A clear diagnosis of the disease facilitates its treatment and guarantees a quick recovery. One of the methods that helps to establish it is the use of sediment samples, which include the thymol test. Her readings are based on disturbances in the ratio of proteins, which show changes in blood serum proteins.

If they are normal, they demonstrate high stability; if the ratio of globulins and albumins is disturbed, their stability becomes worse, and with the introduction of the thymol reagent, proteins may precipitate.

Most often, a thymol test is prescribed for suspected liver pathology; it is used as a supplement to tests for enzymes and bilirubin. The thymol test is also known by other names: Maclagan's test, thymoloveronal test or thymol turbidity test.

It is quite popular among other biochemical tests, as it helps to identify the problem at the very beginning of diseases such as hepatitis A, especially in children, although other studies may show the norm.

In addition, such a test is invaluable due to the fact that liver diseases are quite difficult to diagnose, and if its norm is exceeded, this will indicate the presence of a problem in the body.

The technique is used not only to detect liver diseases, but also to determine abnormalities in the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys and heart.

Among the main advantages of the thymol test are::

  • Accuracy of Problem Determination. Some even modern methods do not show deviations, and the McLagan test detects them even in the early stages, which ensures the elimination of the disease without possible complications.
  • Survey speed. In the case of examination using a thymol test, there is no need to use special devices; it is enough that a magnetic stirrer is installed in the laboratory fume drawer. These attributes are available in a variety of clinics; examination results are obtained almost immediately, depending on the workload of health workers and the device for reading the result - an electrospectrophotometer.
  • Cost of analysis. Compared to other methods, it is low, since the sample does not require the use of expensive reagents and equipment.
  • Possibility of its use to monitor the effectiveness of prescribed therapy.

Why does the thymol test increase?

Its indicator is influenced by several factors; even taking hormonal drugs can lead to an increase in its norm, and after their withdrawal it will recover on its own.

The following diseases may affect changes in sample parameters::

In some cases, when the Maclagan test is elevated, the reasons for this may not be illness, but an excessive passion for fatty foods, which leads to increased cholesterol. And it, in turn, provokes the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, which will cause atherosclerosis.

In the absence of any manifestations of the disease, an increased thymol test will indicate the need to adhere to a diet.

Interpretation of the thymol test

A person himself can determine his condition using this analysis if he knows the boundaries of the main indicators, and they are measured in Maclagan units or S-H units.

The norm for this test ranges from 0 to 4 S-H units; in some medical laboratories, 5 units are allowed when deciphering the analysis.


If the value exceeds the specified parameters, this indicates that there is not enough protein in the blood serum. This is fraught with the presence of pathologies of the liver, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract.

Boundary limits for men and women are assumed to be the same. Since in a healthy body the stability of globulins is ensured by a sufficient concentration of albumins. But each individual case may have its own nuances in deciphering it, so if a young girl is healthy but takes oral contraceptives, then her test may be increased.

Confirmation of albumin deficiency may require other tests to accurately determine total albumin and protein concentrations. After electrophoresis, for example, the exact albumin-globulin ratio is determined.

The need to conduct several tests is explained by the interconnection of all processes in the body.

Before taking the McLagan test, you need to prepare, eliminate fatty foods the day before, and donate blood on an empty stomach the next morning.

A child's test values ​​are the same as those of adults, but in them it is possible to accurately identify the initial stage of hepatitis A, even before the appearance of external signs - jaundice, which helps to quickly cure the baby without serious consequences for his developing organs.

To present the general picture of the disease and understand how to treat a patient in case of a positive result of the thymol method, the doctor must prescribe other biochemical tests: for the presence of urobilinogen in the urine, the level of bilirubin in women in the blood, as well as in other categories of people, the level of alkaline phosphatase and other tests (sublimate or formol).

Diagnostics with thymol test

A blood test for the thymol test has been used for a long time; it is convenient to use for doctors who have any doubts about making the correct diagnosis. It is not used as the main diagnostic method, only in case of a controversial situation.

The accuracy of the test will depend on the patient's preparation. He should expect that the diagnosis will take place on an empty stomach in the morning. After 20:00 in the evening you can no longer eat food, and if you drink, then only water and in moderation.


The analysis is taken from a vein in an amount of 0.1 ml, then in the laboratory 6 ml of a highly concentrated solution of thymol with an acidity reaching 7.8 is added to it. After half an hour, the reagent is examined for the degree of turbidity and coagulation using the photocolorimetric method.

The sample results may be affected by the purity of thymol and the acidity of the reagent. If it is carried out in trusted medical centers, for example, Invitro, then the accuracy of the Maclagan units will be high.

In a healthy person, when reagents are introduced into his blood, proteins will not precipitate under the influence of the reagent, but if this happens, then this clearly indicates abnormalities in the body, so the degree of turbidity of the sample is also determined.

As a result of the fusion of blood with the thymol reagent, a complex complex is obtained, consisting of several components:

  • 32% thymol;
  • 10% phospholipids;
  • 40% globulins;
  • 18% cholesterol.

In the case when a person has been diagnosed and treated, after prescribing a thymol test, the doctor checks the correctness of the medications he has chosen and the possibility of reducing their dosage or replacing them with cheaper analogues.


The technique is considered to be quite highly sensitive and in most cases gives 100% results. Despite the fact that there are many other modern analyzes, this sample has no analogues yet, and therefore is used everywhere. Regardless of the patient's age, the same amount of blood is taken from everyone.

This test helps identify many diseases, but most often it is used when liver dysfunction is suspected.

Today, pregnant women are required to take a thymol test, and its lower limit is taken to be 0.5 units.

Very often it is used to exclude or confirm lupus erythematosus, hepatitis or drug poisoning. Hepatitis can be either viral or infectious. The test helps to identify liver inflammation in people who abuse alcohol, and after treatment, it is used to monitor the process of restoration of tissues and cells of this organ.

It is also advisable to use it for symptoms that are characteristic of the following diseases:

A thymol test can be taken from newborns if the baby has “jaundice”, as well as nausea and vomiting, often accompanied by restlessness of the child. Sometimes, thanks to it, infants are diagnosed with hepatitis E and A, which are treated at an early age almost without leaving a trace.

What will help reduce the thymol test?

If such a deviation is observed in women’s blood, along with men and children, then the treating specialist will refer them for additional examination of organs, presumably the gastrointestinal tract, liver or kidneys. The symptoms accompanying the disease help him decide.

After which certain medications are prescribed and a course of treatment for the underlying disease is established, after the patient’s condition normalizes, the control thymol test will show a negative result.

It will not be possible to restore it using folk remedies, unless you adhere to a certain diet and exclude fatty foods from your diet.

