The Bloodworks team with a leading global expert on reproductive immunology, Dr Joanne Kwak-Kim (4th from right), director of reproductive medicine of the Chicago Medical School of Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science.
MANILA, Philippines – Charles Stanley succinctly defines the role of a mom: “Motherhood is a great honor and privilege, yet it is also synonymous with servanthood.” Since the job of a mother entails huge responsibilities and workload, it is a must for her to be in the pink of health and tiptop shape.
“A mother’s role is beyond the call of duty since young lives are at stake. Hence, it is very important for moms to receive the best health care and proper advice on how to care for their body, especially those conceiving a child,” says Dr. Marilyn C. Alentajan, general manager of Bloodworks Lab, one of the fastest growing multi-specialty laboratories in the country.
Dr. Alentajan is herself a mom to successful children and wife to a high- profile lawyer. She also manages Bloodworks Lab, a one-stop shop for all routine lab tests such as blood, urine, stool, cholesterol, glucose, among others, that can help properly diagnose the real health of a mother.
However, its real advantage over other labs is its complete reproductive immunology tests composed of APAS, basic and comprehensive Immuno Panels, Lymphocyte Subset Enumeration Panels, and other immunology/serology tests, which are commonly found only in large hospitals.
“These important tests help determine two vital things for a mother. One, to help her conceive a child in the best way possible and, secondly, to help a couple who has infertility problems or has difficulty conceiving a child,” explains Alentajan.
Filipino traditions and folklores abound on how to help a couple with infertility problems. One of the most popular myths is for the couple to do the traditional fertility dance in Obando, Bulacan. Another common myth is after having sex, the woman should lift her legs in the air for 20 minutes to help the sperm go to her uterus.
“Sadly, most couples resort to various myths and malpractices because they are not given adequate information about their infertility and think it is almost futile for them to give birth. People hurtfully and discriminately label them baog for males or mababa ang matres for females, which are perceived as permanent and cannot be treated. But the truth is there are many effective interventions and treatments now available for infertility. The best option is to go to a competent medical expert such as an ob-gyn and a reproductive immunologist. They are the best persons to design a specific treatment for infertility,” advises Alentajan.
Bloodworks Lab is the only stand-alone lab in the country that offers these extensive immunologic tests. It has the latest, state-of-the-art equipment, like its own 4-color flow cytometer (the third of its kind in the Philippines) and employs competent, professionally certified medical technologists. It takes pride in its topnotch and professional staff, led by immuno-pathologist Dr. Arvin C. Faundo, a graduate of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine Class 1996, specializing in hematopathology and stem cell transplantation with training from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA; and Bloodworks’ chief medical technologist, Mary Antonette Menciano, who is trained in the Clinical Immunology Laboratory of Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in Chicago, Illinois, for reproductive immunology testing.
It also offers special packages designed for specific patients like the well-being package, diet/weight management package, senior citizen’s checkup, pre-employment package, and cancer screening tests such as prostate, ovarian and colon.
Bloodworks Lab is located at Elizabeth Hall, Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City with a satellite office at Civic Drive, Filinvest, Alabang, Muntinlupa City. For further inquiries and to know their summer promos, call 426-0237, 0925-3795611 or visit their website at www.bloodworkslab.com and Facebook page BLOODWORKSLAB.