Today, we all know that lab tests like blood tests are critical cogs of preventive care. These tests help us keep a record of our health indicators. However, most of us remain ignorant about the nature of the tests, why they are done and how to read the reports. In this article we will discuss about all the important things you need to know about blood tests.
Most of us have gone through the process of blood tests for one medical reason or another. But do you know that whenever you visit a lab for a blood test, it is important to ask certain questions. This is done to understand the reasons behind doing the tests and what can be the consequences.
This information regarding blood tests is imperative to better understand your condition and cope with the treatment. Blood tests done at regular intervals help in understanding health situations better. Also periodic or routine blood tests help in early detection of diseases whose symptoms might not always be visible. At DocGenie we ensure authentic blood tests for the most common conditions and ensure early reports.
Our Blood Test:
- Iron Studies Test
- Book D-Dimer Lab Test in Gurgaon
- Book Protein Electrophoresis Test Gurgaon
- Book Blood Sugar Test in Gurgaon
- Book Online Ferritin Serum Test in Gurgaon
- Book HbA1c Test in Gurgaon
- Book Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Anti HbsAg Test in Gurgaon
- Book HBV Anti HbcAg-IgM, Core Antibody Test in Gurgaon
- Rubella (German Measles) Virus IgG Antibody Test in Gurgaon
A simple blood test can also check our blood type. This is important to donate blood to someone. It is also essential to determine if you suffer from any genetic disease.
Know the right information
The typical thing about blood test is that when it comes positive, you are recommended a medical treatment. If you results are negative and yet your conditions persist, chances of getting vexed or frustrated arise. In such cases you need to consult a doctor who will clarify the doubts and guide you about the way forwards. At times like this doctors suggest some other blood tests or different lab tests to identify the underlying cause of your condition. At DocGenie you are assured of tests done in labs that are reliable, well-managed, or convenient to reach.
Frequency of Blood Tests
Doctors across the globe recommend getting a routine blood work done annually. However, they suggest that you maintain the same time for your yearly test. That said, depending on existing health conditions, you doctor might want you to go for blood tests more often.
If you are trying to optimize your health conditions, frequent blood tests will be necessary. This will give you deeper knowledge about blood components like HDL or LDL cholesterol levels. The knowledge will enable you to tweak your fitness regime, including changing your dietary habits adding more nutrients that your body requires.
Moreover, if you want to lessen the chances of chronic diseases as you grow old, routine blood tests can be of real benefit. The tests will help diagnose complications related to heart, kidney or lungs and enable you to ditch them effectively.
Also, if you are experiencing symptoms like fatigue, weight loss/gain, or any pain, only a blood test can figure out the cause.
How is a blood test done?
To do a blood test, a sample of your blood is collected from the nerve around the centre of the elbow. A lab technician, generally belonging to haematology department, performs this task either at a lab or at your home. Although, blood is usually taken from the elbow nerve, in case the nerve is not visible, technician draws blood from your wrist. It is not at all a painful process and you will just feel a mild pinprick.
Why do some blood tests require fasting?
Some of the blood tests your doctor recommends for you will require fasting. This is because our food and drink contain proteins, vitamins or other nutrients. These nutrients can potentially influence your blood components’ levels. As a result you might get a false result for some of the disease diagnosis. Fasting for about 8 to 12 hours becomes necessary to get an effective blood test with error free of results.
Blood tests that require fasting are as follows –
- Cholesterol tests
- Glucose tests
- Liver tests
- Blood sugar tests
- Basic metabolic panel
- Kidney tests
Also read: Simple Blood Tests Can Help Address Depression Better
Understand the reports
The most authentic way to understand a blood report is to share it with your doctor and let him explain it to you. However, it is possible to understand the results on your own as well. The lab report you get will have the results mentioned in it. The report will include a minimum and maximum range for each and every blood component along with the values. This makes it very easy for everyone to understand. If the levels are within the given range then things are fine. If not, that is if they are less than minimum or more than maximum range, you might be having a medical problem. In case of any specific abnormalities detected, lab technicians normally mention it briefly at the bottom of the report.
Blood tests help you know about potential infections, organ damage, or other chronic diseases existing in your body. For instance, diabetes is one such chronic disease that can be detected by a blood test. The test checks blood glucose levels in your blood. An array of other conditions related to your liver and kidney can also be identified by means of a routine blood tests.
Also read: Top 6 Reasons You Should Get Regular Blood Tests
On DocGenie site we offer continuous proactive care including consultation with a good doctor. Our newly launched monthly packages help doctors understand a patient better including their lifestyle, heredity risks, etc and bring in specialists if needed.
DocGenie is an online telemedicine platform that provides you with quality healthcare from the comfort of your own space. On DocGenie, you can book an online consultation with highly-qualified doctors as well as book lab tests for home collection.