What is a thymol test and what affects its increase is described above. Before carrying out it, it is necessary to prepare, and after receiving the results, it is necessary to take into account the age characteristics of the person and the concentration of gamma and alpha globulins in his body. After identifying a positive result, it is necessary to undergo additional tests and undergo treatment.

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The thymol test is the precipitation of plasma proteins when thymol and veronal are added to them. The test shows whether there are changes in the properties of albumins and globulins that are formed in the liver. Used for early diagnosis of latent hepatitis. Read more about the advantages of the method, the reasons for increased results and the treatment of deviations in this article.

Blood proteins regulate blood acidity, its oncotic pressure, immune reactions, form cholesterol and bilirubin transport complexes, transport iron ions, a number of hormones, and medications. Albumin and partially globulins are synthesized by the liver. If its functions are impaired, then the following changes:

  • ratio of protein fractions (albumin decreases);
  • the configuration of the molecule, its mass and charge;
  • resistance to settling (colloidal stability).

As a result, proteins combine into complexes and precipitate. This loss of stability of the protein part of the blood is the basis of the thymol test. It is not specific, as it becomes positive in many liver lesions.

The sample is not used often because there are more modern methods studies of liver cell function (ALT, AST, bilirubin, prothrombin index). Nevertheless, the McLagan test can help in differential diagnosis and assessment of the severity of hepatitis damage and the effectiveness of therapy.

Indications for determination

  • increase in temperature;
  • sore throat;
  • slight cough;
  • headache;
  • general weakness;
  • muscle and joint pain;
  • nausea, vomiting;
  • bloating, feeling of heaviness in the abdomen;
  • unpleasant or bitter taste in the mouth.

The study is indicated for patients without clinical manifestations, if identified:

  • contact with a patient with viral hepatitis;
  • autoimmune diseases (dermatomyositis, lupus, scleroderma);
  • alcoholism;
  • cytomegalovirus or herpes infection;
  • undiagnosed liver disease in the past (shows changes over a year after viral hepatitis);
  • working with toxic and chemical substances;
  • malaria, tuberculosis;
  • signs of changes in the structure of the liver on ultrasound;
  • long-term chemotherapy.

Advantages of the method

An important advantage of the thymoloveronal test is its high sensitivity. It helps to make a diagnosis even before the appearance of the main symptom of hepatitis - jaundice.

The McLagan test responds to liver damage earlier than others. This makes it possible to identify the disease initial stage, prescribe therapy and prevent the destruction of liver tissue and the spread of viral infection.

The thymol test is also used to distinguish between mechanical blockage of the bile ducts and liver damage. In both cases, the symptoms are similar, but jaundice when obstructing the flow of bile rarely gives a positive result.

The analysis is also carried out to monitor the effect of treatment. It can be prescribed repeatedly, since the thymol test does not require lengthy preparation or financial costs. There are no contraindications for its use.

Watch the video about AST and ALT blood tests:

Sample preparation and conduction

During the day, you need to completely eliminate fatty foods, fried and spicy foods, and alcohol from your diet. Needed in the evening light dinner, and then a break of at least 8 - 10 hours from eating. On the morning of the test, you can drink only clean drinking water. Juice, tea or coffee, and carbonated drinks can skew the results. Blood for analysis is given only in the morning on an empty stomach.

A vein puncture (ulnar, hand) is performed in the manipulation room. About 5 ml of blood is drawn into a sterile tube, then labeled and sent to the laboratory for testing. No anticoagulant is required. After separating the serum, it is mixed with veronal buffer and concentrated thymol. The result is assessed after half an hour.

With intense turbidity of the solution, the formation of globulin + thymol + lipids complexes occurs. After this, the laboratory technician compares the degree of change in the transparency of the material with the calibration graph (photocolorimetric method). With a decrease in albumin and an increase in globulins and lipoproteins, the thymol test becomes positive.

When a patient is referred for urgent diagnostics, the result can be obtained within an hour. If a routine examination is carried out, the answer is issued on the same day or the next.

Normal for women, men, children

Measurement results are given in Maclagan units - from 0 to 5 units. M. In the range of up to 4 units, the thymol test is considered negative. This norm is not differentiated by gender or age. The test is positive at 5 units. M (sometimes the designation in ED S-H is used).

When assessing the data obtained, it is necessary to take into account that the diagnostic results can change:

  • fatty foods on the eve of the test;
  • recent use of drugs with toxic effects - antibiotics, antifungals, chemotherapy;
  • hormonal contraception, estrogen replacement therapy.

Reasons for the increase

The greatest diagnostic value of the thymol test is manifested in identifying an acute form of viral hepatitis. A positive result is recognized as a marker of this disease.

The McLagan test is the first to respond to the multiplication of the virus in the liver, during a period when there is no jaundice, changes in other liver tests, and an increase in bilirubin concentration.

A violation of the protein composition of the blood caused by other reasons also leads to a positive test result. This is due to the fact that the liver reacts to inflammation and tissue destruction of any location. In the presence of such processes in the body, the relative content of albumin decreases, since globulins for the immune response begin to be intensively synthesized.

The loss of albumin in the urine in kidney disease can change the ratio of blood proteins. Thymol test is at the level of 3 - 4 units. M and with an increase in the level of lipoproteins in the blood. Diseases associated with an elevated Maclagan test include:

  • cirrhosis;
  • toxic (including medicinal), infectious, autoimmune hepatitis;
  • viral infections, including HIV;
  • neoplasms in the liver or beyond with metastases;
  • chronic alcoholism (especially when consuming surrogate drinks);
  • fatty liver degeneration (steatosis);
  • glomerulonephritis, nephrotic syndrome;
  • acute pancreatitis, enterocolitis;
  • hereditary disorders of the ratio of protein fractions (dysproteinemia);
  • multiple myeloma;
  • malaria, typhoid fever, mononucleosis;
  • autoimmune diseases.

Treatment of abnormalities

Even a slight increase in the test result is an indication for examining the liver, conducting virological tests for hepatitis, and ultrasound of organs abdominal cavity, and sometimes a needle biopsy of the liver is needed.

Treatment is prescribed taking into account the cause of liver dysfunction. To restore it you need:

  • restriction of physical activity during exacerbation;
  • minimum amount of medications;
  • exclusion of alcohol, fatty and fried foods;
  • sharp limitation of canned food, smoking, marinades, hot sauces, spices and strong coffee, tea;
  • ensure the supply of proteins from lean meat, dairy and fish products;
  • include boiled vegetables and non-acidic fruits in the menu.

