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The advancement of science has led to development of a wide array of laboratory analyses, to support women throughout any period of their lives. Many women face numerous challenges, since the very moment of conception, all the way to the birth of their child. Laboratory analyses and services are an essential component of every pregnancy, as they provide important insights into the health of both the mom-to-be and her baby.

Avicena Laboratory offers the widest selection of both routine and specific tests required during pregnancy, designed to provide useful information on both mother’s and baby’s health.

PREGNANCY TEST

Beta HCG – The test determines the level of Beta HCG via a blood pregnancy test, and serves to confirm pregnancy in addition to commercially available over-the-counter pregnancy tests.

RECOMMENDED TESTS IN THE FIRST TRIMESTER OF PREGNANCY (0-12 gestation week)

Complete blood count, hemoglobin and sedimentation test – Significant decrease of red blood cells (erythrocytes) count, alongside with decreased hemoglobin levels suggest potential anemia, a disorder which is often associated with pregnancy, and in most of the cases, is caused by low levels of iron and folic acid (vitamin B12).

Urinalysis and urine culture test (microbiological urine test).

Screening for the presence of infectious diseases via blood test and microbiological smear tests: TORCH, HIV1/2, HBV, HCV.

Early screening and treatment of infections is of key importance for the proper fetal development and the health of babies during pregnancy and after childbirth.

These tests provide valuable information in terms of the presence of an infection at the time of testing, as well as in terms of any infection that has existed in the past. Triggers of such infections may enter the placenta at some point and cause complications to baby’s health, during pregnancy or upon childbirth.

RECOMMENDED TESTS IN THE SECOND TRIMESTER OF PREGNANCY (13-27 gestation week)

PRISCA – (Prenatal Risk Calculation Software) consists of quantifying certain markers which circulate in mother’s blood and directly impact both the development and the wellbeing of the child. Test values obtained are then combined with other significant parameters, such as the age and the overall health condition of the mother, as well as with the measurements of the baby made during an ultrasonography (gynaecological scan). Once obtained, all data are fed into a computer, which uses special software and calculates baby’s risk of being affected by any of the following anomalies: Down’s syndrome, Edward’s syndrome and neural tube defect.

VERAgene – The newest generation of non-invasive prenatal test

VERAgene is the only non-invasive prenatal test that performs simultaneous screening for aneuploidy, microdeletions and 100 monogenetic diseases.
Monogenetic diseases tested by VERAgene are associated with moderate to severe phenotype and have a significant impact on quality of life. With screening for aneuploidy and microdeletions and 100 monogenetic diseases, VERAgene provides a comprehensive solution for potential parents.

Learn more about VERAgene on the following link.

Complete blood count, hemoglobin and sedimentation test.

THIRD TRIMESTER (28-40 gestation week)

oGTT (Оral Glucose Tolerance Test) – glucose tolerance test helps diagnose gestational diabetes – increased glucose levels in blood, which develops during pregnancy.

Usually, pregnant women are recommended to undergo this test between the 24^th and the 28^th week of pregnancy. Women can also undergo this test at an earlier state of their pregnancy, if there are signs and symptoms of diabetes or if there is a history of gestational diabetes in previous pregnancy(s), based on doctor’s recommendations.

Group B Streptococcus – this is a smear test done before childbirth, in order to prevent potential transmission of infection to the baby.

Complete blood count, hemoglobin and sedimentation test.

Urine culture test (microbiological urine test).

Avicena Laboratory is your one-stop laboratory! 

Please click on the following link to find out more about the prices of the medical tests above.

Please note that this leaflet is of informative character and the tests stated above are only recommended based on an evaluation of your gynecologist. Depending on the overall health, your gynecologist may recommend that additional analyses be conducted.

Infertility is a common medical problem affecting 15% of people trying to conceive. In 30% to 50% of cases, the man is the main factor in the inability to conceive.

Detection of genetic causes of male infertility allows the diagnosis of infertility in couples trying to start a family, as well as making recommendations for further steps to be taken (artificial insemination techniques and appropriate genetic counseling).

