CA 12.5: CA stands for cancer antigen.CA 125 is present in greater concentration in ovarian cancer cells than in other cells. If the value is outside the reference range, it means that there is a risk of getting ovarian cancer.
- CA 19.9: This is to detect the small intestine, pancreas and stomach cancer. The higher value of CA 19.9 may have a risk of getting cancer but there are some exceptions such as inflammatory disease of the bowel.
- CEA: CEA stands for carcinoembryonic antigen. This test can detect the colon cancer. Benign conditions which can elevate CEA include smoking, infections, inflammatory bowel disease, and some benign tumors in the same organs in which an elevated CEA indicates cancer.
- PSA (Prostate-specific antigen): PSA is a protein produced by the cells of the prostate gland. The PSA test measures the level of PSA in the blood. Prostate cancer can increase PSA levels.
- R.A Factor: Blood test also can detect rheumatoid factor. High levels of rheumatoid factor are associated with more severe rheumatoid disease.
- VDRL (Venereal Disease Research Laboratory): A blood test for syphilis that detects an antibody that is present in the bloodstream when a patient has syphilis. A negative VDRL is compatible with a person not having syphilis. A negative test is normal and means that no antibodies to syphilis have been detected. Conversely, a positive VDRL result can be encountered in syphilis. If the test is positive, confirmation with an FTA-ABS test, which is a more specific syphilis test should be done.