To protect liver cells, a group of drugs called hepatoprotectors is used. These drugs prevent the destruction of hepatocyte membranes and accelerate the processes of restoration of albumin synthesis. They are usually prescribed in courses of 2-3 months at least twice a year. The most effective are Essentiale Forte N, Heptral, Glutargin, Hepa-merz, Gepadif.

For viral hepatitis, interferon is administered intramuscularly or intravenously in combination with antiviral drugs (ribavirin), and new long-acting interferons (pegylated) are also used - Pegasys, Algeron. If hepatitis is caused by an autoimmune process, then hormonal therapy is indicated.

The thymol test is highly sensitive to liver destruction, especially with viral hepatitis A. It helps to identify it at the preclinical stage. A positive result also occurs in infectious, autoimmune, and tumor processes in the body. It is fast and recommended for monitoring treatment. If there is a deviation from the norm, additional examination and mandatory treatment and diet are indicated.

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  • To understand what kind of analysis this is, you need to understand its essence. The main part of the proteins in the blood is formed in the liver elements. They are responsible for many variable tasks:

    • active participation in the regulation of blood clotting;
    • maintaining oncotic pressure and ensuring the volume of the main body fluid;
    • maintaining blood pH;
    • transportation to tissues of certain categories of elements (for example, cholesterol).

    Blood serum has a varied composition. However, only 5 protein fractions are considered important components. These are various globulins.

    Under the influence of certain factors, their number may decrease or increase. For example, against the background of liver dysfunction or poor nutrition, the number of albumins decreases sharply. An increase in globulins occurs in pathologies of connective tissue, infectious processes of various etiologies, and some oncological diseases.

    The thymol test is usually understood as a special biochemical study. It allows you to obtain information about the liver’s ability to carry out complete synthesis of protein fractions.

    The analysis helps to assess serious disturbances in the functioning of the body even before the initial signs of any illness appear.


    The principle of laboratory research is reduced to the precipitation of whey proteins. If cloudiness of the substance is observed, the test result is said to be positive. Degree of change appearance material is determined by the photocolorimetric method, and is expressed in the so-called Maclagan units (units M.).

    The physicochemical characteristics of this analysis remain poorly understood. However, scientists claim that when carrying out the reaction, complex complexes of phospholipids and globulins, thymol, and cholesterol are possible.

    How to donate blood correctly

    It is recommended to carry out a blood test in the morning. Approximately 8 hours before the intended procedure, it is better to follow a fasting diet. You are allowed to drink only regular still water. You should not drink strong coffee or tea or juices in large quantities.

    Advantages of thymol test

    When it comes to the liver, every person understands the importance of this organ. Without its help, it is impossible to imagine the full functioning of the body. Therefore, it is so important to periodically undergo preventive examinations and blood tests. It is the thymol test that is most often the main indicator of the quality of liver functioning.

    Other advantages of this analysis include the following:

    • does not require the use of expensive or complex equipment, material costs are insignificant;
    • characterized by simplicity of execution;
    • allows you to identify many ailments at an early stage, avoid complications and even death;
    • can be used as a kind of indicator of ongoing therapy.

    Standard indicators

    The initial decoding of the sample is quite simple:

    1. If the analysis column contains 0-5 units, it should be considered negative. Such indicators indicate that there are no serious violations in the composition of the serum.
    2. When the result is more than 5 units, the test is considered positive. The norm is the same for men, women and children.

    Decoding test results

    As a rule, deciphering a sample does not cause any particular difficulties for qualified physicians. If the protein component of the serum is not accompanied by any serious changes, the result is said to be negative. In this case, the sample indicator should be less than 5 units.

    A positive answer often indicates developing hepatitis. It is noteworthy that through this analysis it is possible to diagnose this serious illness even before its primary manifestations occur. A positive test is also possible when bilirubin and aminotransferases remain within the normal range.


    The thymol test norm in children may be exceeded if they were previously diagnosed with hepatitis A. Group B pathology is rarely accompanied by an increase in the indicator relative to the norms accepted in medicine.

    A positive test sometimes indicates that the young patient has already had hepatitis before. In this case, the test is considered a kind of beacon of the dynamics of normalization of liver function.

    If obstructive jaundice progresses in an adult, the responses to the thymol test are most often negative. However, if complications occur in the form of parenchymal inflammation, the results may change.

    Despite the possible errors, the thymol test is even today considered one of the most informative studies. You have to resort to his help quite often. The whole point is that it allows initial stages diagnose liver disorders and select appropriate therapy.

    Exceeding standard indicators

    An increase in indicators usually indicates developed dysproteinemia. This condition is characterized by a change in the structure of the serum at the protein level. This affects its quality characteristics. These elements are expressed in 5 factions. Each of them differs in both chemical and physical properties.

    Albumin belongs to the category of the lightest fraction. It is characterized by the ability to maintain a stable state of the so-called colloid blood system. Globulins are slightly larger in mass and tend to precipitate.

    A change in equilibrium in the colloidal system and the tendency of proteins toward inevitable coagulation can be caused by such disorders as:

    1. Reduction in the number of albumins.
    2. Increased concentration of alpha globulins.
    3. The presence of paraglobulins in the blood (they should be absent in a healthy person).

    The listed pathologies can be identified precisely through the thymol test. The primary organ in which increased protein production usually occurs is the liver.

    If there are significant malfunctions in its functioning, a change in blood characteristics is observed, and the thymol test shows an excess of certain parameters.

    On the other hand, a positive test response is possible with extensive skin burns. Exceeding the globulin fraction is also diagnosed in infectious processes, autoimmune disorders and rheumatoid disorders.

    Probable diseases

    Several years ago, the main reasons for an increase in thymol test were considered solely from the point of view of liver dysfunction. Today, the opinions of scientists have changed dramatically. Now experts identify a number of diseases, the development of which accompanies the state of dysproteinemia.

    Among them, the following are especially worth noting:

    1. Kidney dysfunction, characterized by loss of albumin protein through urine.
    2. Liver pathologies that manifest themselves as cirrhosis, hepatitis or neoplasms.
    3. Systemic rheumatoid diseases.
    4. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract system.
    5. The presence of neoplasms of malignant etiology.

    The thymol test is sometimes elevated due to poor nutrition. As a rule, this problem is diagnosed in women. Abuse of excessively fatty foods can lead to changes in indicators. This is why it is important to consider other blood testing options during a diagnostic examination.

    Common diseases of young patients

    If a child’s thymol test is elevated, what does this mean? As a rule, such a result indicates the development of liver problems.