Spermatogenesis is an essential process that is regulated by many specific genes located on the Y chromosome. Most of these genes are located in a specific region known as the azoospermia factor (AZF) region of the long arm of the human Y chromosome.

AZF microdeletions are recognized as the most common structural chromosomal abnormalities and are the leading cause of male infertility.

The changes in this region are associated with abnormalities in sperm production, and thus to infertility. AZF microdeletions are one of the main causes of azoospermia (complete absence of sperm in the ejaculate) and severe oligozoospermia (less than 5 million sperm in the ejaculate in men).

A new test performed in the Avicena Laboratory detects chromosomal changes-deletions of AZF (AZFa, AZFb, AZFc) on the human Y-chromosome, using the RT-PCR method.

Sample required: blood
Production time: 1 working day.
We are at your disposal for additional questions and information on 02 3179 001.

IMPROPER STORAGE AND PROCESSING OF FOOD – A challenge for the development of bacteria

Bacteria such as Salmonella, Shigella and Campylobacter often cause stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, headache, fever. Symptoms usually appear 6 to 72 hours after infection. Symptoms usually last 4 to 7 days, sometimes much longer.
These bacteria are mainly transmitted by eating undercooked food made from infected animals (meat, chicken, eggs and products made from them) or food produced for mass production (chocolates, candies, all kinds of confectionery products) that are not stored properly temperature and environment.
Bacteria are killed by complete cooking of food (well-cooked food).

Avoid raw or undercooked meat, poultry or eggs. Poultry and other meats – for example, burgers, sausages and roast rolls – should not be eaten if they are pink in the middle. Food handling – as bacteria can remain on the hands, it is very important to always wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet and before preparing food.

IMPROPER WASHING OF VEGETABLES AND FRUIT – Increased chance of contact with viruses

Norovirus, Rotavirus, Adenovirus, Astrovirus and Sapovirus are just some of the viruses that cause various types of gastrointestinal diseases in humans and are accompanied by nausea, fever, vomiting …
Viruses often hide behind poorly washed products such as fruits and vegetables, and during summer temperatures, they have a great chance of multiplying.
In Avicena Laboratory a complete gastrointestinal package-detection of 17 causes of gastrointestinal infections 6 viruses (Norovirus G I, Norovirus G II, Rotavirus, Adenovirus, Astrovirus Sapovirus), 9 bacteria (Salmonella Species, Salmonella ENTERERICA SEROVARICA Shigella species, Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella flexneri, Campylobacter species, Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli) AND 2 FUNGI (Candida albicans and Candida species), with MULTIPLEX REAL-TIME PCR method.

HOT AND MOISTURE WEATHER – Increased chance of tick bites

Spring has arrived, as have germs and other inconveniences that go along with high temperatures. Infections, which are normal and accompanied by fever, can be mild but also more serious. There is a lot of talk these days about the dangers of ticks and mosquitoes and the diseases they can transmit to humans and animals. They are regularly present in the spring and summer months, so the danger from them is greater in this period.
Lyme disease is a multisystem disease that has a subacute and chronic course and is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which is transmitted by the tick through its sting to the host. The disease first affects the skin and then the heart, joints and central nervous system.
Lyme disease is manifested by local swelling and redness at the site of the sting and in the surrounding area, 3-32 days after the incident. Local redness is warm and usually not painful. In 50% of patients, identical changes may occur in other parts of the body, and in 15% of patients, skin changes may not occur. In addition to skin changes, fever, chills, malaise, headache, and enlarged regional lymph nodes may occur.
Avicena Laboratory offers you a complete assessment of your health. A new, modern, indirect immunofluorescence test for the detection of IgG and IgM antibodies in Borrelia burgdorferi. This test is central to the diagnosis of Lyme disease due to its high sensitivity and specificity, the short time to obtain a definitive answer (one day) and the fact that the cultivation of borreliosis is very difficult, long-lasting and unreliable.

