Antenatal Profile Comprehensive

A fasting blood sugar test measures the level of glucose in the body under overnight fasting conditions. Glucose serves as the energy currency of the body and is broken down through metabolism to produce energy. This process is controlled by hormones and enzymes in organs such as the liver and pancreas. The hormone insulin, produced by the pancreas, is responsible for regulating blood glucose levels. When these levels are high, such as after a meal, insulin is secreted to transport glucose into cells for energy production. Elevated glucose levels in the body after fasting may indicate a risk of developing prediabetes or diabetes, which can be of two types- Type 1, caused by little or no insulin production, and Type 2, caused by insulin resistance or decreased insulin production.

A Blood Group ABO & RH Factor Test detects the presence of antigens (A, B & Rh) on the surface of RBCs to determine your blood group and antigen type.

A Urine R/M (Urine Routine & Microscopy) test involves gross, chemical, and microscopic evaluation of the urine sample.

1. Gross examination: It involves the visual examination of the urine sample for color and appearance. Normally, the urine color ranges from colorless or pale yellow to deep amber, depending on the urine’s concentration. Things such as medications, supplements, and some foods such as beetroot can affect the color of your urine. However, unusual urine color can also be a sign of disease.

   In appearance, the urine sample may be clear or cloudy. A clear appearance is indicative of healthy urine. However, the presence of red blood cells, white blood cells, bacteria, etc. may result in cloudy urine, indicating conditions such as dehydration, UTIs, kidney stones, etc. Some other factors such as sperm and skin cells may also result in a cloudy appearance but are harmless.

2. Chemical examination: It examines the chemical nature of the urine sample using special test strips called dipsticks. These test strips are dipped into the urine sample and they change color when they come in contact with specific substances. The degree of color change gives an estimate of the amount of the substance present. Some of the common things detected include protein, urine pH, ketones, glucose, specific gravity, blood, nitrites, and urobilinogen among others.

3. Microscopic examination: It involves the examination of the urine sample under the microscope for casts, crystals, cells, bacteria, and yeast.