A blood test is typically composed of three main tests: a complete blood count, a metabolic panel and a lipid panel.
Specifically, blood tests can help doctors: Evaluate how well organs—such as the kidneys, liver, thyroid, and heart—are working. Diagnose diseases and conditions such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, anemia (uh-NEE-me-eh), and coronary heart disease. Find out whether you have risk factors for heart disease.
Know your kidney numbers! Your kidney numbers include 2 tests: ACR (Albumin to Creatinine Ratio) and GFR (glomerular filtration rate). GFR is a measure of kidney function and is performed through a blood test. Your GFR will determine what stage of kidney disease you have – there are 5 stages.
What are the different types of blood tests?
- Complete blood count (CBC).
- Basic metabolic panel.
- Blood enzyme tests.
- Blood tests to check for heart disease.
- Blood clotting tests, also known as a coagulation panel.
The complete blood count (CBC) is a group of tests that evaluate the cells that circulate in blood, including red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets (PLTs). The CBC can evaluate your overall health and detect a variety of diseases and conditions, such as infections, anemia and leukemia.
Laboratory Types
- Analytical and Quality Laboratories.
- Biosafety Laboratories.
- Cleanrooms.
- Clinical and Medical Laboratories.
- Incubator Laboratories.
- Production Laboratories.
- Research & Development (R&D) Laboratories.
If your health care provider has told you to fast before a blood test, it means you should not eat or drink anything, except water, for several hours before your test. When you eat and drink normally, those foods and beverages are absorbed into your bloodstream.
Blood tests for the investigation of viral infections include: Full blood count — a viral infection may raise or reduce the white cell count; atypical lymphocytes may be reported.
Abnormalities in a full blood countAbnormalities of the blood sample may include: red blood cells and haemoglobin – low levels (anaemia) may suggest not enough iron in the diet, blood loss or certain chronic diseases (such as kidney disease).
If the maximum amount of blood is drawn on one occasion, we recommend waiting about 3 weeks between blood draws to reduce the risk of anemia or other abnormalities. For experiments that do not require the suggested maximum blood draw, blood can safely be drawn more frequently.
A c-reactive protein test measures the level of c-reactive protein (CRP) in your blood. CRP is a protein made by your liver. It's sent into your bloodstream in response to inflammation. Inflammation is your body's way of protecting your tissues if you've been injured or have an infection.
The following are normal complete blood count results for adults: Red blood cell count. Male: 4.35-5.65 trillion cells/L* (4.35-5.65 million cells/mcL**) Female: 3.92-5.13 trillion cells/L.
Complete blood cell count (CBC): This is one of the most commonly ordered blood tests, which is the measure of the concentration of white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets in the blood. The size of your red cells can be a good indicator of nutritional deficiencies.
Laboratory tests are often part of a routine checkup to look for changes in your health. They also help doctors diagnose medical conditions, plan or evaluate treatments, and monitor diseases.
A lipid panel is a blood test that measures lipids—fats and fatty substances used as a source of energy by your body. Lipids include cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). This panel measures: Total cholesterol level.
A urinalysis is a simple test that looks at a small sample of your urine. It can help find problems that need treatment, including infections or kidney problems. It can also help find serious diseases in the early stages, like kidney disease, diabetes, or liver disease. A urinalysis is also called a “urine test.”
A comprehensive metabolic panel is a blood test that measures your sugar (glucose) level, electrolyte and fluid balance, kidney function, and liver function. Glucose is a type of sugar your body uses for energy. Electrolytes keep your body's fluids in balance.
A diagnostic procedure is an examination to identify an individual's specific areas of weakness and strength in order determine a condition, disease or illness.
Lustig recommends women have these 11 tests:
- Pap and human papilloma virus (HPV) tests.
- Sexually transmitted diseases (STD) tests.
- Pregnancy test.
- Mammogram.
- Skin check.
- Colonoscopy.
- Bone density test.
- Hearing test.
The ferritin test may be ordered, along with other iron tests, when a routine complete blood count (CBC) shows that a person's hemoglobin and hematocrit are low and their red blood cells are smaller and paler than normal (microcytic and hypochromic), suggesting iron deficiency anemia even though other clinical symptoms