    Today, young patients are most often diagnosed with the following diseases liver:

    • Jaundice of newborns. It appears within a few hours after the baby is born. This pathology is characterized by staining of the skin yellow. Its development is due to the fact that by the time of birth the child’s liver has not yet fully formed. Therefore, she is not yet ready to perform all functions. Doctors call bilirubin among the main causes of the disease. It is formed against the background of the destruction of old red blood cells. If this pigment begins to accumulate in the baby’s body, the skin acquires the corresponding color. If the disease is diagnosed in a timely manner, it can be eliminated without serious consequences within 7-10 days.
    • Hepatitis groups A and E. Diseases of these types in young patients cause persistent disturbances in the functioning of the main systems of internal organs.

    What are the signs to suspect a problem:

    1. First of all, the child begins to feel sick. Sometimes vomiting does not stop for several hours.
    2. Then painful sensations appear in the liver area.
    3. Feces are colored white, and the urine becomes darker.

    If these symptoms appear, you should immediately seek medical help.

    After a comprehensive examination, the doctor will be able to make the correct diagnosis. Only after this is treatment prescribed. Treatment of various forms of hepatitis is carried out exclusively at home.

    It is extremely important to isolate a sick child from his peers. The main sign of recovery is a good blood test and absence of pain.

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    Advantages of thymol test

    Usually the thymol test is in addition to bilirubin and enzymes(transaminases - AlT, AST, alkaline phosphatase) if damage to an organ is suspected, characterized by the variety of biochemical reactions occurring in it.


    sure, we're talking about about the liver, on the normal functioning of which the implementation of basic life processes in all cells of a living organism largely depends. And what’s interesting is that these indicators may not yet particularly respond to pathological changes and therefore may not exceed or slightly exceed the levels of normal values, and the thymol test will already clearly “creep” upward.

    In addition to identifying liver abnormalities, the thymol test, the norm of which is from 0 to 4 S-H units, in other cases helps in diagnosing pathological conditions of the heart, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys and other organs.

    The main advantages of the thymol test are that it:

    • Does not require special time and material costs, or the use of complex equipment (reagents are prepared on a magnetic stirrer in a fume hood);
    • It is easy to perform (the result is read using an electrospectrophotometer, which is available in any laboratory);
    • Makes it possible to start treatment in the early stages of the disease and thus helps to avoid unwanted complications caused by a prolonged inflammatory process;
    • Can be used as a good indicator of the effectiveness of therapeutic measures aimed at restoring the functional abilities of the liver tissue.

    That is why, despite the wide variety of new laboratory tests, in some cases the thymol turbidity test remains among the main tests that identify pathological conditions of the liver.

    Violation in the protein ratio is the basis of the thymol test

    In cases of damage to the liver parenchyma a decrease in the albumin fraction contributes to easier precipitation of the globulin fraction. Changes in the physicochemical properties of blood plasma proteins in various liver diseases are the basis for diagnostic sediment reactions, for example, the thymol test and the Veltman test.

    The thymol test, having a fairly high sensitivity, gives a positive result (up to 100%) in acute hepatitis, but its special value lies in the fact that a positive reaction is detected even in the pre-icteric period, as well as in anicteric forms of the disease (for example, in cases of hepatitis C , which is characterized by an easy opening).

    Thus, the main characteristics of the test being studied can be presented as follows:

    • Thymol test values ​​are expressed in Shank-Hoaland thymol turbidity units (S-H units) or Maclagan units (M units);
    • Normal values ​​for thymol test results are in the range of 0 – 4 S-H units (some laboratories give the norm up to 5 S-H units);
    • The norm of thymol test indicators in women and men does not differ - in a healthy body albumins, being in normal concentrations, provide globulin stability, therefore, the studied indicator, regardless of gender, will not exceed the normal limit.

    Meanwhile, in women who are young and healthy, but who use oral contraceptives, the thymol test can still be elevated. This is because these drugs affect the functional abilities of the liver, as a result of which the ratio of serum proteins changes, and, therefore, the values ​​of this coagulation test increase.

    In children, the values ​​of normal indicators also range from 0 to 4 units S-H, however, with hepatitis A, which is more often “caught” junior schoolchildren and adolescents, the thymol test is elevated already at the initial stage of the disease, when even the slightest signs of jaundice are absent.

    When results improve

    In various liver diseases, attention is always drawn to a decrease in the albumin fraction, which is associated with a violation of their synthesis, and an increase in the gamma and beta globulin fractions. This occurs because albumin is synthesized directly in liver cells, and the affected parenchyma is not able to provide normal levels of albumin. The simultaneous increase in globulin fractions (with a decrease in albumin concentration) is explained by the fact that other components - cells included in the tissue macrophage system - are predominantly responsible for the production of these proteins.



    The main reasons causing an elevated thymol test are liver diseases accompanied by damage to its parenchyma:

    1. Infectious and viral hepatitis;
    2. Neoplasms localized in the liver;
    3. Damage to the liver parenchyma by alcohol and, especially, its surrogates;
    4. Toxic effects of various poisons, heavy metals and some drugs;
    5. Cirrhosis;
    6. Fatty degeneration of liver tissue (fatty hepatosis) – accumulation of fat in hepatocytes (liver cells);
    7. Functional disorders caused by long-term use of oral contraceptives and other hormonal drugs.

    However, regarding the liver, it should be noted that obstructive jaundice, although frightening with its external manifestations, does not itself expand the boundaries of thymol turbidity. This test will be increased only if liver tissue is involved in the pathological process and parenchymal hepatitis develops.

    Other causes of elevated thymol test:

    • Severe kidney pathology (amyloidosis, pyelo- or glomerulonephritis), in which it is constantly excreted in the urine large number squirrel;
    • Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (pancreatitis, enteritis with severe diarrhea);
    • Tumor processes of benign and malignant nature of various localizations;
    • Pathological conditions caused by viral infection;
    • Hereditary dysproteinemia (violation of the ratio of serum proteins);
    • Myeloma;
    • Systemic diseases (SLE - systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid polyarthritis, dermatomyositis);
    • Septic endocarditis (with rheumatism, the test is not elevated, it remains within normal limits);
    • Malaria.

    The thymol test can be elevated even in the absence of illness - for example, if a person is overly fond of fatty foods. In this case, prosperity will also not last indefinitely. Another problem will arise - increased cholesterol, a change in the lipid spectrum... Low-density lipoproteins accumulated in the blood will begin to be deposited on the walls of blood vessels, forming atherosclerotic plaques, which, in turn, will give rise to a pathological process such as atherosclerosis. That is, a constantly elevated thymol test and the absence of clinical manifestations of the disease indicate that an urgent need to change the diet.

