Gaining an idea about what happens

If you haven’t been through a regular blood test before, facing several questions will be inevitable. It will also become common for you to look for answers to these questions. It will make the most sense to face those questions and explore the answers carefully. For example, knowing what a blood test is and what it can do will be the beginning. The following points will help you with the answers, which, in turn, will help you understand the subject.

Blood tests – some basic information for your benefit

A blood test is a method which is used for examining and screening the blood within your body by drawing a small sample. Depending on the nature of the test, your blood will be checked for the presence of regular and irregular cells, chemicals, proteins, and other substances that are or are not supposed to be present. A blood test is also known as blood work and is one of the commonest tests conducted by pathological laboratories. These tests are often part of regular check-ups of an individual. Apart from that, blood screening is used for: 

• Diagnosing various diseases and conditions 
• Monitoring chronic conditions and ailments such as high cholesterol, diabetes and more 
• Finding out if the treatment plan for an ailment is working or not 
• Checking out the condition of your organs and whether they are working properly or not 
• Diagnosing various bleeding and clotting disorders 
• Detecting whether your immune system is strong enough and can fight infections or not 

Blood tests different types

If you start searching for the different blood tests available, it will take a long time to find and understand them all. Instead, having an idea about some of the most common and most chosen blood tests will help you better understand the subject. It will also answer the question of what blood tests can detect. Below are some of the commonest blood tests you will have to face: 

CBC or complete blood count

This test is done to measure whether your blood has the necessary portions in the right amount or not. If the red and white blood cells, platelets, haemoglobin and more are not in the right amount and ratio, it is the first indication that not everything is well within your body. Hence, CBC is a recommended blood test in almost all regular check-ups. 

Basic metabolic panel

It is a group of blood tests designed to measure the presence of certain chemicals within your blood. The list includes glucose, calcium and electrolytes. 

Blood enzyme tests

This test checks the presence and level of enzymes in your blood. These substances control the chemical reactions in your body, and there are several blood enzyme tests. Some of the commonest ones are troponin, creatine kinase tests and more. These tests determine if you have had a heart attack or if your heart muscles are damaged. 

Blood tests for checking heart diseases

Apart from checking heart attacks and the condition of your heart muscles, blood tests are also used to check if you have heart disease or not. For this purpose, usually, cholesterol and triglyceride tests are conducted. 

Blood clotting tests

This test is also known as a coagulation panel, which is conducted to determine if your blood gets clotted within a normal timeframe or not. If you have a disorder which keeps your blood from clotting, causing too much bleeding or too much clotting, this test will help determine that. 

What exactly happens during a blood test?

When you book a blood test per your GP’s recommendation, a health care provider draws a blood sample from your body. Usually, blood is drawn from your vein and is known as a venipuncture. The health care professional, also known as a phlebotomist, will take the blood sample with the help of a small needle. It will sting a little, but the procedure will be finished within less than five minutes. This is the most used way of drawing blood, but apart from that, there are other blood test methods available, including: 

• A finger prick test requires pricking your finger and is often used for at-home tests and rapid tests, including checking daily diabetes levels. 
• A heel stick test is usually done on newborns, where a health care professional uses a small needle to poke a baby’s heel to collect blood samples. 
• Arterial blood tests are also there and are usually done to measure oxygen levels within your blood. As blood in arteries has higher oxygen levels, blood is collected from arteries for this test. 

What preparations are required for a blood test?

The answer to this question will vary depending on the type of blood test you are going to have. Usually, it won’t require any special preparation, other than observing a fast and not drinking water for several hours before the test can be conducted in certain cases. The blood test service provider and health care professionals will inform you about these details. 

Are there any risks involved?

There are almost no risks involved with almost all the blood collection methods. The arterial blood test may cause more pain than regular venipuncture, but the risks are not noteworthy provided you get      the tests done from a reliable, reputable, well-recommended place. 

Blood tests are done to get better insight into your health, but it is also possible that the tests will not reveal the necessary information. Therefore, considering blood tests as the ultimate tool of diagnosis is not right. For information on the blood tests we offer and other details, please visit our website and browse the relevant pages carefully. You can get in touch with us to learn more on the subject.