What are blood tests?
Cells, molecules, proteins, and additional components of the blood can be measured or examined through the use of blood tests. One of the most popular categories of laboratory tests is blood testing, generally known as blood work. A routine exam frequently includes blood testing. Blood tests are also used to:
- Help diagnose certain diseases and conditions
- Maintain a watch on any chronic conditions, such as diabetes, blood pressure, anemia, or high cholesterol.
- Find out if a disease’s therapy is effective.
- Check how well your organs are working. these include organs like the liver, kidneys, heart, and thyroid.
- Help diagnose bleeding or clotting disorders
- Check to see whether your immune system is working to combat infections.
What are the different types of blood tests?
There are many different types of blood tests. Common ones include:
- Complete blood count (CBC). This test counts your red and white blood cells, platelets, and hemoglobin, among other components of your blood. A CBC is frequently a component of a routine exam.
- Basic metabolic panel. This is a batch of tests that measure specific chemicals in the blood, including glucose, calcium, and electrolytes.
- Blood enzyme tests. The molecules known as enzymes regulate chemical reactions in your body. There are many types of blood enzyme tests. Tests for troponin and creatine kinase are two of the most used kinds. These tests are performed to determine whether or not you have had a heart attack and/or whether your heart muscle is injured.
- Blood tests to check for heart disease. These include cholesterol tests and a triglyceride test.
- Tests for blood clotting are commonly called a “coagulation panel.” These tests can identify conditions that result in excessive bleeding or clotting.
What happens during a blood test?
A technician or nurse will need to take a sample of your blood. This is also called a blood draw. A venipuncture is a process of drawing blood from a vein.
Using a tiny needle, a phlebotomist, a member of the laboratory / pathology specialization, will draw blood from a vein in the arm during venipuncture. A small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial once the needle has been positioned correctly. The needle may prick somewhat when it enters or exits your body. This usually takes less than five minutes.
The most regular method of doing a blood test is venipuncture.
Other ways to do a blood test are:
- A finger prick test. You must puncture the tip of your finger for this test to draw a tiny bit of blood. Rapid tests and at-home test kits often involve finger prick testing. Rapid tests are simple to do, yield results quickly, and call for little to no specialized equipment.
- A heel stick test. This is most often done on newborns. During a heel stick test, a healthcare provider will clean your baby’s heel with alcohol and poke the heel with a small needle. A few blood samples will be taken, and the wound / injury will be bandaged.
- Arterial blood test. This test is done to measure oxygen levels. Blood from arteries contains more oxygen compared to blood from veins. Therefore, blood is drawn from an artery for this test instead of a vein. When the doctor puts the needle into the artery to take a blood sample, you can encounter sudden acute pain.
Do I need to do anything to prepare for the test?
You don’t need any unusual preparations for most blood tests. For some tests, you may require to fast (not eat or drink) for several hours before your test. Your technician or doctor or nurse will let you know if there are any particular instructions to follow.
Are there any risks to the test?
There is very little risk of having a finger prick test or venipuncture. During venipuncture, you may have slight pain or discoloring at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away fast.
There is very little risk to your baby with a heel prick test. Your baby may feel a slight pinch when the heel is poked, and a slight bruise may develop at the site.
Gathering blood from an artery is more painful than collecting it from a vein, but complications are rare. You may experience some bleeding, bruising, or soreness at the spot where the needle was put in. Also, you should avoid lifting heavy things for 24 hours after the test.
IQ Diagnostics has proven itself to be one of the best pathology labs in Noida region. It provides an array of blood tests to diagnose variety of diseases at affordable prices. Free home sample collection is available across Noida, Ghaziabad & Greater Noida.