INCREASED TEMPERATURES – Increased chance of mosquito bites

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease caused by a protozoan (single-celled parasite) of the genus Leishmania. It is transmitted by the bite of certain types of mosquitoes (which are also present in our country, and are different from ordinary mosquitoes), which have previously bitten a dog that is infected with this parasite. The parasite attacks the body’s defense system and if left untreated, can turn into a serious disease.
Leishmaniasis is characterized by symptoms that at first glance are similar to all other symptoms that indicate reduced immunity, ie, decreased appetite, fever, weakness, fatigue, anemia, sores at the site of the mosquito bite, lethargy and others.
Avicena Laboratory offers you the most modern test for diagnosing leishmaniasis and clarifying the immune status. RIDASCREEN ® Leishmania Ab Test, enzyme immunoassay (EIA) of German manufacturer R-Biopharm for quantitative determination of specific IgG antibodies against Leishmania infantum in blood.

The spring has arrived, as well as the microbes and other nuisances, which go hand in hand with high temperatures. Infections which are a normal occurrence during high temperatures might be mild but also deadly. These days, one of the most talked about topics is the danger of ticks and mosquitos, as well as the diseases that they might transfer to people and to animals. They are usually present in spring and summer months, so therefore the danger they might cause is higher in this period.

What is Lyme disease and what causes it?

Lyme disease is a multisystem disease with a subacute and chronic course, caused by bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, which is transmitted to the host by tick bite. This disease primarily affects the skin, then the heart, joints, and the central nervous system.

Lyme disease is manifested by the appearance of local tissue swelling and redness at the site of the tick bite and the surrounding area in 3 to 32 days after the incident. The local rash is warm and usually is not painful to the touch. In 50% of patients, identical changes as those describe above can occur on other parts of the body, and in 15% of patients skin changes may not appear at all. Besides skin changes, symptoms may include increased temperature, fever, malaise, headache, and enlarged regional lymph nodes.

If the disease is not recognized and left untreated, 6 to 8 weeks later the second stage of the disease will develop which is characterized by joint pain, neurological, and cardiac symptoms.

The third stage develops in untreated patients, who after ten months or years develop permanent damage of the affected organs.

How is Lime disease diagnosed?

Avicena Laboratory offers a complete assessment of your health condition. New, modern, indirect immunofluorescence test for detection of IgG and IgM antibodies that Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in human serum and IgG antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) – RIDA®FLOUR Borrelia burgdorferi. Since the cultivation of borreliae is very difficult, long and uncertain, this test has the main role in the diagnosis of Lyme disease because of its high sensitivity and specificity, as well as short period for getting definitive results (in one day).

Leishmaniasis (Kala Azar – “Black Death”)

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease caused by protozoan (single-celled parasite) of the genus – Leishmania. Transmitted by the bite of certain mosquito species (present in Macedonia, and different from the ordinary mosquitoes), after biting a dog infected with this parasite. The parasite attacks the immune system of the body and if left untreated, it might progress into a serious illness with deadly consequences.

Clinical picture

Leishmaniasis is characterized by symptoms that at first sight are similar to all other symptoms that indicate reduced immunity, i.e., decreased appetite, fever, weight loss, fatigue, anemia, sores at the mosquito bite site, fatigue, etc.

It is manifested in three ways:

– Cutaneous (skin)

– Mucocutaneous (skin-mucosa)

– Kala-azar (Black Death, affecting internal organs )

Annually about 1.5 million people in the world contract the skin form of the disease, and about 1.5 million people of Kala Azar.

The incubation period (from the time of the bite to the manifestation of the first symptom of the disease) is from 7 days to several months for the skin form, and 10 days to several years for the visceral form – Kala Azar.

Diagnosis

Avicena Laboratory offers the most sophisticated test for diagnosis of leishmaniasis and elaborating the immune status. RIDASCREEN ® Leishmania Ab test, enzyme immunoassay (EIA) of German manufacturer R-Biopharm for quantitative determination of specific IgG antibodies against Leishmania infantum in the human serum.

What is NIPD?

NIPT is a non-invasive prenatal test which analyzes cell-free DNA in the mother’s blood to identify genetic syndromes such as trisomies and sex chromosome aneuploidies in the fetus.

What is VERACITY?

