There are many types of blood tests you can take such as a complete blood count, blood chemistry test, blood enzyme test, blood tests to assess heart disease, thyroid disorders, to test blood sugar, and many others. This page will offer you a bulk of information on what blood tests are, what kinds there are, how they are used, and how they are conducted.http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/bdt/bdt_types.html
Blood tests can be conducted in several different ways. One way, which diabetics and people who donate blood are familiar with, is a simple finger-prick blood test. For diabetics, this finger-prick blood test is an everyday thing to test their blood sugar in case they need more sugar or insulin. For people who donate blood, the finger-prick blood test is used to test their iron level in order to be able to donate blood. All that is used is a simple device that will prick your finger in order to draw blood, then the blood will go on a test strip which will calculate the needed result. Another way of conducting a blood test is going straight to a vein or artery with a needle. Then, with the needle in the vein or artery, it will draw as much blood as needed depending on the type of test needed. Once the doctor or nurse has as much blood as needed, they will send it to the laboratory to get the blood screened and tested.http://www.medic8.com/blood-disorders/blood-tests.htm
These blood tests help doctors in finding problems, diseases, or disorders within your body. After the blood is screened, results will be sent to you via mail, email, phone, or through your next visit to the doctor. You will find about the many different types of blood tests on this page such as a blood enzyme test to a complete blood count.
Types of Blood Tests
There's a variety of blood tests used by doctors, nurses, and patients all around the world. Some are used to test white blood cells, some for an enzyme count, and some to test allergies. It's important to fast before certain blood tests where your blood sugar, cholesterol, or vitamin levels are tested. If you eat food beforehand, these results may be affected and become inaccurate due to the consumption of food.
One type of blood test is the blood enzyme test. Enzymes are chemicals that help in controlling the chemical reactions inside your body.http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/bdt/bdt_types.html Blood enzyme tests are often used to check for heart attack. The tests used for examining your blood enzyme level are the troponin and creatine inase test. Troponin is a muscle protein that aids your muscles in contracting. By monitoring your troponin, doctors can assess whether you are in risk of a heart attack. Creatine kinase is a blood product that is released when the heart is damaged. High levels of this leads to a heart attack thus it is vital to test these enzymes.http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/bdt/bdt_types.html
Another type of blood test is the complete blood count, also known as the CBC. This type of blood test is very common an is often used during check-ups at the doctor. The CBC can detect blood diseases, disorders such as thyroid disorders or anemia, clotting, infections, blood cancers and more. This blood test tests red blood cells which carry oxygen to the rest of your body, white blood cells which fight infection and disease, platelets which are blood cell fragments, hemoglobin which is an iron-rich protein, and hematocrit which is the measure of space red blood cells take up in your body. All these are very important in how your body functions and are vital in making sure they're in top-notch health.http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/bdt/bdt_types.html
Another common blood test is the Blood Chemistry Test, also known as the Basic Metabolic Panel. This panel is a group of tests that measure certain chemicals in the body. These tests also give your doctor information about muscles in your body, your heart, your bones, and also organs including the kidney and the liver. The Basic Metabolic Panel tests blood glucose which is a kind of sugar your body uses for energy, electrolytes which maintain fluids in your body to keep hydration, calcium which is an important mineral in your body especially for bones and growth, and the kidney is also tested.
These tests are just three of the plethora of other blood tests out there. Make sure to call your doctor for more information about blood tests or a similar professional. These blood tests could save you from heart attacks, kidney failure, dehydration, and much more so it is important to get these tests done when you visit your doctor.
What Happens When You Have a Blood Test
This video shows what happens when you take a blood test. There is visual and audio explanation of the blood-testing process. It describes what the nurse will ask, what tools are used, how the tools are applied, and what to expect afterwards. The video goes slowly so the viewer is able to understand the blood-testing process.
