Blood test results componentsA blood test is typically composed of three main tests: a complete blood count, a metabolic panel and a lipid panel. Each test for different things, which can be understood through a detailed analysis of the results.
The 5 types of blood tests you should do every year
- Broad Thyroid Panel.
- Essential Nutrients: iron/ferritin, vitamin D, vitamin B12, magnesium.
- Complete Metabolic Panel and Complete Blood Count.
- Metabolic Markers: Hemoglobin A1c, fasting glucose and insulin, lipid panel.
- Inflammatory markers: hsCRP, homocysteine.
But can you recite the numbers that add up to good health: your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood sugar level and body mass index? These four measurements are crucial indicators of your overall health, especially related to risk for heart attack and stroke.
It is estimated that seven to ten million patients receive an inaccurate blood test result annually. Approximately 35,000 labs run high complexity tests. Many more run routine tests and are not subject to inspection every two years by federal regulators.
What types of blood tests can help detect cancer?
- Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) for prostate cancer.
- Cancer antigen-125 (CA-125) for ovarian cancer.
- Calcitonin for medullary thyroid cancer.
- Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) for liver cancer and testicular cancer.
These tests can detect STDs like chlamydia, syphilis, and herpes. Blood tests aren't always accurate right after the disease is contracted, so it's best to wait at least a month after your last sexual partner to get the most accurate results.
An Abnormal Test Report May Not Mean You Are Sick. When Should You Be Concerned? It is important to note too that reference ranges may vary slightly from one lab to another. So, depending on the lab, your results may show at the high or low end of normal or out of the normal range.
A typical routine blood test is the complete blood count, also called CBC, to count your red and white blood cells as well as measure your hemoglobin levels and other blood components. This test can uncover anemia, infection, and even cancer of the blood.
There's no magic about the cutoff point for calling a test result abnormal. Just as in the man with prostate cancer, a result in the normal range can still be a sign of disease. And results that are outside the normal range (“abnormalâ€) don't mean a person has a disease.
An RBC count that is higher than normal can be a sign of many health problems, including: Dehydration. Lung diseases. Heart diseases.
Normal values are as follows:
- Color – Yellow (light/pale to dark/deep amber)
- Clarity/turbidity – Clear or cloudy.
- pH – 4.5-8.
- Specific gravity – 1.005-1.025.
- Glucose - ≤130 mg/d.
- Ketones – None.
- Nitrites – Negative.
- Leukocyte esterase – Negative.
If your doctor has requested that you have some tests they will make a plan with you about what to do next.
The following Blood tests will take longer:
- Diabetes blood test (Hba1c) – 1 week.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis blood test – 1 week.
- Coeliac blood test (endomyssial antibody) – 2 weeks.
- Vitamin D blood test – 3 weeks.
A high RBC count may be a result of sleep apnea, pulmonary fibrosis, and other conditions that cause low oxygen levels in the blood. Performance-enhancing drugs like protein injections and anabolic steroids can also increase RBCs. Kidney disease and kidney cancers can lead to high RBC counts as well.
The HbA1c test, for example, should ideally be taken every 3 to 6 months. If you are newly diagnosed as diabetic, that may come as a surprise, but it is crucial to do it regularly to monitor your blood sugar levels. Similarly, some blood tests are used to monitor other chemicals in your blood too.
White blood cells are vital components of the blood. Their role is to fight infection, and they are essential for health and well-being. A high white blood cell count may indicate that the immune system is working to destroy an infection. It may also be a sign of physical or emotional stress.
Red blood cells: 4.5 million to 5.9 million cells/mcL for men; 4.1 million to 5.1 million cells/mcL for women. Hemoglobin: 14 to 17.5 grams per deciliter (gm/dL) for men; 12.3 to 15.3 gm/dL for women.
Drugs in blood are typically detectable within minutes to hours, depending on the drug and the dose, versus one to several days in urine. Blood drug screen tests are performed on whole blood specimens using immunoassay screening with reflex to definitive testing.
Hemoglobin (Hb or Hgb) is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. A low hemoglobin count is generally defined as less than 13.5 grams of hemoglobin per deciliter (135 grams per liter) of blood for men and less than 12 grams per deciliter (120 grams per liter) for women.
Lymphocyte CountsNormal lymphocyte ranges depend on your age. For adults, normal lymphocyte count is between 1,000 and 4,800 lymphocytes per microliter of blood. For children, it's between 3,000 and 9,500 lymphocytes per microliter of blood.
A normal hemoglobin level is 11 to 18 grams per deciliter (g/dL), depending on your age and gender. But 7 to 8 g/dL is a safe level. Your doctor should use just enough blood to get to this level.
A CBC blood test can help your provider diagnose a wide range of conditions, disorders, diseases and infections, including: Anemia (when there aren't enough red blood cells to carry oxygen through the body). Bone marrow disorders, such as myelodysplastic syndromes.
If a normal or negative test result comes back, the physician can telephone the patient with the “good news,†and patients have the option of canceling the follow-up appointment. Although it is preferable to give bad news face-to-face, there may be times when giving bad news over the phone is unavoidable.
If a result is sufficiently abnormal to cause any immediate medical concerns the doctor will contact you themselves. If a doctor wants to discuss a test result where there is no significant level of concern, they may ask reception to book you in for a routine telephone call.
A cortisol blood test is one of the most commonly used blood tests. Cortisol is a hormone that is released by the adrenal glands when one is under stress. Higher levels of cortisol would indicate higher levels of stress.
Borderline. Take no action - This means that the doctor has looked at the result and deemed it to be just outside of the normal range and the result is not concerning. Borderline. Communicate with patient - The doctor wishes to explain the result and/or further treatment or investigation(s) may be necessary.
A person can identify their blood type at home using a rapid blood typing kit. Using the kit requires a person to prick a finger with a needle. The kit comes with a card that contains chemicals known as reagents. These test for the presence of the antibodies and Rh factor.
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.
