From the Guidelines
General lab screenings for adolescent health exams should include dyslipidemia screening, hematocrit or hemoglobin screening, sexually transmitted infection/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening, vision screening, and depression screening, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 1. These screenings are crucial for early detection and prevention of complications in adolescents. The AAP recommends dyslipidemia screening in children nine to 11 years of age due to the growing epidemic of obesity in this population 1. Hematocrit or hemoglobin screening is recommended at 12 months of age and may be needed at 15 and 30 months of age based on risk assessment 1. Sexually transmitted infection/HIV screening is recommended in adolescents 16 to 18 years of age, as one in four new HIV infections occurs in persons 13 to 24 years of age 1. Vision screening is recommended at four and five years of age and in cooperative three-year-olds, with instrument-based screening offered at other ages to assess risk 1. Depression screening is recommended annually for children and adolescents 11 through 21 years of age, as suicide is a leading cause of death in this age group 1. Additionally, the AAP recommends screening for nonviral sexually transmitted infections in adolescents and young adults, as per published screening recommendations for sexually active adolescents 1. Some key points to consider when implementing these screenings include:
- The frequency of these tests varies based on risk factors, family history, and previous findings
- Many screenings are recommended at least once during adolescence, with some repeated annually for sexually active teens
- Early detection of health issues can prevent complications and improve outcomes in adolescents.
From the Research
General Lab Screening for Adolescent Health Exams
- Routine preventive health examinations for adolescents should include annual screening tests, which serve to encourage the development of health-promoting behaviors and preventive health awareness among adolescents 2.
- The complete blood count (CBC) is one of the most frequently ordered laboratory tests in medicine, and its components can be useful in assessing various medical conditions, including hematologic disorders 3.
- While the CBC is commonly used to assess cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in clinical settings, its usefulness in adolescent health exams is not explicitly stated in the provided studies 4, 5.
- However, the CBC components, such as white blood cell count, hemoglobin, and platelet count, can provide important information about an adolescent's overall health and can be used to identify potential health issues 3, 4, 5.
Recommended Screening Tests
- The study by 2 outlines the recommended screening tests for all teenagers, including annual health screening interventions.
- The specific screening tests recommended for adolescent health exams are not detailed in the provided studies, but it is suggested that the CBC can be a useful tool in assessing overall health and identifying potential health issues 3, 4, 5.
Additional Screening Tests
- Additional screening tests may be necessary for high-risk youth, as defined by 2.
- The provided studies do not specify what additional screening tests are recommended for high-risk adolescents, but they do highlight the importance of using laboratory tests, such as the CBC, to inform care and produce the best patient outcomes 3, 4, 5.