    Let's try to decipher it ourselves

    Decoding the analysis is simple and accessible even to the patient himself: all you need to know is that the laboratory accepts 4 or 5 S-H units as the upper limit of normal. And the range of diseases accompanied by an increased thymol test is not so wide.

    When deciphering the analysis, you should not judge the quantitative ratio of proteins on your own. One can only assume that for some reason less albumin is synthesized. In order to find out these indicators in digital terms, other studies should be carried out: determine the concentration of total protein and albumin, isolate protein fractions using electrophoresis, calculate the albumin-globulin coefficient... And if the doctor considers it necessary, these reactions will be performed, and the reader only has to understand that a diagnosis cannot be established based on one nonspecific analysis. In the body, all biochemical processes are interconnected, and the same is true in the laboratory: one test involves the parallel conduct of other studies.

    And the last thing: so that decoding does not cause difficulties and anxiety, it is necessary (as always) to properly prepare for the study. And everything is as simple as always: blood is taken from a vein on an empty stomach, and during dinner the day before, fatty foods are excluded.

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    What does elevated sample mean?

    The main reasons that cause an increase in the thymol test are liver diseases accompanied by damage to its parenchymal tissue:

    • hepatitis of an infectious or viral nature;
    • malignant or benign formations located in the liver;
    • damage to parenchymal tissue by alcoholic beverages;
    • negative effects of toxic substances;

    • cirrhosis;
    • pyelonephritis and other diseases accompanied by loss of albumin;
    • genetically determined protein synthesis disorders;
    • gastrointestinal diseases;
    • rheumatoid pathologies;
    • accumulation of fat in liver cells;
    • failure of the liver, which is caused by taking hormonal drugs or oral contraception.

    You should know that jaundice does not affect the thymol test in any way. It will be increased only when liver tissue is involved in the process of liver dysfunction and hepatitis develops.

    Previously, in medicine it was believed that a positive result of the thymol test only indicated liver damage. It has now been established that there are other pathogenic conditions in which dysproteinemia occurs.

    Thymol test

    So, a normal analysis is usually supplemented by the study of bilirubin and enzymes if there is any suspicion of organ malfunction. Unlike other diagnostic methods, the thymol test is able to clearly determine the level of normal values.

    First of all, the advantages of this test are as follows:

    1. A blood test for the thymol test is inexpensive, as it does not require special costs with instruments.
    2. Quite quickly and easily determined using special equipment.
    3. This study makes it possible to begin treatment of the disease at the development stage, which helps to avoid many complications. They occur quite often during the development of the inflammatory process.
    4. Used as a determinant in liver restoration.

    These conditions show that the thymol test is very effective, although it was discovered by scientists quite a long time ago.

    Carrying out

    For the thymol test to be most accurate, blood should be taken in the morning before meals. It is recommended to fast for 8 hours or more before the test. During these hours, you are allowed to drink only purified water, but not other liquids.

    The patient’s blood serum is added to the buffer solution, as well as a solution of a substance called “thymol”. The mixture is left for half an hour and the degree of cloudiness of the solution is determined using the photocolorimetric method. The presence of turbidity depends on the state of the medium in which the reaction was carried out and on the degree of stability of the protein formations.

    Reaction conditions include:

    • behavior of the buffer solution;
    • acidity;
    • temperature of thymol solution;
    • purity of the solution.

    Decoding

    You need to know that the thymol test can only confirm or refute the presence of any disorders of the proteins that make up the plasma.

    Interpreting the sample is quite simple: with a normal protein composition of the blood serum, this analysis shows negative results and is limited to less than 5 units.

    There are several diseases for which the thymol test is the main diagnostic tool. Most often, such a biochemical study is required to determine hepatitis at an early stage, since at this stage jaundice does not yet appear, and the level of bilirubin and aminotransferase is within the acceptable range.

    An essential feature of the thymol test is the determination of hepatitis in children: with hepatitis A it is always positive, but with the B form of hepatitis it is within normal limits. A positive thymol test allows us to judge that hepatitis has already occurred in a given organism, and then we can make predictions about liver repair. Therefore, the diagnosis should be clarified by performing additional serological tests.

    In adults with obstructive jaundice, the test results are negative. The analysis shows a positive result if the pathology is complicated by inflammation of the liver parenchyma.

    The interpretation of the sample in this study should depend on the following factors:

    • age;
    • weight;
    • content of certain globulins;
    • time of implementation (in the morning before eating food in a specialized vacuum system that does not contain coagulants);
    • It should also be taken into account that drugs with hepatotoxic effects can affect the result of the study (the normal level of thymol test in the blood in women may vary when taking contraceptives).

    You need to know that the thymol test continues to be used along with modern diagnostic methods. This is due to the high ability to detect diseases of the liver and other organs.

    Protein ratio imbalance

    Damage to the liver parenchyma reduces the content of albumin and increases the amount of globulins. The physicochemical aspects of blood proteins can only fluctuate when exposed to pathogenic processes, and this is widely used in all kinds of diagnostic tests.

    The most important feature of this study is the positive result for hepatitis before the onset of jaundice, as well as for other forms of hepatitis.

    The main components of this analysis are as follows:

    • the indicator is expressed in units and determines the degree of turbidity;
    • normalized analysis indicators are defined from 0 to 4 units (sometimes up to 5);
    • female and male study indicators are no different from each other: albumins should support globulins. That is why the thymol test and its studied norm do not fluctuate depending on gender; in women it coincides with men.

    In young children, in normal condition, the indicator ranges from 0 to 4 units. With hepatitis A, the test rises above 5 units and indicates the presence of the disease.

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    Thymol test: the essence of the method

    This is a sedimentary reaction, which is designed to identify a violation of the protein-synthesizing function of the liver. It is sensitive to disturbances in the relationship or balance between the globulin fraction and albumin.

    In most liver diseases, which are accompanied by a decrease in the ability to synthesize protein structures, the thymol test is increased. But there are other reasons that may affect the results of the study:

    • protein-losing nephrotic syndrome;
    • systemic diseases;
    • autoimmune pathology;
    • connective tissue diseases.

    Only an adequate comprehensive approach to the problem will allow an adequate assessment of the test results and the situation as a whole.

    How is the analysis carried out?

    First of all, the patient should be explained the essence of the procedure and its purpose. The thymol test, like other sedimentary methods, is used to assess the protein-synthesizing function of the liver. In liver failure, this ability of hepatocytes is lost to varying degrees.

    The patient comes to the laboratory on an empty stomach in the morning, where venous blood is collected. It is important that he does not eat food 6-8 hours before the test. Avoid drinking alcohol several days before the test and using caffeine-containing drinks.

