For patients with chronic Lyme disease, post-COVID syndrome, autoimmune conditions, and cancer, detailed laboratory profiling is essential for accurate diagnosis, treatment planning, and monitoring. Our physicians order targeted test panels based on the clinical presentation and suspected diagnoses.
Core laboratory testing includes complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, liver and kidney function, thyroid panel, and inflammatory markers (CRP, ESR, ferritin). Beyond these basics, specialized testing may include: detailed immune cell subtyping (CD4, CD8, NK cells), cytokine profiling, complement system assessment, immunoglobulin subclasses, and autoantibody panels.
Infection-specific testing includes Lyme disease serology (ELISA, Western blot, EliSpot), co-infection panels (Bartonella, Babesia, Ehrlichia, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Mycoplasma), viral reactivation markers (EBV, CMV, HHV-6), and parasitology. For oncology patients, tumor markers and circulating tumor cell analysis may be included.
Blood samples are drawn by trained phlebotomists, typically in the morning after an overnight fast for metabolic panels. Standard results are available within 24-48 hours. Specialized tests such as immune cell subtyping, EliSpot, and some infection panels may require 5-10 business days depending on the laboratory. Results are compiled and reviewed during a comprehensive consultation with the attending physician.
All laboratory testing at St. George Hospital is performed by accredited medical laboratories using validated assays and quality-controlled procedures. The diagnostic methods employed are established in clinical laboratory medicine with published evidence supporting their use in peer-reviewed medical journals. For infection diagnostics, we use testing methods recommended by professional societies including the German Borreliosis Society and the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society.
