Laboratory parameters of the 1st order – obligatory laboratory tests.
- Small blood count
- Inflammatory parameters – CRP (C-reactive protein) or ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate).
- Electrolytes – sodium and potassium
- Examination of pancreatic enzymes such as elastase and lipase – to exclude pancreatic insufficiency.
- Stool examinations
- Pathogenic bacteria: Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, Yersinia.
- Pathogenic viruses: norovirus
- Parasites: Amoebae, Lamblia and Cryptosporidia (detection by enzyme assay).
- Clostridium difficile toxin (detection with enzyme assay).
- Evaluation of the physiological parts of the intestinal flora (bifidobacteria, colibacteria, lactobacteria, bacteroides, etc.) in bacterial counts per gram of stool and mycological culture according to dilution series) Evaluation of potentially pathological germs (Clostridium perfringens, Klebsiellen, yeasts) in bacterial counts per gram of stool (aerobic / anaerobic and mycological culture according to dilution series).
- Microscopic examination for worm eggs, lambliae and amoebic cysts, cryptosporidia, microsporidia.
Laboratory parameters 2nd order – depending on the results of the history, physical examination, etc. – for differential diagnostic clarification.
- Stool tests antigen detection (parasites, viruses, toxins): adenovirus and rotavirus antigen detection, detection of Clostridium difficile antigen, verotoxin or Shigatoxin (= toxin enterohemolytic E.coli).
- Lactose load test – to exclude lactose intolerance (lactose intolerance).
- H2 breath test – to exclude lactose, fructose or sorbitol intolerance; in this test procedure, a baseline determination of the hydrogen concentration of exhaled air is made before the start of the examination; then the affected person is asked to ingest the test sugar (either a lactose, fructose or sorbitol solution) and subsequently the hydrogen concentration in the breath is measured every ten minutes for three to four hours; if the measured values deviate more than 20 ppm (parts per million) from the initial value, the finding is considered pathological.
- Allergy tests – IgE, total, allergen-specific IgE.
- Fecal occult (non-visible) blood test.
- Liver parameters – alanine aminotransferase (ALT, GPT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST, GOT), glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT, gamma-GT; GGT).