VERACITY is a new generation non-invasive prenatal test that analyses cell-free DNA extracted from the mother’s blood to detect fetal genetic disorders. VERACITY can accurately detect trisomies Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome and Patau syndrome. VERACITY also tests for syndromes caused by sex chromosome aneuploidies and microdeletions as well as, provides the option to know the gender of the baby. VERACITY is a robust reliable non-invasive prenatal test that has been validated for singleton and twin pregnancies, and can also be used in IVF pregnancies.

What disorders are detected by VERACITY?

VERACITY tests for:
Trisomy: Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome, Patau syndrome;
Aneuploidy of sex chromosomes: Turner syndrome, triple X syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome, Jacobs syndrome, XXYY syndrome;
• microdeletions: DiGeorge syndrome, 1p36 deletion syndrome, Smith-Magenis syndrome and Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome;

What disorders are detected by VERACITY?

VERACITY is a very important test because it provides safe and complete screening of the health condition of the fetus at a very early stage of pregnancy. VERACITY is a new generation non-invasive prenatal test that has significantly high accuracy (> 99%) and has no risk to the mother and fetus.

What are Down Syndrome, Edwards Syndrome and Patau Syndrome?

Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome, and Patau syndrome are genetic disorders caused by chromosomal trisomies. Down syndrome is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21, while Edwards syndrome and Patau syndrome are caused by an extra copy of chromosome 18 and 13. Down syndrome is characterized by intellectual disability and congenital abnormalities and occurs in approximately 1 in 700 pregnancies. more common in pregnant women over 35 years of age.
Edwards syndrome and Patau syndrome are less common and occur in 1 in 3,000 and 1 in 10,000 pregnancies, respectively. These syndromes are characterized by severe congenital abnormalities and a rare survival rate after the first year of life.

What are sex chromosome aneuploidies?
The sex chromosomes X and Y are carriers of sex-determining genes (female – XX, male – HU). Aneuploidy occurs when the sex chromosome has an extra copy or when it lacks a copy.
Such genetic conditions are most often manifested by impaired ability to reproduce, mild to severe learning difficulties and behavioral problems.
VERACITY detects the following sex chromosome aneuploidies:
Turner syndrome is characterized by the presence of one X chromosome and the absence of the other X chromosome. Occurs only in female children (monosomy X – karyotype 45, X0)
Triple X syndrome is characterized by the presence of an extra copy of the X chromosome. Occurs only in female children (trisomy X – karyotype 47, XXX)
Klinefelter syndrome is characterized by the presence of an extra copy of the X chromosome. Occurs only in male children (karyotype 47, XXY)
Jacobs syndrome is characterized by the presence of an extra copy of the Y chromosome. Occurs only in boys (karyotype 47, XYY)

What are microdeletions?
These genetic disorders are caused by the deletion of part of a chromosome. They are manifested by congenital anomalies and intellectual disability. The severity of the symptoms varies depending on the size and location of the microdeletion. The most common microdeletion is DiGeorge syndrome, which occurs in one in a thousand pregnancies.

Why should I choose VERACITY?
VERACITY is a non-invasive prenatal test of the new generation with 99% accuracy. The high accuracy of VERACITY has been demonstrated in several clinical validation studies using several thousand samples. VERACITY is a safe non-invasive test for the mother and fetus because the only sample needed for this test is venous blood from the mother.
The VERACITY test is validated for single and twin pregnancies as well as for pregnancies achieved by assisted reproduction techniques (IVF, including pregnancies with donated eggs) and can be performed after the 10th week of gestation. This test additionally determines the sex of the fetus.

For all other questions, you can call 02 3179 001 and talk to a representative of Avicenna Laboratory or consult your gynecologist about the test.

How much does the VERACITY test cost?
The price for making the VERACITY test is 31900 denars and it is available in installments.

What is a NIPT – non-invasive prenatal test?

NIPT stands for Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing. This is a test that can be done on pregnant women during or after the 10th week of gestation to check for certain genetic conditions in the fetus. NIPT tests analyze fetal cfDNA, which crosses the placenta and circulates in the mother’s blood. Fetal DNA analysis can identify certain genetic conditions in the fetus, as well as the sex of the fetus.
The NIPT test is very important for every pregnant woman, because it provides an accurate and safe way to test the fetus for genetic disorders before birth. Prior to the introduction of this revolutionary test, testing options were either biochemical screening in combination with ultrasound or invasive prenatal diagnostics such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS).

