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- Doctors use blood tests to analyze the behavior of substances like proteins, cells, or chemicals in your blood. This can give them a picture of your overall health and help them diagnose different diseases, monitor chronic conditions, assess your organ function, and determine your immune system strength.
www.healthline.com/health/blood-tests10 Important Blood Tests: What They Show, Why ... - Healthline
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What is a blood test?
Why do I need a blood test?
What does a blood test look for?
What does a blood test result mean?
How does a blood test work?
What do healthcare providers see with blood tests?
There are lots of reasons why you may need a blood test. A blood test may be done to: check your general health. find out if symptoms you're having are caused by certain conditions. find out if you're more likely to get a condition. find out how well a condition is being treated or managed.
- Overview
- What do blood tests check for?
- When do you need a blood test?
- 10 important blood tests
- What to expect
- Takeaway
Blood tests can be used to help a doctor identify a variety of health conditions, including infections, anemia, high cholesterol, vitamin deficiencies, organ failure, HIV, cancer, diabetes, and more.
Doctors use blood tests to analyze the behavior of substances like proteins, cells, or chemicals in your blood.
This can give them a picture of your overall health and help them diagnose different diseases, monitor chronic conditions, assess your organ function, and determine your immune system strength.
Regular blood testing is one of the most important ways to keep track of your overall physical well-being. We’ve partnered with Lifeforce to bring you this overview article on blood tests.
Blood tests can help your doctor determine how different organs in your body are working. Examples of organs whose malfunctions can be visible in a blood test include your heart, thyroid, liver, or kidneys.
Your doctor can also use blood tests to search for markers of diseases and health conditions such as:
•diabetes
•HIV
•anemia
•cancer
You would typically undergo a blood test in the following cases:
•During your annual physical exam: Your doctor may order a general blood test such as the complete blood count (CBC).
•You’re at risk of a health condition: You may need to undergo a specific blood test if you have a higher chance of developing a specific disease or condition or if you have a known genetic mutation that can cause a condition.
•You have a known condition: Sometimes,you already have a diagnosis, but your doctor needs to know how your condition is progressing or to evaluate your treatment.
•You’re having symptoms: If you are experiencing symptoms, your doctor may need to run a blood test to confirm a suspected diagnosis or to see if you need more specialized testing.
•You’re pregnant: During pregnancy, your doctor will do a CBC and test your blood type.
1. Complete blood count
A routine complete blood count (CBC) checks for levels of 10 different components of every major cell in your blood: white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. Important components this test measures include red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit. Here’s the typical range of results, although every laboratory may have its own range that varies slightly:
What it indicates:
Abnormal levels of these components may indicate: •nutritional deficiencies, such as vitamin B6 or B12 •anemia (iron deficiency) •clotting problems •blood cancer •infection •immune system disorders Based on your results, your doctor will order follow-up tests to confirm abnormal levels and a possible diagnosis.
[the terms “male” and “female”]
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Who orders my blood tests?
Your doctor typically orders blood tests for you during a physical, checkup, or an appointment intended to screen for a specific condition. It’s also possible to order your own blood tests without a doctor through laboratories like LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics, but health insurance may not cover these tests. While such blood tests may more accessible and convenient, it may be harder to interpret the results without a medical professional.
Where do I get blood work done?
Locations for blood testing may include: •Private laboratories: Hospitals may use private labs to offload some testing from their own laboratories or in cases when a specialized test is needed. Often, health insurance plans will require you to use a specific laboratory that is in their network for the test to be covered. •Point-of care: This describes situations when you may need to get a blood test wherever you are receiving medical care, such as in your doctor’s office during an appointment. •Direct access testing: Also known as direct-to-consumer, it allows you to order your own test without a doctor’s referral. You get the test done at a laboratory specially set up for this purpose. •Home testing: You can get some tests at a pharmacy and then do them at home. You may need a prescription for some tests, while others may be available over the counter. This can include things like blood glucose monitoring for people with diabetes or the fecal occult blood test that screens for colorectal cancer. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must approve all home tests before they’re available for purchase.
Do I fast?
Some tests will require you to fast for 8-12 hours beforehand. That’s because everything you eat and drink contains vitamins, proteins, and other nutrients that can cause the related levels in your blood to temporarily spike or drop. Some common tests that may require fasting include: •cholesterol tests •blood sugar tests •liver function tests •kidney function tests •basic metabolic panel
Blood tests can offer a good snapshot of your overall health.
They’re also a good way to catch illness or disease early and to see how well your body responds to treatments for various conditions.
Sep 15, 2023 · Blood testing is a routine part of preventive health. We use them to monitor health and diagnose any medical problems that may occur. These tests are generally simple, with almost no risk and minimal discomfort. This article discusses the uses and types of blood tests and how to interpret the results.
Dec 6, 2022 · Blood tests are common tests healthcare providers use to measure or examine substances in your blood such as blood cells, chemicals, proteins and more.
Jan 27, 2024 · Blood tests provide important information about organ function, along with your blood's ability to form clots and stop bleeding. If your healthcare provider orders a blood test, don't panic. Blood tests are commonplace in medical care and are often done to confirm that all is well.
Blood tests are usually done to check how your body copes with illness, injury, inflammation, infection and some types of medicine. There are many different types of blood test that look for different things in your blood.
Mar 14, 2024 · A complete blood count (CBC) is a blood test that measures amounts and sizes of your red blood cells, hemoglobin, white blood cells and platelets. A provider can use it to monitor and diagnose medical conditions and check on the health of your immune system.
