News and Stories

November 30, 2023

Everything You Need to Know About HIV Testing

Whether you are sexually active or just want to stay informed, being aware of your HIV status is an important step in taking charge of your sexual health. 

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November 10, 2023

Unveiling the World of Genetic Counseling: An Interview with Elizabeth Melchionna

In honor of Genetic Counselor Awareness Day, we had the privilege of speaking with Elizabeth Melchionna, a genetic counselor at HNL Lab Medicine. 

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November 06, 2023

Gut Check: Clostridium difficile

Clostridioides difficile, commonly known as C. diff, is a bacterium that can cause infections in the colon, leading to a range of symptoms that can be uncomfortable and, in some cases, serious.

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November 03, 2023

Celebrating Our Commitment to Quality: Recent CAP Inspection Validates HNL Lab Medicine’s Excellence

At HNL Lab Medicine, we are thrilled to share a significant milestone that exemplifies our commitment to delivering exceptional quality healthcare.

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October 29, 2023

World Stroke Day

Sharing a Personal Experience on World Stroke Day to Raise Awareness about Strokes.

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Patients

Why You Need a Lab Test

Laboratory tests provide healthcare professionals vital information to assist with making important decisions regarding your health.

 

Why do I need a lab test?

Lab tests are done for many reasons, including:
 

Check Your Overall Health

Some tests are part of a yearly or routine physical so your healthcare professional can get a clear picture of your health. An example of a general test to get a snapshot of your health is a complete blood count (CBC).
 

Help Diagnose Your Symptoms

If you have certain signs and symptoms, your healthcare professional may run certain tests to help determine whether you have a certain medical condition. This is helpful when there are several medical conditions that could be causing your signs and symptoms. An example is a urine test to see if frequent urination is being caused by a simple urinary tract infection or something more complex, such as diabetes.
 

Diagnose Medical Conditions That Do Not Have Symptoms

Not all medical conditions have signs and symptoms in the early stages of a disease. Lab tests can help. An example is a cholesterol screening. High cholesterol levels usually do not cause any symptoms but may lead to serious medical conditions.  
 

Monitor the Effectiveness of Treatment

Lab tests help your healthcare professional know how you are doing with treatment. An example is a blood test such as prothrombin time, which is administered to see if your anticoagulant medicine is working to keep your blood clotting to the proper level.