What are genetic conditions?

Genetic conditions are genetic disorders caused by unwanted changes in the genome that occur during conception. The test detects three types of genetic conditions:
Aneuploidy is a genetic condition that occurs when a chromosome has an extra copy (trisomy) or when it lacks a copy (monosomy).
Microdeletions is a genetic condition caused by the deletion of a part of a chromosome
Monogenetic diseases are genetic conditions in which pathological changes occur in a single gene.

What is VERAgene?

VERAgene is the only comprehensive non-invasive prenatal test currently on our market that performs simultaneous screening for aneuploidy, microdeletions and 100 monogenetic diseases. VERAgene is, above all, completely safe for both mother and fetus. From an extremely small sample of the mother’s venous blood and a buccal swab from the biological father, the health of the fetus at the earliest stage of pregnancy can be accurately assessed. It can be done by any pregnant woman starting from the 10th week of gestation, has a high accuracy of 99% and is the only test of its kind in our market that includes a sample of both parents.

What genetic conditions can be detected by VERAgene?

VERAgene can screen for trisomies such as Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome, Patau syndrome, sex chromosome aneuploidies, microdeletions such as DiGeorge syndrome, 1p36 deletion syndrome, Smith-Magenis syndrome and Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome and 100 monogenic diseases with autosomal recessive and X-linked inheritance. These include Beta Thalassemia, Cystic Fibrosis, Tay-Sachs disease, Canavan disease, Sickle Cell disease, Phenylketonuria, Alport syndrome and many more. By combining detection of aneuploidies and microdeletions with the screening of monogenic diseases, VERAgene provides a comprehensive picture of the pregnancy using a single test.

What are Down Syndrome, Edwards Syndrome and Patau Syndrome?

Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome and Patau syndrome are genetic disorders caused by chromosomal trisomies. Down syndrome is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21 whereas Edwards syndrome and Patau syndrome are caused by an extra copy of chromosome 18 and chromosome 13, respectively. Down syndrome is characterized by intellectual impairment and congenital abnormalities. Down syndrome occurs approximately in 1 in 700 pregnancies but is more frequent in pregnancies in women over 35. Edwards syndrome and Patau syndrome are less common occurring in 1 in 3000 and 1 in 10000 pregnancies, respectively. Edwards and Patau syndromes are characterized by severe congenital abnormalities and rarely survive past the first year of life.

What are sex chromosome aneuploidies?

Sex chromosome aneuploidies are genetic disorders caused by the presence or absence of a sex chromosome. The 23rd pair of chromosomes determine the sex of an individual. Women have two X chromosomes and men have one X and one Y chromosome. There are four major sex chromosome aneuploidies:

• Turner syndrome is characterized by the presence of a single X chromosome.
• Triple X syndrome is characterized by the presence of three X chromosomes.
• Klinefelter syndrome is characterized by the presence of two X chromosomes and one Y chromosome.
• Jacob syndrome is characterized by the presence of one X chromosome and two Y chromosomes.

What are microdeletions?

Microdeletions are genetic conditions caused by the loss of a part of a chromosome. Microdeletions are characterized by congenital abnormalities and intellectual impairment. The severity of the symptoms varies depending on the size and location of the microdeletion. The most common microdeletion syndrome is DiGeorge syndrome which occurs approximately once in 1000 pregnancies. The prevalence of DiGeorge syndrome increases to 1 in 100 in pregnancies with major structural anomalies such as congenital heart disease.

What are monogenetic diseases?

Monogenic diseases are caused by a variant (a version that is different from the standard) in a single gene (single gene diseases). Such conditions can be autosomal dominant which are caused when a variant exists on only one chromosome, or autosomal recessive where a variant needs to be present in both chromosomes. There are also X-linked diseases, where the mutation is always on the X chromosome and affects males and females differently. VERAgene analyses over 2000 variants to detect 100 autosomal recessive and X-linked monogenic diseases.

Why should future parents consider making the VERAgene test?