    The blood serum of the subject is added to a special solution with known acidity (hydrogen value is 7.8). The volume of thymol is 5-7 ml. It is dissolved in the veronal buffer system. Thymol is not an acid, but is a member of a group of cyclic compounds called phenols. When binding to globulins (their excess), cholesterol, phospholipids under conditions of known acidity, the test solution becomes cloudy. The degree of turbidity is assessed using the colorimetric or nephelometric method. It is compared with the turbidity of a barium sulfate solution, taken as unity. When the results of the thymol test are assessed, the normal values ​​vary from 0 to 5 units.

    Interpretation of results

    The test results in the conclusion of the laboratory doctors are as follows: the sample is positive or the sample is negative. Sometimes an indication of the degree of increase is possible. Expressed in the number of “crosses” or units (with a norm of 0 to 5).

    The thymol test is elevated in liver diseases associated with an inflammatory component. These are viral and toxic hepatitis, cholestatic organ damage. Usually, in the case of acute damage to hepatocytes due to the cytopathic (cell-destroying) effect of viruses, the test is sharply positive. If chronic hepatitis occurs, the results of the thymol test may be within normal limits or slightly elevated.

    Fibrosis and cirrhosis may also increase the likelihood of a positive sediment test. Liver damage from toxic products, medicines also reduces its protein-synthesizing function due to cell necrosis. Albumin synthesis decreases, while globulin fractions appear in high concentrations (relative to albumin).

    Other conditions causing a positive result

    The reasons for the decrease in albumin levels compared to globulins are not only liver pathology. There are a number of diseases and conditions that can cause these study results.

    First, nephrotic syndrome should be excluded. It is caused by diabetic, uremic nephropathy, and various options glomerulonephritis. Urine and blood tests with an assessment of the biochemical profile confirm the guesses.

    The next group of causes are autoimmune diseases and connective tissue diseases. Systemic lupus erythematosus (as well as lupus nephritis), scleroderma, Sjögren's syndrome, and polymyalgia are excluded. To do this, the doctor prescribes tests for immunological markers.

    Often a positive result is observed with malignant tumors. This occurs in the so-called paraneoplastic syndrome.

    Disadvantages of the method

    The advantage of the analysis is that it is very sensitive. At the same time, performing a thymol test is relatively inexpensive. But there are disadvantages.

    They are associated with low specificity. That is, if the study result is positive, it is impossible to talk about any specific pathology. The groups of reasons causing an increase in the colorimetric characteristics of the solution are listed above. It is worth noting that the list is quite impressive.

    Sediment tests are more used to confirm the fact of impaired liver function. In addition to thymol, a sublimate test is used. Its principle is based on the phenomenon of flocculation. The reagent is mercuric chloride salt - sublimate. If there is an excess of blood serum globulins, flakes are visible in the test tube - a sediment. The test is considered positive. But she cannot talk about any specific disease, just like thymol.

    When examining a patient, it is important for the doctor to understand the meaning of prescribing tests. When a positive thymol test is detected, it becomes clear that there is most likely a liver dysfunction. But at the same time, other pathologies can manifest themselves this way. This is a reason to think about it and draw up an adequate plan for further diagnostics.

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    What is it

    The thymol test is considered a highly specialized blood test. Its second name is Maclagan's test. With its help, the condition of the liver is assessed, or rather its ability to produce blood plasma protein. In addition, the doctor, based on the sample, evaluates protein fraction ratio, which makes it possible to identify some diseases and even predict them before noticeable symptoms appear.

    The blood proteins themselves are divided into two general groups, which also have their own subsections:

    • globulins;
    • albumins.

    With the help of the above proteins, the acid-base balance of the blood plasma is regulated, the rate of coagulation changes, the required volume is maintained, as well as the transport of drug components and other compounds.

    The sample is studied based on the rate of protein sedimentation. For this reason, it is classified as coagulation biochemical studies. A test is carried out when adding special solution to the resulting serum. As a result, a chemical reaction is observed.

    The thymol test is considered an outdated type of test, but is still used in some laboratories. It is prescribed mainly when it is necessary to identify:

    • hepatitis type A;
    • drug intoxication;
    • lupus erythematosus;
    • other diseases.

    Normal for women

    Normal test results depend on the correctness of the tests. This must be done on an empty stomach in the morning, but you are allowed to drink water before the test. When applying the study against the background drug therapy, before the test, you should notify your doctor about the use of medications so that he can make an adjustment for distortion of the results.

    In women, the normal thymol test is up to 5 units M. However, with dysproteinemia and taking oral contraceptives, the norm increases. If the indicator is elevated outside of these conditions, then there is a high probability of liver failure. The test itself allows you to identify the stability of proteins, and depending on the indicators, health problems are identified.

    An increase in the indicator may not be diagnosed with obstructive jaundice, only when the disease progresses to a more serious stage and when inflammation develops can the problem be diagnosed.

    In addition to jaundice, the absence of a positive result of the thymol test can be observed when the natural ratio of alpha and beta globulins differs, or in the presence of significant amounts of excess or insufficient weight.

    It is worth noting that if a person develops hepatitis B, the thymol test does not give a positive result, since its result will vary from 1 to 5 units M., this is not a deviation from normal indicators.

    Promoted

    If the test result is positive, liver damage is diagnosed. Today, a positive test result is also observed in kidney diseases, digestive system, the appearance of neoplasms of a low-quality nature. Due to the inaccuracy of diagnosing the disease, it is necessary to carry out additional research to identify the exact cause of the deviation of the thymol test from the norm.

    The gradual accumulation of lipoproteins will contribute to their deposition in blood vessels and the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. Their formation contributes to the development of atherosclerosis. Thus, if the result of the thymol test is elevated, but there are no clinical manifestations of the disease, then it is urgently necessary change your diet.

    Reasons

    An increase in sample values ​​may be caused by the following reasons:

    • kidney diseases;
    • large area burns;
    • strict diets;
    • genetics;
    • frequent consumption of fatty foods;
    • systemic diseases;
    • endocarditis;
    • diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
    • rheumatoid diseases;
    • myeloma;
    • pancreatitis;
    • energite;
    • hepatitis;
    • various types of neoplasms in liver tissue;
    • damage to the liver parenchyma by alcohol substitutes or alcohol;
    • poisoning by poisons, metals, drugs;
    • cirrhosis;
    • fatty damage to liver tissue;
    • long-term use of hormonal drugs;
    • liver diseases of various etymologies.

    It is the last point that most often leads to increase indicators samples. However, to calculate accurate diagnosis It is recommended to visit a doctor and get a prescription for treatment.

