Blood testing is a lab analysis of the blood present in the body. Blood tests are normally prescribed when you need to keep track of the progress of a particular treatment and manage health conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol, illness, or routine checkups.
Blood testing is predominant and is commonly done by the doctor or at your local diagnostic centre. Understanding the different blood test names and meanings can help you better comprehend their uses and benefits.
Why blood tests are important?
A blood test is carried out for multiple reasons:
- To assist and diagnose lifestyle diseases such as cancer, diabetes, coronary heart disease, or AIDS/HIV.
- To discover how vital organs like your liver, heart, kidneys, or thyroid are working.
- To diagnose bleeding or clotting disorders.
- To comprehend whether the prescribed medicine is working.
- To observe chronic diseases and health conditions
- The blood test reports assist your doctor in getting a primary idea of your overall health and prescribe particular tests to get an extract diagnosis.
How is the blood taken?
Blood is taken via a needle inserted through the skin into the vein. The most common spots to take blood are from a vein inside the elbow or vein on the back of the hand, as the veins are nearer to the surface.
A tight band or tourniquet is placed around the arm just above the area where the blood will be taken. This makes the vein come closer to the surface of the skin, making it easier for your blood sample to be taken.
The spot is cleaned with an antiseptic wipe before the test is taken. The needle is typically attached to a syringe or plastic device known as a vacutainer, and the blood is put into a container known as a viral. The virus is then sent to a laboratory for examination. Taking a blood sample usually only takes a few minutes.
Does a blood test hurt?
You may experience a little shart pricking sensation as the needle goes into your skin. However, it should not be painful.
If you don’t like needles, you can let the person who is taking the sample so that they can make it easier for you. If you are nervous about your blood test, ask a family member or friend to accompany you.
You may also apply a numbing cream to the area before the test. Ensure you apply it early enough so it works in time.
It won’t happen frequently; however, a few times, people feel faint during a blood test. This is more likely to happen if you are dehydrated, so drink water before the blood test.
Let the healthcare professional or doctor know if you frequently faint before the test. They may recommend that you lie down while having your blood taken.
Types of Blood Tests
Some of the common blood tests include the following.
1. Complete Blood Count (CBC)
This standard blood test checks ten components: white blood cells, red blood cells, haemoglobin, platelets, and hematocrit. Any inconsistencies in the normal levels of these components can highlight
- Nutritional Deficiencies
- Blood Cancer
- Infections
- Anaemia
- Problems With The Immune System
- Clotting Problems.
You may need to undergo a few follow-up tests to get a more accurate diagnosis of your issues.
2. Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP)
The Basic Metabolic Panel test checks for the following eight components in the blood.
- Glucose
- Calcium
- Potassium
- Bicarbonate
- Sodium
- Chloride
- Creatinine
- Blood urea nitrogen
Depending on the parameters you are required to measure and the doctor’s instruction, you may be asked to avoid eating for at least 8 hours before the sample is taken. Abnormal results in this test may result from kidney disease, diabetes or hormone imbalance.
3. Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
In the Comprehensive Metabolic Panel test, all the parameters checked in the BMP are calculated along with a few others, such as
- Total Protein
- Alanine Aminotransferase
- Aspartate Amino Transferase and
- Bilirubin
- Albumin
- Alkaline Phosphatase.
Abnormalities in these tests can highlight many health issues based on whether the levels of components are higher or lower than the usual range.
4. Lipid Panel
A lipid test is used to check the levels of two types of cholesterol present in the body.
High-density lipoprotein (HDL), also known as good cholesterol, assists the liver in eliminating harmful toxins from the body by breaking them into waste.
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is also called bad cholesterol, as it can create plaque, which clogs the blood vessels and escalates the risks of heart disease.
5. Thyroid Panel
The thyroid function test, or thyroid panel test, is used to identify how well your thyroid functions when reacting to or generating hormones such as
- Triiodothyronine
- Thyroxine, and
- Thyroid stimulating hormone.
- Abnormal levels of hormones in the body can highlight conditions like
- Low Protein Levels
- Thyroid Growth Disorders,
- Abnormal Levels Of Estrogen Or Testosterone.
6. Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Tests
Most STIs are diagnosed with the assistance of a blood test or a blood and urine test combined. A few of the common STIs that can be identified using a blood test are
- Gonorrhea
- HIV
- Syphilis
- Herpes
- Chlamydia
In a few cases, blood tests have their restrictions. For instance, a test for HIV detects the virus only after a month of the infection.
7. Coagulation Panel
A coagulation test shows how long it takes for blood to clot and how effectively it clots. Clotting is essential for wound healing, but if a clot forms in an artery or vein, it can hinder blood flow to important organs and create health issues.
The results of these tests assist doctors diagnose
- Liver Conditions
- Vitamin K Deficiency
- Haemophilia
- Leukaemia, and
- Thrombosis
8. Electrolyte Panel
This blood test helps calculate the levels of various types of minerals in your body. Any imbalance in these levels may highlight problems with essential organs such as the lungs, kidneys, or heart. Along with the BMP and CMP parameters, this test also checks the anion and magnesium gap levels.
9. Allergy Testing
An allergy test can detect increased levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE) and help detect allergies to pets, pollen, various food items, and other substances.
10. Autoimmune Diseases
An autoimmune disease results from your immune system accidentally attacking your body instead of protecting it from cancer, parasites, and viruses. Autoimmune test consists of the following:
- C-Reactive Protein Tests
- Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate
- Ce Complement Blood Tests
- Peripheral Blood Smears
- Antinuclear Antibody Tests
Will I need to do anything to prepare for the test?
You don’t need any particular preparations for the majority of blood tests. However, for certain tests, you may need to fast for several hours before your test. Your doctor will let you know if there are any instructions to follow.
Are there any risks linked to the blood test?
There is a very low risk of having a finger prick test or venipuncture. During venipuncture, you may have little pain or bruising in the area where the needle was put in; nevertheless, most symptoms go away quickly.
A heel stick test has a very low risk to your baby. However, your baby may experience a slight pinch when the heel is poked, and a small bruise may form at the site.
Collecting blood from an artery can be more painful than collecting from a vein; however, complications are rare. You may have some bruising, bleeding, or soreness at the spot where the needle was put in. Furthermore, you should avoid lifting heavy objects for 24 hours post-test.
Summary
Blood tests can provide you with essential information about your health. However, it doesn’t always give sufficient information about your condition.
FAQs
1. What are the three most common blood tests?
- Thyroid Test(s)
- Complete Blood Count (CBC) with or without White Blood Cell (WBC).
