Lab Tests for Anemia

Anemia is one of the most common disorders of the blood, and has been identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a widespread public health issue with social and economic concerns. According to the WHO, nearly 25% of the world's population is affected by anemia.¹

A disease so prevalent and serious can have significant impacts on both patient quality of life and healthcare system costs.² Clinical laboratories can help reduce these impacts by offering a broad range of diagnostic tests across clinical disciplines that improve efficiencies in the care of anemic patients.

Anemia is a very complex disease because there are multiple types (many of which often coexist) that can result from a wide variety of causes. Among the most common forms of anemia are:

• Iron deficiency anemia: Often associated with hypochromic microcytic RBC, this form of anemia can be confirmed with various laboratory tests
• Anemia of chronic disease: In pernicious anemia—the most common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency—macrocytosis may not be present, and B12 may be mildly decreased. While routine lab tests may not provide complete information, the presence of intrinsic factor antibodies may be an indicator of the condition³
• Anemia of renal failure and anemia of cancer: Since these are usually a result of a combination of causes, discerning between the two can be challenging. EPO testing can help in the diagnosis of anemia of renal failure, and also allows physicians to manage and monitor treatment of cancer-related anemia more effectively⁴

As shown above, valuable diagnostic information can be obtained from a wide variety of laboratory tests. A comprehensive offering of anemia tests across the entire diagnostic continuum can provide physicians with greater insight into their patients’ conditions and more pathways to improving patient care.

Anemia occurs in a multitude of disease states with many different causes. Helping physicians diagnose anemia and monitor the treatment of their patients is a challenge—and to meet it, your laboratory needs the best tools.

We have the most comprehensive offering of routine and specialty diagnostic tools for anemia screening and diagnosis. Utilize our broad offering of over two dozen testing solutions—almost all of which are routine tests—to generate comprehensive, accurate information for diagnosis, treatment and monitoring for adjustment of therapy.

In addition, our expansive product offering spans immunoassay, chemistry, nephelometry and hematology tools and systems, so you can deploy a complete anemia solution from a single partner, without the added complexity of dealing with multiple vendors and providers.

With proven expertise in analyzing laboratory test processes, we collaborate with you to understand your requirements and create flexible solutions that meet your evolving needs.

Contact us to find out how to get started.