    In order for the research results to be as reliable as possible, it is necessary to first prepare for the test. A week before the test, it is recommended to follow a diet with limited fat and sugar intake. The day before the study, you must give up coffee, tea, and alcohol.

    The sample itself is taken in the morning on an empty stomach; for this reason, eating is not recommended 12 hours before the test. In the morning you can only drink water in limited quantities, and you cannot eat anything.

    Treatment

    When the thymol test increases, the most common cause is liver disease. For this reason, in order to normalize the analysis parameters, it is first necessary to accurately identify the cause of the change in the state of blood proteins. And depending on the diagnosis, the doctor will prescribe appropriate treatment.

    However, in addition to this, if the thymol test indicators increase, it is necessary to adhere to a special diet. It consists of limiting the patient’s consumption of fatty foods, regardless of whether they are of animal or plant origin.

    In addition, it is necessary to exclude fast carbohydrates, some sour fruits, citrus fruits, tomatoes, soups based on meat or fish, and broths from the diet.

    In medicine, a biochemical blood test is very often used to check the functional abilities of internal organs. The thymol test, the norm of which is clearly fixed, is one of the methods of biochemical diagnostics of blood plasma, although recently it has been used quite rarely. The peculiarity of the study is that, by interacting with thymol, individual plasma proteins make it possible to detect diseases at the initial stage, which other tests of the biochemical spectrum do not recognize.

    The thymol test is usually not the norm, which indicates the full health of the liver. separate analysis and goes in addition to bilirubin and blood enzymes such as alkaline phosphatase and transaminases. The thymol test in children makes it possible to detect hepatitis A at an early stage, and in adult men and women it makes it possible to promptly recognize abnormalities in the functioning of the heart, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract.

    A thymol test in a child allows one to detect hepatitis even before the icteric state. Such quick results impossible to achieve using other diagnostic methods, which is why this analysis, although outdated, is not in a hurry to be discarded in scientific laboratories.

    The main advantage of this analysis is that it does not require additional equipment; all the reagents necessary for the study can be prepared by a laboratory assistant in a magnetic stirrer and fume hood. The test results can easily be read using an electrospectrophotometer, which is available in every laboratory. Deciphering the results at an early stage allows you to avoid complications that can be caused by a protracted inflammatory process during internal organ. This analysis can be used not only as a diagnostic procedure, but also used to monitor the processes of restoration of liver tissue during the use of therapeutic therapy.

    If we talk about the test itself, the method of taking blood is no different from taking a biochemical analysis. Blood is withdrawn from a peripheral vein on an empty stomach. Before donating blood, you should not drink soda, coffee, and three hours before donating, you should avoid medications what you took. If you have chronic diseases, then you need to consult with your doctor; he will tell you which medications are best to avoid and which ones will not affect the reliability of the results.

    Blood taken from the patient is sent into a test tube and then sent to the laboratory for testing. There, the diagnosis will be as follows - 6 ml of veronal-medinal buffer solution and a saturated solution of thymol are added to the serum. The resulting liquid is left for half an hour. After the specified time, the intensity of turbidity of the solution is assessed using the photocolorimetric method. The severity of turbidity indicates the presence of pathological processes in the body. It is believed that the test is positive if the amount of albumin in the serum decreases, and the concentration of β-globulins, γ-globulins and lipoproteins increases.

    Interpretation of the obtained analyzes

    Thymol test ranges from 0 to 4 units S-H can increase and decrease. These fluctuations make it possible to determine pathological condition organs and entire systems. It should be noted that the indicators for men and women, as well as for children, are the same.

    An increase in the thymol test can have various causes, but most often this condition indicates:

    • liver diseases, such as hepatitis, cirrhosis and fatty infiltration of the liver, tumors and disorders of its functioning;
    • kidney disease - glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis or amyloidosis;
    • hereditary disorders of protein metabolism;
    • rheumatoid pathologies - dermatomyositis, vasculitis, rheumatoid polyarthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus;
    • malaria;
    • diseases of the digestive system - pancreatitis and enteritis with severe diarrhea;
    • multiple myeloma.

    Changes in normal values ​​in women may be caused by taking hormonal contraceptives, and in men taking steroid drugs. The fact is that these medications affect the functionality of the liver, which accordingly affects the results, which will be increased. There are a number of cases when the thymol test can be elevated due to prolonged consumption of fatty foods.

    As mentioned above, the thymol test allows you to determine hepatitis A at an early stage, but with hepatitis B its indicators will remain within normal limits. Sometimes the thymol test can be elevated due to the fact that the person has already suffered hepatitis. The doctor should take this into account and carry out differential diagnosis.

    As for decreases in the thymol test, they are observed very rarely and do not pose any danger to the patient’s body. Decreased levels may indicate a lack of vitamins in the body and poor nutrition. Only a qualified doctor should interpret the results; despite the simplicity of decoding at first glance, a person without the appropriate knowledge will not be able to understand exactly what is happening in the body.

    What to do if the thymol test is elevated?

    If you have been informed that there is an elevated thymol test, it is likely that violations are occurring. The doctor’s task is to determine exactly where the deviations are and begin therapy as quickly as possible. The selection of drugs will be carried out depending on the disease that is progressing. If the test is elevated due to kidney disease, the following is prescribed:

    • Ciprofloxacin.
    • Levofloxacin.
    • Maxifloxacin.
    • Sulfadimezin.
    • Lidaprim.
    • Amoxicillin.
    • Ampicillin.

    If the pathology is caused by rheumatoid abnormalities, the drugs Azithromycin, Bicillin-5, Amoxicillin, Ampicillin, Midecamycin, Clarithromycin, Roxithromycin, Erythromycin, Oxacillin can be prescribed. Disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract are eliminated by taking Phosphalugel, Almagel, Ranitidine, Famotidine, Pancreatin, Creon and Mezim.

    To relieve pain that causes stomach disease, analgesics No-shpa, Analgin, Solpadeine, etc. are prescribed.

    In the treatment of liver disorders, the types of hepatitis are taken into account. The most commonly prescribed drugs are Triampur, Furosemide, Ethacrynic acid, Alfaferon, Virazol, Heptral, Hepabene, Heptsinate, Laferon, etc. If oncological tumors occur, then additional diagnostics are carried out, treatment with chemotherapy drugs and possibly surgery are prescribed.

    It should be noted that all of the above drugs have a set of contraindications, so you should not buy them yourself. They should be prescribed by a doctor based on your test results.

    The liver performs one of the main functions in the human body, and despite the fact that it can regenerate damaged parts, the liver, no less than other organs, needs constant care and attention. When a person is sick they are provided with optimal conditions To restore it, you need to do the same for your body by reducing the load on it.

