Cholinesterase Test

Serum Cholinesterase test is a test conducted to determine the levels of acetylcholinesterase and pseudocholinesterase in the blood. These two substances are responsible to help the nervous system work efficiently. They are also referred as neurotransmitters. These elements help nerves to send signals. For instance, when a muscle contraction is triggered by acetylcholinesterase at a neuromuscular junction, a cholinesterase is released to break down the former into choline and acetic acid so that the contracted muscle can be relaxed, rather than remaining the tensed state. Acetylcholinesterase is found in the nerve tissue and red blood corpuscles while the pseudocholinesterase element if primarily found in the liver.

There is no particular drill that you need to follow for this test. An expert physician extracts a minimal amount of blood from a clearly visible vein from your arm. Therefore it is advisable to wear clothes accordingly i.e. a short sleeve dress or shirt or a t-shirt is recommended. There are no restrictions on having food before this test. However, some other tests might require fasting may be for 2 or more hours wherein you will be advised earlier. It is best to follow the instructions given to you by the lab assistant.

This test is conducted to diagnose or rule out the following possibilities Poisoning due to organophosphate compounds Before surgical procedure to avoid post surgery paralysis Neuromuscular damage Chronic liver disease Malnutrition Cancer

The expert will make you sit comfortably first so that you should not shake off suddenly due to the prick. A tight band will be tied at the upper arm to restrict the blood flow and direct it towards the lower arm. The expert will then examine the area behind your elbow to find the visible and prominent veins. A cotton swab dipped in spirit is used to clean the area to draw the blood from. Finally a needle is inserted through the vein and a syringeful of blood is drawn out and stored in a test tube with your name labeled on it. This sample of blood is then sent to the laboratory for investigation.