Microdeletions and single gene diseases – unlike aneuploidies – do not have a maternal age associated risk, and most of them do not have chemical or ultrasound biomarkers that can help in early detection. The cumulative risk for the fetus to have either an aneuploidy, microdeletion or a monogenic condition screened by VERAgene is 1 in 50 in moderate to high-risk pregnancies. VERAgene can accurately screen for these conditions to help parents take informed decisions about possible treatment and clinical management.

For all other questions, you can call 02 3179 001 and talk to a representative of Avicenna Laboratory or consult your gynecologist about the test.

How much does the VERAgene test cost?
The price for making the VERAgene test is 37900 denars and it is available in installments.

Every year on April 7, the World Health Organization (WHO) celebrates World Health Day.
This year, under the motto “Our planet, our health”, the WHO points out that our health and the health of the planet are inextricably linked, and the need to focus on creating healthy societies on a healthy planet is becoming increasingly apparent.

WorldHealthDay #WHO #WorldHealthOrganisation

This year, the WHO focuses on climate change, which disrupts many of the social determinants of good health and well-being and leads to disrupted livelihoods, deteriorating inequalities, deteriorating infrastructure, and impeding access to health care and social support.

Watch the World Health Organization’s informative video for Health Day:

Interview with Matilda Taneska Stojanoska, M.Sc. – Molecular Biologist Embryologist, Head of the Molecular Laboratory in Avicenna Laboratory

Avicenna Laboratory recently introduced the most comprehensive non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT) of the latest generation – VERAgene. This test is the only non-invasive test that simultaneously screens more than one hundred genetic conditions in the fetus during pregnancy. Although prenatal tests are well known to us, VERAgene is completely new to our market and is a unique and innovative solution for expectant parents.

For that purpose, we are talking with Matilda Taneska Stojanoska, MA, molecular biologist embryologist, head of the molecular department at Avicenna Laboratory, who will answer the most frequently asked questions about the new NIPT test VERAgene.

Read the whole interview on femina.mk

FIND OUT THE REAL CAUSE OF YOUR ALLERGY!

What is an allergy?

An allergy represents an abnormal, strong reaction of our body in response to exposure to certain substances, which are usually harmless for most people. These substances are called allergens and the reaction they cause is an allergic reaction. An allergic reaction may occur anywhere in the body – it can cause serious consequences and it can even lead to death.

What causes the allergy and how does it manifest?

There are hundreds of causes of allergies and they are all around us – in the home, at the workplace, in the food, and in the nature that surrounds us. Depending on where the reaction occurs in the body, the allergy may manifest in different ways – from tearing and redness of the eyes, nasal discharge, wheezing and sneezing, skin rash, to severe and serious diseases that are caused by allergies – asthma, chronic inflammation of the airways, skin diseases, disorders of the food digestion, and so forth. Most people are unaware of the fact that the allergy season never really ends- it lasts all-year-round, regardless of the environment, indoors or outdoors. People are continuously exposed and in contact with various substances in the environment that are potential triggers of allergic reactions – they are equally dangerous for everyone – adults, children, sick or healthy people, etc

There are several types of medication that your physician may recommend for treatment of allergies. As with other illnesses, the first thing is to identify the reason why the allergy occurred.

One of the first steps in treating allergies is to avoid contact with the cause of the allergy. Therefore, it is necessary to determine whether there is one or perhaps several agents that aggravate your condition.

There are many diseases that have the same symptoms as allergies. Therefore, in certain situations, in order to determine what causes those same symptoms and to choose the right treatment, allergy tests are needed. On the other hand, allergies can develop to more than one substance, simultaneously.

PLEASE REMEMBER – only correctly diagnosed disease can be properly treated!

Therefore, it is most important to identify the true cause of your allergic reaction!!!

LATEST IN THE DIAGNOSTICS OF ALLERGIC REACTIONS

How can one find out if he/she is allergic?

•  Immulite 3gAllergy™,
•  Rida qLine Allergy
•  Maxi Allergy Screen

Allergy tests are the best and only way to find out if you are allergic. It is also the only way to determine what is causing your symptoms.

