Maternal Serum Screening is a blood test offered to pregnant women who want to find out if they may be at increased risk of having a baby with Down syndrome, neural tube defects (such as spina bifida) or Trisomy 18. This test cannot diagnose these conditions, instead it identifies women who are at an "increased risk" and should be offered further testing such as ultrasound or amniocentesis.

There are two Maternal Serum Screening tests that are offered in Victoria during pregnancy; Combined First Trimester Screening and Second Trimester Screening. Combined First Trimester Screening involves the pregnant women having a blood test around the 10th week and an ultrasound during the 12th week of pregnancy. 

Read more …

The new eligibility criteria for Vit D test under Medicare are for investigation of a patient who:
(a) has signs or symptoms of osteoporosis or osteomalacia; or
(b) has increased alkaline phosphatase and otherwise normal liver function tests; or
(c) has hyperparathyroidism, hypo- or hypercalcaemia, or hypophosphataemia; or
(d) is suffering from malabsorption (for example, because the patient has cystic fibrosis, short bowel
syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease or untreated coeliac disease, or has had bariatric surgery); or
(e) has deeply pigmented skin, or chronic and severe lack of sun exposure for cultural, medical,
occupational or residential reasons; or
(f) is taking medication known to decrease 25OH-D levels (for example, anticonvulsants); or
(g) has chronic renal failure or is a renal transplant recipient; or
(h) is less than 16 years of age and has signs or symptoms of rickets; or
(i) is an infant whose mother has established vitamin D deficiency; or
(j) is an exclusively breastfed baby and has at least one other risk factor mentioned in a paragraph
in this item; or
(k) has a sibling who is less than 16 years of age and has vitamin D deficiency

When a person reach age of 50, a doctor will normally ask to have a proper health check if he or she never had one done before. The recommended health check should include:

• Blood pressure
• Blood tests for fasting cholesterol, sugar, full blood count, electrolytes, kidney function, liver function tests
• Iron studies, vitamin B12, thyroid function test, folic acid, PSA and Vitamin D level are subject to patient's condition. A doctor will need to ask question to justify these tests are necessary
• Skin check especially Caucasians to look for skin cancer such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma and etc
• *Faecal occult blood test to detect bowel cancer 

Read more …