Osteoporosis tests
Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease, characterised by low bone mass resulting from decreased bone density, which makes the bones more fragile and prone to fracture. Osteoporosis is the most common metabolic bone disease in the world, affecting about 200 million people. According to the Lithuanian Osteoporosis Foundation, it affects about 10-12% of the population in Lithuania.
At the onset of the disease, the patient does not exhibit any obvious medical signs or symptoms, therefore, osteoporosis is usually detected after a minor traumatic fracture (forearm bones, vertebrae, femur). As the disease progresses, the patient suffers from chronic pain (especially back pain), his or her posture changes, the patient loses height and the spine becomes more curved giving the impression that the person is slouching. With the number of people affected growing, osteoporosis is becoming an increasingly important public health problem, which presents us with increasing social and economic challenges.
Osteoporosis could be prevented, or its morbidity decreased if risk factors are controlled, and preventive measures taken in time. Although at the moment osteoporosis cannot be cured, there is medication which helps stop the disease from progressing or slows down its development, therefore, carrying out the necessary tests in time is very important.
The bone resorption marker (Beta-CrossLaps), total propeptide of type 1 procollagen (P1NP), and osteocalcin are some of the main lab markers that help diagnose osteoporosis, assess the risk of bone fractures, control the development of the disease and evaluate the effectiveness of medication treatment.
These bone marker tests help:
- evaluate the patient’s risk of bone mass loss;
- observe the effectiveness of therapy and differentiate patients who do not stick with the treatment plan and those for whom medication therapy is ineffective;
- assess the risk of bone fracture and changes in bone mineral density when taking medication.
Bone densitometry (DEXA) shows the state of a particular bone whereas blood tests for osteoporosis diagnostic help evaluate the speed of metabolism and the state of the whole skeletal system.
Bone markers are not only reserved for examination of osteoporosis. They are significant in the evaluation of other bone-related disorders, too, for example, Paget’s disease of the bone, primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism, osteomalacia, and metabolic bone disease.
You do not have to make an appointment for a test.
Programs
Osteoporosis test price
What factors affect the price?
The prices indicated below apply to citizens of the Republic of Lithuania and the European Union.
If you are coming from another country please check the price by telephoning or sending an email.
Why it is worth
to be examined at our Centre?
- Your tests will be appropriately performed. The quality of our lab services has been acknowledged with our ISO 15189 accreditation.
- Our lab technicians will comment on the test results. Few labs in the country provide this service.
- We can do additional osteoporosis tests, if needed, from the same blood sample taken up to 7 days ago. This is especially relevant for children or patients living in other towns!
- There is no risk of damaging or mixing up test samples in transportation, which statistically is one of the leading causes for ruined blood samples in labs.