Once the true cause of the allergic reaction is determined, it is easier to prevent future contact with that substance and to relieve the symptoms with proper treatment.

The traditional allergy test, known as skin testing method, is a test where the suspected allergen responsible for the allergic reaction is injected in the body and the body’s response is monitored.

The test consists of multiple skin pricking, usually on the inside of the forearm. The swelling, redness, or itching of the skin actually indicate the test results. Unlike the allergologic skin tests, there is a possibility with only one small puncture and a simple blood draw to determine the cause of the allergy, also the extent to which the reaction has been developed, and even predict a future allergic reaction.

Immulite 3gAllergy™, Rida qLine Allergy and Maxi Allergy Screen – most efficient, most accurate and safest tests to determine what is the cause of your symptoms.

These tests can detect over 700 causes of allergies – here are only a few of them:

Medications – all groups of interest, parasites and bacteria, all food products, spices and additives, substances that are inhaled from the air, including pollen from various trees, grasses and flowers, insects and their toxins.

Advantages of Immulite 3gAllergy™, Rida qLine Allergy и Maxi Allergy Screen

Selection of over 700 allergens

Detecting allergy presence, even when there are no symptoms.

Without any health risk – unlike traditional skin tests, where the cause of your allergy is inserted into the body, with these tests there is no risk of any adverse reaction.

Safety, security and comfort – with only one prick and blood draw, the causes and intensity of the reaction are determined by using powerful software.

No age restriction.

No discontinuation of anti-allergic or any other therapy is necessary for performing the test.

Some interesting facts about allergies:

– Approximately 80 million people in Europe suffer from allergies.

– 25% of them do not know the real reason of their allergic reaction.

– 70% of patients feel limited in their daily tasks, and because of breathing difficulties, 50% of them have sleeping problems.

– Allergy to penicillin is the most common cause of drug allergies.

– In Macedonia, 17.9% of the population have allergy to pollen from grasses.

How can Avicena Laboratory assist you?

Our highly professional medical staff and sophisticated laboratory equipment with over 300 different analyses, offers you a complete laboratory evaluation of your health condition in the shortest possible time.

Through simple blood test, the Immulite 3gAllergy™, Rida qLine Allergy and Maxi Allergy Screen will give you a reliable and accurate answer for everything you wanted to know about allergies, what causes them, as well as assessing your risk of having an allergic reaction.

Allergy panel COMBINED
DERM.Ptеronyssinus
DERM.Farinae
Evla
Birch
Leska
Mixed grasses
Rye (pollen)
Wormwood
Tegavec
Cat
Dog
Horse
Alternaria Alternata
Egg white
Milk
Peanuts
Hazelnut
Carrots
Wheat flour
Soybeans

Allergy panel INHALATORY

DERM.Pteronyssinus
DERM.Farinae
Evla
Birch
Leska
Oak
Mixed grasses
Rye (pollen)
Wormwood
Tegavec (pollen)
Cat
Dog
Horse
Guinea pig
The hamster
Rabbit
PENICILLIUM NOTATUM
CLADOSPORIUM HERBARIUM
ASPERGILLUS FUMIGATUS
ALTERNARIA ALTERNATA

Allergy Panel Nutritive

Hazelnuts
Peanuts
Nuts
Almonds
Milk
Egg white
Egg yolk
Casein
Potatoes
Celery
Carrots
Tomatoes
Cod (fish)
Sea crab
Oranges
Apples
Wheat flour
Rye flour
Sesame seeds
Soybeans

Allergy panel Pediatric

DERM.Pteronyssinus
DERM.Farinae
Birch
Mixed grasses
Cat
Dog
Alternaria Alternata
Milk
α-LACTOALBUMIN
β-LACTOGLOBULIN
Casein
Egg white
Egg yolk
Beef serum albumin
Soybeans
Carrots
Potatoes
Wheat flour
Hazelnuts
Peanuts

Allergy panel 1HVEN (COMBINED), specially created for our region
Cat
Horse
Cow
Dog
Goose (feathers)
Duck (feathers)
Domestic dust
Zlatica (weed)
Ivy
Early pollen from trees
Late pollen from trees
Acacia
Oats, oats
Wheat
Latex
Sunflower
Bee sting
Wasp sting
Cockroach
Formic acid

