Creatine Kinase (CK), or Creatine Phosphokinase (CPK), is an enzyme primarily found in muscle tissue.A CK test measures the amount of this enzyme in your blood.Elevated CK levels can indicate damage to skeletal muscles, heart, or brain tissue, often caused by injury, disease, or strenuous exercise.While it was once a common test for heart attacks, troponin is now preferred for this purpose.

LDH IS AN ENZYME FOUND IN VARIOUS TISSUES THROUGHOUT THE BODY, INCLUDING THE HEART, LIVER, SKELETAL MUSCLE, KIDNEYS, AND RED BLOOD CELLS. IT IS INVOLVED IN THE BREAKDOWN OF GLUCOSE FOR ENERGY PRODUCTION. WHEN TISSUES ARE DAMAGED OR DISEASED, LDH LEVELS IN THE BLOOD CAN INCREASE. ELEVATED LDH LEVELS CAN BE A SIGN OF CONDITIONS SUCH AS HEART ATTACKS, LIVER DISEASE, HEMOLYTIC ANEMIA, MUSCLE DAMAGE, AND CERTAIN CANCERS. HOWEVER, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ELEVATED LDH LEVELS ALONE MAY NOT BE ENOUGH TO DIAGNOSE A SPECIFIC CONDITION, AND FURTHER TESTING MAY BE NECESSARY TO DETERMINE THE UNDERLYING CAUSE.

THE PLASMA LACTATE TEST MEASURES THE AMOUNT OF LACTATE (LACTIC ACID) IN THE BLOODSTREAM. LACTATE IS PRODUCED BY MUSCLE CELLS AND RED BLOOD CELLS DURING LOW OXYGEN CONDITIONS, SUCH AS INTENSE EXERCISE OR MEDICAL CONDITIONS LIKE INFECTIONS OR HEART FAILURE. HIGH LACTATE LEVELS CAN INDICATE TISSUE HYPOXIA OR OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS, WHILE LOW LEVELS ARE RARE AND NOT USUALLY A CONCERN.

THIS TEST MEASURES THE LEVEL OF CORTISOL, A STRESS HORMONE, IN A SINGLE BLOOD SAMPLE TAKEN AT A RANDOM TIME. WHILE A SINGLE READING ISNOT VERY SPECIFIC, IT CAN BE USED AS A SCREENING TOOL. FOR EXAMPLE, A VERY HIGH LEVEL MIGHT SUGGEST CUSHINGS SYNDROME.