[jennifr]

In addition to the physical assessment, all children should have a panel of laboratory work completed soon after arriving home. Based upon several very well done medical studies from international adoption clinics at the University of Minnesota and Boston Children’s Hospital, all children should have the following tests:

• Complete blood count
• Lead level
• Stool samples for parasites (even if the child has no symptoms) 3 samples collected every other day
• Hepatitis B panel B must include Hep B surface antibody, surface antigen, and core antibody
• HIV Elisa
• Test for Syphilis BRPR or VDRL
• Test for Rickets Bcalcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase
• Hepatitis C antibody test (still controversial, although most adoption medical specialists highly recommend it)
• Urinalysis
• PPD test for Tuberculosis exposure. This should be a Mantoux test, done with a small needle prick just under the surface of the skin on the forearm. The test should be read in the physician’s office 48-72 hours later.