Feeling sick can make your entire week grind to a halt. It can be hard to run errands, head to work or even relax without feeling uncomfortable. Naturally, you want to get to the root of your symptoms as quickly as possible so you can feel better.

That’s where we come in! Our team is dedicated to providing you with the most accurate diagnosis as possible, and we use a combination of our knowledge and diagnostic tools to help us along the way.

Our AFC Urgent Care South Charlotte center is proud to have a state-of-the-art lab right on site! Read on to learn more about how having a lab at our disposal can help you feel better faster.

What Kinds of Tests Can Be Processed Through the Lab?

Testing for various illnesses is easy at AFC. To start, we have a variety of rapid tests at our disposal that can detect the flu, COVID-19, strep throat or RSV in as little as 10 minutes! That’s just about as fast as you can get a diagnosis, and we are proud to be able to do so for you. We can do urinalysis and cultures right in our lab that can detect signs of infection in a single visit.

We also have the ability to do blood tests, like a CBC. A CBC is a complete blood count and is processed by taking a sample of your blood and running it through our machines to count and measure the different types of blood cells in your blood. If your red or white blood cells or platelet count is too high or low, it can give us a great place to start when digging into your diagnosis.

Possible Diagnoses After a Blood Test

• Anemia
• An infection
• Immune system disorders
• Blood diseases

What Causes Anemia?

Your blood can tell a lot about you because it has such an important job! Any sort of deviation from the normal blood cell counts will impact your body’s ability to function the way it should. Anemia is one of the conditions you can develop when your body is out of balance. Anemia is diagnosed when your red blood cell count is lower than it should be.

Anemia can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including a rapid heartbeat, dizziness, fatigue and lightheadedness. Coming in to see us whenever you feel sick or just “off” is a great place to start. We will work hard to provide you with the most accurate diagnosis possible so you can get back to feeling like your old self right away.

Treating Anemia At Home

• Eat iron-rich foods like lean meat, fish, eggs and dried beans.
• Consume more folic acid from dark, leafy green vegetables.
• Increase your vitamin D intake.
• Take an iron supplement if prescribed.

Have you been feeling faint or lightheaded? Come see us for a quick CBC test at AFC Urgent Care South Charlotte.