• CBC: complete blood count: It gives us information on the health status of the child's blood cell, pertaining to anemia, which can be caused by a multitude of reasons. Sickle cell disease, Thalasemia, anemia of chronic illness or just iron deficiency anemia.
  
  
• Lead screen: Lead can cause anemia and developmental delay if untreated. Lead can be found in old institution walls, water supply (pipes) and the overall environment as a pollutant.
  
  
• G6PD deficiency: An enzyme deficiency common in Asia, Africa, and the Mediterranean region. Screening of children from these areas needs to be performed prior to prescribing medications that may cause hemolytic (blood cell breakdown) anemia in persons lacking this enzyme.
  
  
• Hemoglobin Electrophoresis : in Asian children to look for Thalasemia Anemia
  
  
• HIV Elisa: test for the AIDS or HIV virus
  
  
• VDRL: test for syphilis. Frequently transmitted from the mother to child
  
  
• Hepatitis B panel: should be performed prior to hepatitis B vaccination. It tests for acute, chronic illness as well as vaccine status.
  
  
• Hepatitis C: for hepatitis C
  
  
• Calcium, Phosphorous, Alkaline Phosphatase: screens for Rickets
  
  
• Urinalysis: check the overall kidney function
  
  
• Stool sample: for intestinal parasites. Giardia is common in institutions
  
  
• Stool cultures : intestinal bacteria
  
  
• Comprehensive metabolic panel SMA-20: check on overall body function, liver, kidney
  
  
• TFT: thyroid disease
  
  
• PPD: tuberculosis status
  
  
• Immunization Titers: to see if the child mounted an immune response in order to continue with the current vaccine schedule or restart all vaccine from the beginning.
  
  
• State Newborn Screen: only in children less than 12 months. To check for metabolic disorders routinely tested at birth (PKU, Biotinidase, Sickle cell)
  
  
• Hearing and vision tests

As you can see, that there is going to be a lot of blood drawn in order to perform these test. It is a stressful time for both child and parent. I generally recommend that the parents to perform these tests on two visits spread out one week apart.

by George Rogu M.D.

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Disclaimer

The information and advice provided is intended to be general information, NOT as advice on how to deal with a particular child's situation and or problem. If your child has a specific problem you need to ask your pediatrician about it - only after a careful history and physical exam can a medical diagnosis and/or treatment plan be made. This Web site does not constitute a physician-patient relationship.

This material has been provided by AdoptionDoctors.com, an innovative adoption medicine private practice and educational service, dedicated to helping parents and adoption agencies with the complex pre-adoption medical issues of internationally adopted children. All medical interactions are performed via, e-mail, express mail, telephone, and fax. There is no need to make a live appointment or travel outside of your hometown. For more information, visit AdoptionDoctors.com or call 631-499-4114.

© George Rogu, M.D.