GPs in Australia perform a wide range of medical tests for many and varied conditions.

Most are simple, non-invasive and offer solid information in terms of whether any further examination is advised.

GPs study for around a decade starting with their medical degree before graduating to an internship, residence and vocational training.

During this time, they are exposed to every aspect of medicine as they consider what specialty they wish to pursue.

Hence your GP should be your first port of call for any health condition, screening test or worry you have.

Here is a guide to the medical tests they are qualified to undertake.

Blood tests

Your doctor or a qualified nurse within the clinic can take a blood test which can be used to check any number of areas of concern.

A full blood count can check for anemia or infections and can provide information about things like iron levels, cholesterol, kidney function and pregnancy.

Blood is sent to a laboratory for testing and can also be used to check your:

  • liver
  • thyroid
  • glucose levels (diabetes)
  • electrolytes
  • vitamin deficiencies, especially vitamin D
  • PSA levels (prostate health)

Urine tests

GPs can perform urinalysis which can identify urinary tract infections, sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea, blood glucose levels indicating diabetes, kidney function and pregnancy.

A dipstick test can provide instant results for some conditions and suggest further testing and examination is needed.

Blood pressure

Technically known as a sphygmomanometer, a blood pressure check is one of the most common tests patients have when visiting their GP.

Digital devices have emerged in recent years and reveal valuable information about the functioning of your heart and circulatory system.

High blood pressure is known as the silent killer because of its absence of symptoms.

Electrocardiogram

Also known as an ECG, this test checks the electrical activity of the heart and detects conditions such as arrhythmia, heart attack risk and other heart-related issues.

It may also indicate a previous heart attack and signal the presence of narrowed or blocked arteries.

Spirometry and peak flow meter

This simple medical test diagnoses asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other respiratory disorders by measuring lung function and airflow.

The painless test measures how much air you breathe in and out of your lungs as well as how quickly and easily it is expelled.

Alternatively, your GP may perform a peak flow measurement which is not used to diagnose asthma but offers a guide in terms of your lung function.

Cervical screening test (formerly Pap smear)

Since 2017, the cervical screening test has looked for the presence of an HPV infection in the cervix which can be a pre-cursor of cancer.

The sample is sent to a lab for checking.

You do not need to be tested again for five years.

Skin checks

GPs can check your skin for the early signs of dangerous skin cancers.

They can perform biopsies which are sent to labs for further examination and can remove threatening moles, annoying skin tags and warts with cryotherapy (freeze spray gun).

Vision acuity test

GPs can assess your eyesight with an acuity test that measures the sharpness and clarity of your vision.

It is normally assessed with a familiar Snellen chart which features letters of the alphabet ranging in size from large to small.

Immunisations

GPs are qualified to perform vaccinations for a range of common illnesses.

Talk to your GP about which are recommended for your specific age, health, lifestyle and occupation.

You may also need vaccination against a specific disease if travelling to some parts of the world.

Mental health assessment

While not actually a physical test, your GP can make a mental health assessment based on tools like the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10).

This identifies anxiety, depression and other mental health issues that need addressing.

Book an appointment

GPs are extremely well rounded doctors, qualified to perform many medical tests which identify or dismiss areas of concern regarding a wide range of health issues.

They may also refer you to medical imaging clinics for any number of tests including X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, CT scans and mammograms.

If you have an ache or pain that is of concern, you really should get it checked out.

Even if you feel a complete picture of health, an annual check-up is recommended for adults.

Those visits should become even more frequent in later years.

At AHA Clinics, professional, friendly GPs boast many areas of special interest in medicine and diverse talents that include:

  • weight loss
  • genetic testing
  • dermatology
  • menopause
  • neurology
  • arthritic joint injection

And that’s just to name a few!

Whatever your health issue or concern, we’ve got you covered at AHA Clinics.

Book an appointment here today at either our Seaford Road Day and Night Clinic or our Seaford Meadows Day and Night Clinic.