    Try to supplement your diet with vitamin-containing foods, refrain from heavy and fatty foods, spend more time on fresh air. Try to seek medical help at the first symptoms of abnormalities in the functioning of this organ. Simple prevention methods will keep your liver healthy for a long time.

    A biochemical blood test is a comprehensive study that allows us to identify functional disorders of various organs and systems. As part of this, a thymol test is also carried out to detect liver pathologies. It has still not lost its diagnostic value, although today improved modern techniques are more often used. What the study consists of, what diseases cause a positive reaction, how the analysis is performed and deciphered - the answers to all the questions are in the article.

    This test has several names: Maclagan test, thymoloveronal test or thymol turbidity test. Squirrels different types, responsible for the formation of the immune response, osmotic characteristics of blood and other indicators, are produced by liver cells and bone marrow. The ratio of albumins and globulins changes when hepatocytes are damaged, as does the structure of proteins themselves, which lose colloidal stability and precipitate.

    The thymol test is the precipitation of lipoproteins and gamma globulins with a thymol buffer solution.

    By binding to various types of globulins and low-density lipoproteins, the reagent causes turbidity, the degree of which allows us to judge the disruption of protein synthesis in hepatocytes. The result is measured in McLagan or Shank-Hoaland units (abbreviated M units and S-H units, respectively).

    Thymol test as an assessment method functional state liver was proposed back in 1944. Today it is used quite rarely, mainly according to indications for the development of symptoms of hepatitis A in combination with other tests. It is also used in toxicology and hepatology to assess the positive dynamics of the recovery process in the liver after illnesses. Helps differentiate different types of jaundice, since with Botkin's disease (type A) it gives a positive result in almost 100% of cases, and with mechanical disease it is always negative.

    Normal thymol test in men

    The turbidity of the solution when the reagent binds to the globulin fraction can have different severity. The specific value in Maclagan or S-H units is determined using a special electrospectrophotometer device. In a healthy man, the indicators should be between 0 and 4. However, some laboratories set the upper limit of the reference value at 5 units. M.

    Normal thymol test in women's blood

    As such, gender differences cannot influence the test result in any way. On the process of protein synthesis in liver cells, specific male and female hormones have no influence. Therefore, for the fair sex normal indicators the tests are the same as for men: 0-4, maximum 5 units of turbidity.

    However, the use of contraceptives (oral contraceptives) by a healthy young woman can have a certain effect on protein synthesis. Under the influence of drugs of this type, the ratio of plasma proteins changes, which leads to a slight increase in indicators.

    Normal thymol test in children

    Age also does not affect the ratio of globulins of different types in blood serum. If functional liver disorders are not observed, then globulins and lipoproteins will not react with the thymol buffer solution and the result of the Maclagan test will be negative. Thus, the thymol test normally in children has the same indicators as in adults and does not exceed 4 U/l.

    However improved results may occur in an apparently completely healthy child. If there are no clinical signs of the disease and subjective complaints, and the analysis indicates that the maximum permissible values ​​are exceeded, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive examination for hepatitis A.

    Reasons for increased thymol test values

    A decrease in the albumin fraction with a simultaneous increase in the amount of globulins in the blood plasma indicates, first of all, a violation of the liver. This imbalance is explained by the fact that albumins are produced specifically by hepatocytes. But tissue macrophages are responsible for the production of globulins. Against the background of liver dysfunction and dysproteinemia, the globulin fraction always increases.

    Liver pathologies

    Thus, a positive thymol test indicates, first of all, the following liver pathologies:

    • Hepatitis of viral or infectious origin. This test allows you to detect hepatitis A at the stage of viral replication, when other studies give negative results and there are no clinical symptoms.
    • Cirrhosis.
    • Damage to the liver parenchyma by alcohol.
    • Toxic effects on the organ of salts of heavy metals, toxic compounds and some drugs.
    • Neoplasms, including malignant ones.
    • Fatty hepatosis is the name given to the degeneration of hepatocytes due to the accumulated fat in them.
    • Functional disorders caused by the use of oral contraceptives and other drugs containing hormones.

    Obstructive jaundice, with all the totality and severity of clinical symptoms, gives a negative test result.

    Other diseases

    In addition to liver pathologies, the thymol test has increased values ​​in the case of diseases such as:

    • Autoimmune diseases of a systemic nature (SLE, rheumatoid polyarthritis and others).
    • Kidney pathologies accompanied by albuminuria (glomerulo- and pyelonephritis, amyloidosis).
    • Tumor processes of various localizations, both malignant and benign, as well as myeloma.
    • Some diseases of the digestive system (enteritis accompanied by intense diarrhea, pancreatitis),
    • Septic endocarditis (with the rheumatoid variety, the test shows a negative result).
    • Pathological conditions of the body caused by viral infections, malaria.

    It also happens that the thymol test is elevated in a completely healthy person. If the result is positive against the background of the complete absence of any clinical signs of pathology, then there is non-compliance with the diet. Such people tend to be addicted to fatty foods. And their blood cholesterol levels are always elevated.

    A thymol test higher than normal in men and women in this case serves as a warning. Over time, this condition will turn into a pathological form and atherosclerotic vascular damage will develop. Before the situation becomes critical, the diet needs to be revised, reducing the proportion of fats in it.

    Also, the thymol test is elevated in patients taking drugs of androgens, estrogens, steroids, insulin, erythromycin, tetracycline, and chloramphenicol.

    Indications for the purpose of analysis

    Thymol test is usually prescribed in the following cases:

    • Suspicion of hepatitis A is based on characteristic symptoms in the form of catarrhal symptoms, febrile temperature, and general intoxication.
    • The likelihood of autoimmune diseases - they are accompanied by prolonged arthralgia, skin lesions, fever, and an increase in ESR in the blood test.
    • A comprehensive study of the condition of the liver - a thymol test is performed along with tests for alkaline phosphatase, transaminases, etc.
    • Differential diagnosis of mechanical and parenchymal jaundice. In the first case, the result is usually negative.

    This analysis also monitors the outcome of treatment and the recovery process of hepatocytes.

    How to prepare and take the test

    The thymol test is done strictly in the first half of the day, and venous blood is taken for testing. It is placed in a test tube without adding an anticoagulant and sent to the laboratory. There, a precipitation reaction is performed within an hour using 0.1 g of plasma and veronal buffer and thymol solution. If the result is not urgently needed, you can get it the next day.

    No special preparation is required to take a blood sample. The requirements are quite standard and consist of abstaining from food in the morning on the day of the test. The last meal should be dinner the night before. Use during meals fatty foods undesirable, since excess cholesterol in the blood affects the test result.