Allergy panel 3UY (NUTRITIONAL), specially created for our region:
Egg
Milk / milk powder / casein
Wheat / oat / rice / soy flour
Oatmeal
Corn flour
Cocoa
Gluten free
Tomato
Lemon
Orange
Strawberries
Peanuts
Soy protein
Walnuts / hazelnuts / almonds
Beef
Pork meat
Chicken
Sea crab
Shrimps
Tuna / salmon / cod / mussels

VERAgene is the latest generation of non-invasive prenatal test on our market, which was introduced for the first time by our laboratory and is the only test performed by a sample of both parents for possible genetic disorders during pregnancy.
VERAgene screens for aneuploidies, microdeletions and 2000 mutations for 100 monogenetic diseases, making it a comprehensive solution with just one test for expectant parents.

HOW IS VERAgene MADE?
In order to perform the test, a DNA sample from the father is needed by taking a buccal swab, ie a swab from the inside of the cheek and a sample of venous blood from the mother.
Together the DNA sample from the father and the blood sample from the mother are analyzed using the latest generation of technology and bioinformatics analysis.

WHY IS IT SAID THAT VERAGENE HAS SUPERIOR CHARACTERISTICS IN RELATION TO THE OTHER NON-INVASIVE PRENATAL TESTS?
Unlike other non-invasive prenatal tests, now with just one test VERAgene can do a complete screening of the baby’s health from a very early stage of pregnancy. VERAgene has superior features as it is the only test in our market that includes a sample from both parents and is the only test that offers screening for aneuploidies, microdeletions and 2000 mutations for 100 monogenetic diseases. At the same time, VERAgene, unlike other prenatal tests, has no age limit for future parents and has a competitive price.

WHEN CAN I MAKE THE TEST?
The test can be done by any pregnant woman starting from the 10th week. There are no age restrictions for future parents (mother and biological father) to take the test.

WHAT DOES THE TEST DETECT?

1. Aneuploidies – Down syndrome (Trisomy 21), Edwards syndrome (Trisomy 18), Patau syndrome (Trisomy 13).
2. Sex chromosome aneuploidies – Turner syndrome (Monosomy X), Triple X syndrome (Trisomy X), Klinefelter syndrome (XXY), Jacobs syndrome (XYY) and XXYY syndrome.
3. 100 monogenetic diseases – see the list of all diseases on the following link.
4. Microdeletions – DiGeorge syndrome (22q11.2), 1p36 deletion syndrome (1p36), Smith-Magenis syndrome (17p11.2) and Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome (4p16.3).
5. Gender of the baby

WHAT IMPACT DO 100 MONOGENETIC DISEASES DETECTED BY VERAgene ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE?
Monogenetic diseases for which screening is often associated with severe conditions and with a significant impact on quality of life. They are most often manifested by symptoms such as congenital anomalies, developmental delays, hearing loss, blindness, metabolic disorders and many others.
The cumulative risk of the fetus being affected by one of the monogenetic diseases detected by VERAgene is 1 in 50 in moderate to high risk pregnancies.

ARE THERE LIMITATIONS IF IT IS ABOUT GEMINI PREGNANCY OR IVF PREGNANCY?
No. The test is validated and can be done during twin pregnancies as well as for IVF pregnancies.

IS THERE A RISK FOR THE MOTHER AND THE BABY?
No! The test does not pose any risk to the mother or baby. A sample of blood is taken from the mother as for any other routine laboratory analysis.

WHAT IS THE PRICE OF THE TEST?
The price of VERAgene is 37,900 denars.
PROMOTIONAL, during the campaign with every VERAgene made every pregnant woman receives a gift “Pregnancy diary” as well as a Gender reveal balloon.
For more detailed gift information, our VERAgene sampling team will let you know.

IS A SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT NEEDED?
The analysis can be done in all laboratories of Avicenna Laboratory without a previously scheduled appointment.

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE DETAILS OF VERAgene?
For more detailed information about the test, consult your doctor or to talk to our representative, call us on 02 3179 001.