Diagnostic Center

All Palmetto Primary Care Physicians patients have access to our state-of-the-art diagnostic center.  Housing all of our diagnostic tests in one central location helps our patients to save time and effort in receiving exactly the care they need.

2550 Elms Center Rd
Charleston, SC 29406
(843) 735-5307

Hours: Monday-Friday 6am-6pm
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Clinical Laboratory Tests

Clinical Laboratory Tests are an important tool in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Physicians use Laboratory Tests as the basis for many of their medical diagnosis and treatment decisions. Blood, urine, body fluid, or tissue specimens are tested by a variety of instruments and procedures. The Laboratory plays a vital role in today’s increasing awareness and early detection and prevention of diseases.

CT (or CAT) scan

A CT scan, or CAT scan, is used to define normal and abnormal structures in the body. A large donut-shaped x-ray machine takes x-ray images at many different angles around the body. Depending on the test ordered, oral and/or intravenous contrast may need to be utilized to aide in defining those structures. Any findings allow the physician to assess and diagnose a variety of conditions.

Echocardiogram

This test uses painless Ultrasound technology to capture in- depth images of the heart. The echocardiogram allows doctors to evaluate heart murmurs, check the pumping function of the heart, and evaluate patients who have had heart attacks. It is a very good screening test for heart disease in certain groups of patients.

MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a test that uses a magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy to make pictures of organs and structures inside the body. In many cases MRI provides physicians with different information about structures in the body besides what can be seen with an X-Ray, Ultrasound or CT Scan.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is done for many reasons. It is used to find problems such as tumors, bleeding, injury, blood vessel diseases, or infection. An MRI scan can be done for the:

• Head
• Chest
• Blood vessels
• Abdomen and pelvis
• Bones and joints
• Spine

More information on MRI can be found here.

Nuclear Stress Test

A nuclear stress test measures blood flow to your heart muscle at rest and during stress. A radioactive substance is injected into your bloodstream. This substance mixes with your blood and travels to your heart. A special scanner – which detects the radioactive material in your heart – creates images of your heart muscle. Your physician may order this test if they suspect artery blockage or to investigate the cause of chest pain.

Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs)

This test measures air flow into and out of the lungs, indicating both the air flow rates and volume obtained, during a patients maximum forced inhalation and exhalation effort.
Results from this test are valuable in identifying the presence and diagnosis of specific lung disorders at an early stage. This will help the physician assess the degree of disability and the effects of therapy or medications.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound tests are painless procedure that help doctors assess and diagnose a variety of conditions. A doctor may use an ultrasound to asses organ damage after an illness or accident. Some symptoms that may cause a doctor to order this exam are pain, swelling, or infection.