Laboratory Tests for Children in Kyiv

Laboratory tests for children are various methods of analyzing samples of serum, plasma and whole blood, urine, stool and other biological materials on specialized equipment in a medical laboratory. Laboratory tests make up a large share of all examinations performed when monitoring the health of children and adults. The multidisciplinary CSM Clinic offers a full cycle of services: here you can have your child's laboratory tests done and then receive a follow-up consultation from pediatric specialists. Our specialists aim to complete tests within the stated timeframe, with reliable results.

Indications for Laboratory Tests in Children

A child may need to be tested in several cases, including:

• a health check-up (annual, a medical certificate before school, kindergarten or a sports club, before vaccination, etc.);
• initial diagnosis of a disease when the child has worrying symptoms;
• clarification of an existing diagnosis (including to obtain an alternative second opinion);
• monitoring of the condition to check the effectiveness of treatment or before surgery.

In addition, CSM Clinic offers package services.

Preparing a Child for Tests

For children, tests mostly cannot be performed without following preparation rules. Each type of laboratory test has its own preparation requirements. The reliability of the test results depends entirely on following them.

The general rules are listed below. In addition, there are specific preparation requirements for different types of laboratory diagnostics, which the doctor will explain to the parents.

Blood test

• consider whether to stop medications and dietary supplements that may distort the test results;
• at least one day before the test, remove fatty, sweet and fried foods from the child's usual diet;
• sample collection must be done before 11:00, because the reference values are calculated for this time;
• wait 5-8 hours after the last meal (for infants, the longest possible break without feeding, but not less than 2 hours);
• children under 5 years old can be given plain still water (50 mL for an infant, 150-200 mL for older children) 30 minutes before the blood draw (this does not apply when a blood glucose test is planned).

After the blood draw, be sure to treat your child to something pleasant.

Urine test

• carry out thorough hygiene of the genitals;
• the container must be delivered to the laboratory within 2 hours; if this is not possible, keep the sample in the refrigerator.

Stool test

• in infants, stool may be taken from the diaper (except for a dysbiosis test);
• for pinworm (enterobiasis) diagnostics, the sample is collected before 10 a.m., and the child must not be washed either in the evening or in the morning;
• 2-3 days before sample collection, iron and copper preparations should be stopped, and it is also better not to use sorbents or fat-based rectal products;
• if the sample is prepared the evening before, additional storage conditions are required: stool must be kept at a temperature of +2 to +8 °C;
• make sure there is no urine or water in the sample.

PCR tests

• before a throat swab, it is not recommended to: give the child dissolvable medications, spray the oropharynx or rinse the nose within 6 hours; give chewing gum, candy or any food within 3 hours, and the child must not drink, brush teeth, or rinse the mouth and/or throat;
• before a nasal swab, it is not recommended to put drops into or rinse the child's nose within 3 hours before the test, and if there is heavy discharge, the nasal passages should be cleared before the sample is taken.

Pinworm (enterobiasis) scraping

The sample is collected in the morning (always before a bowel movement and before genital hygiene). The specifics of the procedure will be explained to the child's parents by the pediatrician when the test is ordered.

Microscopic examination of biomaterial for Demodex

• 3 days before sample collection, the child should not use personal hygiene products with a high alkali content or topical medications;
• 24 hours before the test, stop washing the child's face (even with plain water).

Bacteriological tests

In most cases, this type of diagnostics makes no sense during antibacterial therapy and for 14 days after it.

Contraindications to Medical Tests

Factors that may be contraindications to having laboratory tests for children done in Kyiv at CSM Clinic include:

• X-ray, tomography, ultrasound, endoscopy and other functional diagnostic methods, as well as massage, reflexology and physical therapy performed on the day of the test before the biological material is collected;
• intravenous drug injections (at the doctor's discretion);
• cystoscopy (wait 5-7 days, and then submit a urine sample);
• gastroscopy, colonoscopy and other procedures (for a fecal occult blood test, wait at least 14 days);
• enema (wait 2-3 hours before collecting stool);
• fissures or injured skin and mucosa in the anal area (it is better not to take a pinworm scraping);
• ELISA and bacterial cultures are not performed during antibacterial therapy or within 14 days after it ends (except for monitoring the effect of the prescribed treatment on the body).

And this is far from an exhaustive list of contraindications, which are worth studying as soon as you have found where to have your child tested.

How Testing Is Done in Children

Capillary and venous blood is collected in the treatment room.

Parents need to collect the child's urine and stool themselves in sterile containers (when collecting urine from children who are not yet potty trained, a urine collection bag should be used), and then deliver them to the clinic for testing in zip bags.

Swabs and scrapings are mostly taken directly by the doctor in the consultation room or by treatment room staff. The sample obtained is transferred onto a glass slide and/or placed together with the instrument in a special container or test tube.

Collecting a sample from a child takes a little over 10 minutes.

Most sample collection procedures are not painful, only mildly uncomfortable. If slight pain is possible during sample collection, local anesthesia may be used (chosen according to the age of the young patient).

After collection and acceptance, the sample is sent to the laboratory for testing as quickly as possible.

Children's Test Results and Their Interpretation

Thanks to its own modern laboratory, children's tests at CSM Clinic are performed as quickly as possible (some of them can be ready within 1-2 hours). Samples of blood, urine, stool and so on are quickly delivered to the laboratory, which is equipped with high-throughput equipment.

Even when test results include reference values by sex and age, a qualified interpretation can only be given by a pediatrician or a pediatric specialist who knows the full clinical picture, medical history and the results of other tests. The accuracy of the diagnosis and the effectiveness of the prescribed treatment depend on the correct interpretation of children's test results.

You can get a doctor's consultation both before and after laboratory diagnostics at our full-cycle clinic.

Advantages of Laboratory Diagnostics at Our Clinic

1. CSM in Kyiv is a full-cycle clinic with its own modern laboratory.
2. Sample collection is available at all clinic branches (without queues).
3. Biomaterial samples are analyzed on modern high-precision equipment.
4. Quality control is carried out by a laboratory doctor.
5. If the test method allows, the result will be ready within 1 hour. The clinic also performs urgent "Cito" tests.
6. A high level of confidentiality of medical information.
7. Affordable prices for laboratory tests for children.

Need to have your child tested in Kyiv? Want to do it quickly and in an organized way? Planning a check-up for your child or diagnostics of possible health problems when your child feels unwell? At the laboratory of CSM Clinic in Kyiv, you can have all the necessary tests done for your child and receive reliable results. You can book laboratory diagnostics by phone or through the feedback form on the website. Entrust your health to professionals.